Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh H. Morgan, USAF retired chaplain and director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC was elected by his colleagues who are members of the Centurions to be the 2011 Centurion of the Year.
The Centurion Award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated his support of the chaplaincy and its work among the men and women of our Nation’s Armed Forces and civil institutions. Nominees include civilian and military leaders from around the world who recognize and champion the work of chaplains in the lives of the people they serve alongside. This distinguished award was given to Hugh Morgan on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at the annual Centurion Banquet at the Alexandria Hilton Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, VA.
This year there were seven (7) nominees for this prestigious title of Centurion of the Year. They are:
1. Lieutenant General Mike Scapparotti, United States Army, 1st Corps, Ft. Lewis, WA
2. Lieutenant General Jeff Oster, USMC, Retired
3. Major General Jim Hawkins, Retired, USAF
4. Chaplain (Major General) David Hicks, United States Army, Retired
5. Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Morgan, United States Air Force, Retired
6. Lieutenant Colonel Bob Reifsnyder, USA, Retired and his wife BJ
7. Dr. H. B. London—Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
These 7 leaders have made and continue to make significant personal contributions to the success of our chaplains.
The following is the nomination letter written by the Honorable Allen B. Clark of Dallas, TX:
"Before sports became so commercialized, football players played offense and defense and some baseball and football players played several positions. They were true "team players" who were important to the teams because of their multiple talents and contributions.
The Reverend Dr. Hugh Morgan is my nominee for NAE Chaplains Commission "Centurion of the Year" because he has been a true and valuable team player, multi-talented contributor, and valuable leader in a variety of arenas of the United States military, military and veterans chaplaincy, and service to our country and our God.
Reverend Morgan began a lifetime of service as an enlisted Marine from 1953-1956. He was ordained in 1960 and served for the next five years as a reserve chaplain in the Army. A trifecta in our military began for him in 1965 when he began twenty six years of service as an Air Force chaplain, ten on active duty and sixteen years in the reserves.
During his Air Force chaplaincy, among his many and varied assignments were two in which he served at two USAF medical centers where he directed the Clinical Pastoral Education programs. He served as president for two years at Southwestern Christian University (SCU), where in 2006 he was recognized with their Christian Service Award for his leadership in helping to design the curriculum for the Master of Ministry degree program that meets the graduate level requirements for military chaplains in DOD. He established an endowed scholarship fund for chaplain candidates at SCU.
Since 1998 he has served his denomination as Director of Chaplains Ministries and Ecclesiastical Endorser in which position of responsibility he has overseen twenty four individuals for placement in active, reserve, and Veterans Affairs chaplaincy. His leadership abilities have been recognized amongst the broader chaplaincy community by service as a Vice Chairman of the NAE Chaplains Commission, ex officio member, the executive committee, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, and finally in 2008 Chairman, Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy.
The Reverend Hugh Morgan's life represents a unique set of experiences to be "Centurion of the Year": active military service in the ranks, military chaplaincy in two services, educator, endorser, and leader among leaders in service to God and Country."
And now for the grand announcement that came Wednesday evening, November 17, 2010:
Faithful Centurions:
This year’s nominations for Centurion of the Year were extensive, infused with godly giants who have supported the ministry of chaplains for years. I thank all of you for your submission and voting.
After tallying the votes it gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s recipient of the Centurion of the Year Award.
It is The Reverend, Doctor, Hugh Morgan. Hugh Morgan has many titles: Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired; Director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC; Vice Chairman, NAE Chaplains Commission; CEO, Founder, President, Editor of Hugh’s News and Commentary; Member, Board of Trustees, Holmes Bible College; Pastor Emeritus, Christian Life Worship Center (formerly Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA.
There have only been a few former chaplains that have been selected to receive this award, mostly because its intent is to recognize those who have supported chaplain ministry. Although Hugh was a military chaplain, he has spent a good majority of his life supporting chaplain ministry and doing so while serving as a chaplain in the Reserves was a significant special challenge.
As the current Director of Chaplains Ministries, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, he has encouraged and overseen the endorsement of 24 individuals in the Active, Reserve and Veterans Affairs Chaplaincies.
Hugh has served on the NCMAF Executive Committee, continues to serve as the Vice Chairman of the NAE Chaplains Commission and was, until recently, the Chairman of the Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy.
His tireless service as a chaplain, educator, endorser and supporter of chaplain ministry has won him the 2011 Centurion of the Year award. Hugh and his dear wife, Melvine, will be honored at the Centurion Banquet, Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA on Tuesday, January 11, 2011.
Thank you for your faithful commitment to our Nation’s chaplains.
Paul
Chaplain (Colonel) Paul Vicalvi, United States Army, Retired
Executive Director
National Association of Evangelicals Chaplains Commission
Posted on
Fri, January 28, 2011
by Hugh Morgan