Coach Tom Morton to head MMA alumni affairs

HARLINGEN, Texas - May 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Marine Military Academy has appointed Tom “Coach” Morton as the director of alumni affairs. Morton, a veteran teacher and coach at MMA, will trade his classroom for an office as he begins his duties for this new position. As director, Morton’s goals are to: establish an extensive and updated alumni database; increase communications between alumni and their alma mater; and develop MMA alumni networks across the nation.

“I really want to keep the alumni informed about what’s going on with their school,” Morton said, “and I want the people at MMA to know what’s going on in their lives.”

Superintendent Col. R. Glenn Hill said it was time for MMA to have an administrator dedicated to its alumni.

“Some of our alumni spent five and even six years at MMA — more than they did getting their college degree. Most of our alumni have a very strong connection to MMA, so as an organization we need to play a greater role of helping them stay connected to their classmates and to their school,” he said.

According to Hill, Morton was the right person for the job.

“Coach Morton is very respected by our alumni. During the reunions, he is always one of the people our alumni want to see. It doesn’t matter if they graduated in 1975 or 2010, they want to share their lives with him and stay in touch with him,” Hill said. “If anyone can organize and advance our alumni affairs program, it’s him.”

Morton joined MMA in August 1974. Over his 37 years, he has taught Texas history, U.S. history, world history, government, economics and world geography. For 33 years, he coached several sports, including football, basketball, baseball, track and cross-country.

Additionally, Morton served as athletic director for a total of 25 years, from 1978-1993 and then again from 1998-2010. He was especially proud of MMA in the 1980-81 school year, when the football, basketball and track teams went undefeated.

Originally from Ridgeland, S.C., Morton holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (formerly Texas A&I University), where he double-majored in history and health & physical education.

A former athlete, Morton played football for Texas A&I University in 1969 and 1970. Both of those years his team won the national championship. Morton even played professional football for the Atlanta Falcons for a short time after college. After leaving the Falcons, he began his career at MMA.

Though he has had offers from other schools, this coach and teacher has dedicated himself to MMA.

“I like working with the kids here. I love the environment, and I like the people that I work with. For the most part, it’s a great place to work,” he said. “I’m actually very excited to start this new chapter in my career.”

Morton is asking all MMA alumni to contact him as soon as possible at tmorton@MMA-TX.org or (956) 421-9235.

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Marine Military Academy is a college-preparatory boarding school for young men in grades 8-12 with an optional post-graduate year. Since 1965, MMA is the only private school in the world based on the traditions and values of the U.S. Marine Corps. Located in Harlingen, Texas, MMA has been home to thousands of sons from across the world and is quarters to the historic Iwo Jima Monument. To learn more about MMA, visit MMA-TX.org.