Morgan’s Service station opened for business in 1932 when 16-year old Richard Morgan borrowed $200 from his father and bought the station. He has been there almost every morning since.
At noon on July 3, the business shut down, and family and friends cleaned and polished the station for Morgan’s 90th birthday celebration. A tent stood on the newly resurfaced asphalt parking lot and the old building sparkled for the party.
More than 150 guests came from as far away as California and Florida to join Morgan on his big day.
Rick Heitmeyer, from Vestaburg, gave his grandfather a signed autographed picture of Ernie Harwell. The gift holds special sentiment thanks to one of Morgan’s catchy phrases.
When asked if he was going home, Morgan would say, ‘Five minutes to Ernie Harwell.? This became a catch phrase and one day Morgan received a call from Sports Illustrated and became the subject of a column.
Morgan said he is very pleased with the gift and just as pleased when Harwell called him personally to say happy birthday. Morgan said he had met Harwell at a couple of Tiger functions.
‘It is amazing that he would remember me, but he does,? said Morgan.
‘Yesterday was like a reunion, all the people came back. I didn’t have to entertain them, they entertained themselves. Only three people declined and that was because they had other things to do,? said Morgan. ‘It was a really fun day.?
‘This is Clarkston,? said Robert Namowicz of Independence Township. ‘A community is like a church, it is just a building, its the people that make the church. A community is the same way. It is the people that live with in the boundaries. He (Morgan) has shaped Clarkston to be the friendly little berg it is. People underestimate how a decent individual can influence a community.?
John Morgan runs the shop now, but Morgan can be found every morning at the business he loves. The business opens at 7 a.m., but Morgan gets in at 6 a.m. and starts coffee as he has for the last 73 years.
‘I work everyday. I don’t work hard, but I work, and when I’m not at work I am doing my lawn,? said Morgan. ‘If I didn’t like what I do, I wouldn’t do it. You have to like it.?
‘He’s here before me every morning,? said John Morgan. ‘Since he was 16, he has spent every day of his life here, just about.?
Morgan says things have changed over the years. He remembers when fewer people lived in Clarkston, when there were days nobody came into the shop ? but not anymore. The morning after the party, Morgan’s changed the oil on two vehicles with two waiting before 9 a.m.
‘We do a lot of oil changes,? said Morgan. ‘It is the safest way to keep your car running.?
Morgan is grateful for the many years of support from the community.
‘You can’t help but appreciate all the people who have come in the last 73 years. You just hope that you satisfy everyone,? said Morgan.