By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A VETERAN public school teacher collapsed yesterday at the R M Bailey Senior High School and later died after complaining that he was feeling ill, Director of Education Lionel Sands confirmed yesterday.

According to Mr Sands, William H Morgan, 67, originally from Canada, was a relief teacher at the R M Bailey School and had been in the public school system for more than two decades.

Mr Sands told The Tribune that Mr Morgan had reported to the school yesterday morning and complained that he was not feeling well. It is unclear what took place next, but a source at the school said Emergency Medical Services attempted to take him to the hospital, but he died on the way.

The Tribune understands he collapsed in the school’s gymnasium.

He taught physics and chemistry at various government schools as well as assisted with after school sports.

Mr Sands said: “He was with us for more than 20 years and will be missed by the department. He was also involved in after school support for C I Gibson and with the after school sports programme where he assisted with coaching of the basket ball teams.”

As news spread of Mr Morgan’s death, condolences were posted on the social media site Facebook from his former students who remembered him as a motivator and mentor.

One user said: “Every game you would drive us and sometimes the girls volleyball team in the stick shift R M Bailey bus proudly grinding up the gears. You would always tell us the story of how your grandfather who had the same name as you invented the sport of volleyball; we would laugh and ask how old you were because it was invented in 1895. You weren’t young but you paced the sidelines every game keeping up with the other coaches yelling at us to work as a team. You appointed me starting server because in your words I was ‘the best server on the team,’ that meant the world to me. You would call hot patties ‘hotty patties’ and we would laugh every time.

“The cleaning ladies loved you because you would help them in the tuck shop during break time each day without fail.

“This post can’t hold your legacy, you taught at least three generations of Bahamians. You were here for years, no family, no wife, no pets. Just doing what you loved.”

Another user said: “Rest in peace to one of the greatest and most influential persons in my life...my teacher, father, friend, mentor and basketball coach, Mr Bill Morgan. You have touched numerous lives, but most importantly mine.”

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