May 1, 2018
East Texas Baptist University celebrated the 2018 Arbor Day on Thursday, April 26 by planting three Live Oak trees in memory of the late ETBU graduate ('05), Tiger Baseball player James Morgan, who lost his life at the age of 29 in an airplane crash in 2012. Nearly 60 students gathered to reflect on Scripture, pray, and plant trees. ETBU Student Body President Reid Adams read the story of creation from Genesis 1:1-13, and senior Dylan Sumpter prayed over the campus, community, and world.
"As a backdrop to the ETBU Baseball field, these trees will forever serve as a reminder that James is looking down on our team as we compete," Tiger Baseball Head Coach Jared Hood commented.
Each year, Tiger Athletics honors Morgan's legacy by selecting a current student-athlete to wear number 16, Morgan's Tiger jersey number. Sumpter received the James Morgan Award in 2017 and dons the jersey with Morgan's number each game.
"Getting the James Morgan Award is something that will stay with me forever," Sumpter said. "It has been a humbling experience, and I hope I can represent the number well by reflecting God's glory on and off the field. I am reminded to never take anything for granted because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. I hope to serve and give back in the same way Morgan did."
Jared Hood initiated the award for the 2014-2015 Tiger Baseball season soon after he was hired as Head Coach. The recipient, chosen by a team vote, is selected for displaying the qualities of Morgan, including athletic excellence, academic integrity, service to the community, leadership, and overall Christian character.
"As a Marshall native, Morgan was actively involved in the community," Hood shared. "I met James at Marshall High School and always looked up to him, who was five years older than me. He always went out of his way to invest in others. Our program is honored to remember his legacy and uplift his family and friends."
In addition to his service at Immanuel Baptist Church as a member, Morgan volunteered much of his time at Airport Park in Marshall, a regional hub for baseball and softball activities. Whether serving on the board, as an umpire, or at sports camps, Morgan left an impression with everyone he came into contact with.
"Seeing the impact that James Morgan left on the Tiger Baseball Team and ETBU as a whole is inspiring,"
ETBU senior Carrie Sparks expressed. "I hope and pray that, like James, I live a life that represents Christ daily. The event reminded me that if we remain rooted in God, we will always bear fruit for His glory."
ETBU observes Arbor Day annually to provide an opportunity to educate the campus community on the benefits of urban reforestation, environmental stewardship, resource conservation, and campus landscape beautification. The University recently received recognition as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. ETBU is one of 28 Tree Campus USA colleges and universities in Texas, and one of over 350 Tree Campus USA colleges in America.
"As evergreens are plants that keep leaves throughout the year, these three trees are a representation of the true and lasting life offered by Christ," ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. "Today is an extension of our mission teach students to invest in others as Jesus did and as James Morgan modeled. Arbor Day is yet another reminder that as we walk upon this Earth, we trust that Jesus Christ will return. Yet, while we are here, we have a responsibility as God's stewards for conserving, cultivating, and caring for what He has created."
Named from the Latin word arbor, meaning tree, Arbor Day was initiated in 1594 by the mayor of the Spanish village of Mondo~nedo. The first American Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska City, Nebraska by J. Starling Morton. Theodore Roosevelt issued an Arbor Day Proclamation on April 15, 1907 to the school children of the United States explaining that forestry should be taught in schools. The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 to further the conservation movement and change lives. To learn more about the Arbor Foundation, visit https://www.arborday.org/.