Feb. 18, 2009
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU Mustang Club kicked off the 2009 Morgan Campaign Fund Drive with a reception at the DoubleTree Hotel Campbell Centre on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Over seventy volunteers, led by Campaign Co-Chairs Jeri Jessee and George Shelburne, will work on the Fund Drive this year.
The Morgan Campaign will run from Feb. 17 to Mar. 31. Volunteers will work to renew current Mustang Club donors and solicit new donors for the 2009-2010 membership year of the Mustang Club. Donors that pay a pledge in full by May 1, 2009, will receive a chance to win a weekend travel package for two to the SMU-Washington State football game on September 19, 2009.
Founded in 1935, the Mustang Club is the official fundraising organization of SMU Athletics. Annual donations help expand team travel and recruiting budgets, maintain student-athlete academic services, make facility improvements and strengthen SMU's goal of winning championships.
The Morgan Campaign is named for Herman "Sleepy" Morgan, a former SMU football coach and fundraiser. Morgan came to SMU as part of Rusty Russell's first coaching staff in 1950 and was the Mustang freshman coach for 25 of the next 26 years.
Morgan, who acquired the nickname "Sleepy" by falling asleep in one of his classes at Sulphur Springs High School, is still considered an SMU treasure. He quickly became one of the greatest recruiters in Southwest Conference history. His very first recruit was Port Arthur's great running back, Frank Eidom. Morgan's first class also included future Mustang greats Ed Bernet of Highland Park and Duane Nutt of Corsicana. Other Mustang greats recruited by Morgan included Forrest Gregg and Don Meredith.
When Sleepy retired from coaching in 1976 he wanted stay close to SMU and was encouraged by friends to help the Mustangs by raising money for the Mustang Club. He continued to use the same down-to-earth approach he said he learned naturally as a youngster on a farm in Sulphur Springs. Whether he was getting a great recruit or raising money, he was "putting hay in the barn for his Mustangs." Sleepy's approach was very personal. He would send a personal handwritten letters that became legendary. When asked why he did it this way, Sleepy said, "I do it to help the team and because I love SMU."
Morgan passed away in 1993 and the next year the SMU Mustang Club Board of Directors voted to change the name of the Mustang Club Annual Fund drive to the Morgan Campaign. Every year since, volunteers have worked to continue "putting hay in the barn" for the Mustangs.
For more information on the Mustang Club or the Morgan Campaign, please call the Mustang Club office at 214-768-2582 or visit smumustangclub.com.
