University Award:

HUGH AND JULIA MORTON
2003 UNIVERSITY AWARD SCRIPT

William Friday/UNC President Emeritus
Hugh and Julia Morton are two of the most wonderful people that Mrs. Friday and I have ever known. We’ve known them for half a century. If you want to move a battleship—or decorate a mountain—or argue about a lighthouse—call Hugh Morton. Julia Morton in her own right is a legendary figure in this state. She for many years was on the Governing Board of the University of North Carolina. But her hand touched so many other things around the state, Mitchell, that it’s very fitting that the university acknowledge these two fine people.

C.D. Spangler/UNC President Emeritus
Hugh and Julia have during their whole lifetime been active North Carolinians—active for good causes. It has centered on education—it has centered on education—it has centered around environment—and preserving the environment—and doing what we can—what he could and Julia could—to strengthen our universities. I think that they very much deserve the University Award—and I am personally delighted that they have received this honor.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
Although Hugh and Julia Morton have dedicated themselves to numerous causes in North Carolina—they say the idea of receiving the 2003 University Award is humbling.

Julia Morton/2003 University Award Recipient
I really don’t think you deserve an award for doing the best thing that you ever got to do. (Smiles) Serving the university was a real privilege—and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hugh Morton/2003 University Award Recipient
She served the whole 16 unit university more than I have. I’ve been enthusiastic about several of the 16 parts of it—but she served all 16—and so she really deserves the University Award more than I do. (Smiles)

Molly Corbett Broad/UNC President
I think Hugh and Julia Morton are quintessential Tar Heels. They have their roots so deeply planted into the soil of North Carolina—from the coastline to the mountains. This university—and all of North Carolina have been the beneficiaries of their leadership—and their extraordinary service. They have touched just about every aspect of life in North Carolina.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
Hugh and Julia Morton met in 1945. Hugh had just returned home from World War Two after serving as an army combat photographer—and receiving a Purple Heart. Julia was the roommate of Hugh’s sister at Woman’s College—now UNC Greensboro. The two were married in December of that same year.

Julia Morton/2003 University Award Recipient
He’s totally honest—and he’s not motivated by gain. He likes to accomplish things other than to build up a great bank account or something. He’s extremely patriotic which is—a lot of the World War Two people have that quality—and—and we haven’t had as much of it—which is too bad.

Hugh Morton/2003 University Award Recipient
She’s a Phi Beta—and I’m not. And so I just do what she tells me to do and we get along fine.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
Julia Morton used her Phi Beta Kappa intellect as a member of the UNC Board of Governors for 16 years from 1973 to 1989.

Benjamin Ruffin/Former Chair, UNC Board of Governors
Julia Morton was always concerned about the students—how is this going to impact the students—if we’re going to do something for this university. When she served on the Trustees of UNC-W—she wanted to bring the students in—to have the students input before the Trustee Board—let the students talk to the Trustee Board about how it’s going to impact—how this is going to enrich their lives. So—I mean—you talk about a person who was ahead of her time.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
Julia Morton also had input in selecting who would lead the University of North Carolina.

C. D. Spangler/UNC President Emeritus
Julia—when she was on the Board of Governors—was also on the Search Committee in 1985 and 1986—when that Search Committee gave me the opportunity to be President of the University of North Carolina—which really is the best job in the North Carolina. So I’m very grateful to Julia for that support.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
President Spangler honored Julia Morton for her efforts in 1996 by endowing a professorship in her name at her alma mater—UNC Greensboro.

Chancellor Patricia Sullivan/UNC Greensboro
She struck me—and still does—as an extremely intelligent and very elegant person of great dignity and warmth who was very pleased that President Spangler chose to honor her. And she was pleased that it was at her alma mater of UNC Greensboro. I found her to be extremely interesting to talk to. She was very interested in what the university was doing now—and how we were responding to the needs of the students as well as the community.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
Hugh Morton also has his University of North Carolina connections through numerous committees—as well as through his camera—a talent he perfected as a teenager at Boys Camp. His photography has covered topics from sports—politics—news—and nature. One particular scenic area that has benefited from Hugh Morton’s time in photography and preservation is Grandfather Mountain, which he inherited in 1952.

Brad Wilson/Chairman, UNC Board of Governors
As a young child, I remember the first time my grandparents took me to the top of Grandfather Mountain to see the swinging bridge. So Grandfather Mountain—with Hugh Morton in particular—and Julia as his life’s partner—are synonymous with Grandfather Mountain. And I do remember that that bridge was more than a mile high—and it sure did swing a lot as we tried to cross it. But what a wonderful attraction it has been for that part of the state—put Northwest North Carolina on the map.

Mitchell Lewis/UNC-TV
The Morton’s are also involved in making sure that North Carolina’s natural beauty—air and water quality—and wildlife—are preserved. It’s hard for many to pinpoint the major single contribution Hugh and Julia Morton have made to North Carolina—whether it includes their collective participation in education—bringing the U.S.S. North Carolina back home—to being involved in the creation of the Azalea Festival—or saving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. But Hugh and Julia Morton see the fruits of their laboring as part of their civic duty.

Hugh Morton/2003 University Award Recipient
I haven’t done anything that I have done in order to gain recognition for it. I’ve done it because I’ve been interested in seeing it done. And the same thing can be said for Julia. She was genuinely interested in education. She’s had a good one—and she wanted to see that other people got a good one. But I don’t think that we ran for any award or any recognition. We just were interested in things that we wanted to see done.