One of the First African American Park Rangers Retires

Sardis, Miss. – Mr. Leon Morgan, park ranger at Sardis Lake for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District (Corps) retired from federal service. The retirement ceremony was held Thursday 4 April 2013 at the Holiday Lodge at the Teckville Landing off Highway 310 located on the north side of Sardis Lake.

Mr. Morgan began his career with the Corps at Sardis Lake in March of 1971. When asked what makes a good park ranger, Mr. Morgan stated, “In anything you do you must love people, master your assignment, and keep a positive attitude.”

He previously held jobs as a bus driver, a teacher a coach of both boys and girls sports. In 1996 he retired from teaching and continued his career as a Park Ranger at Sardis Lake.

Mr. Morgan was born in Panola County Mississippi and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Mississippi Valley State University and completed some post graduate education at the University of Mississippi. He is married to the former Robbie Blackburn from Polk, Mississippi and they have two children.

With more than 370 million visits annually to 422 lake and river projects, USACE is the largest federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation in the nation. Approximately 90 percent of the more than 2,400 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide are within 50 miles of metropolitan areas and offer a diverse range of outdoor activities to people of all ages. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.