Roy serves as the Chairman of the Volunteer Board at the Sea Center of Texas, where he helps maintain the wildscape, conducts tours, takes children fishing, and swims with the sharks and Gordon the Grouper as he scuba dives into the large fish tank to help clean it.

Submitted by Lois Morgan

When Roy Morgan, Associate Scientist in the Polyurethanes Group Texas Operations, retired in 2001 after nearly 40 years of work, he warned all of his co-workers – “You had better retire soon, because I’m going to use up all of the “FUN” as fast as I can!”  He has certainly tried to do just that!!

Every evening now, Roy checks his calendar to see what he “gets to do” the following day – and he approaches each and every activity with the joy that characterized his years with Dow. 

Since his retirement, Roy has continued learning - taking cooking classes, studying and certifying for both the Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Programs, and certifying with the school district to teach science to school children at both the Sea Center of Texas and the Brazoria County Wildlife Refuge on school field trips.  He has created a slide presentation for local school and educational groups on ichthyology (Fun with Fish) that is as funny as it is informative.

A few years ago, Roy was on a fishing trip when he suffered a heart attack.  He spent two weeks in the hospital in Houston, then underwent a double bypass operation.  His response---- he changed his diet and “sedentary” lifestyle, lost 80 pounds (yes – that’s EIGHTY POUNDS!) – and then took scuba diving lessons!  He has now completed classes and enough dives to be qualified as a Master Diver.  He has also purchased a kayak and enjoys kayaking down our local waterways with his group of local friends.

Roy volunteers at Sea Center Texas, where he helps maintain the wildscape, conducts tours, takes children fishing, and swims with the sharks and Cooper the Grouper as he scuba dives into the large fish tank to help clean it.    He also monitors the “hot line” and rescues animals for the Brazoria County Wildlife Rescue organization, and assists the Master Gardeners and Master Naturalist organizations by taking part in bird counts, bird banding, butterfly counts, and “mucking” property in the county.  He maintains an experimental garden for the Master Gardeners, and is now the group’s expert on “small fruit” – blueberries, blackberries and grapes.  He frequently makes presentations to local groups on his experiences with his berries.

Roy has journeyed to South Africa, South America, France, Spain and Australia – with a couple of trips to Washington State, Washington DC and California thrown in - tasting wine with his close group of traveling friends.  He does enjoy “learning” about new wines. 

He has gained back some of the weight, but he not only maintains the former completely full schedule of volunteer activities – he keeps adding to it!  He continues fishing regularly – with a goal of catching a “Texas Lunker” big bass. 

Roy is a one of a group of Dow retirees – known among themselves as the GORB (Good Old Retired Boys) – there are  now 12 of them - each and every one of whom works almost continually volunteering in this community that they worked in, raised their families in and loved so much for their many, many years at Dow.  They serve in many different volunteer areas in the community - and take pleasure and pride in their good health, and for the time which allow them to contribute – and to keep learning!

"Roy is still having "FUN", and wants every Dow retiree out there to remember that there is a volunteer activity in your local area for YOU, too - in schools, museums, wildlife refuges, hospitals and libraries.  Pick up your local newspaper and see what organizations need volunteers; call a friend and accompany them to their volunteer activity; call a school and read to a child - but GET INVOLVED.  It's fun - it will get you out of the house - it will keep you active  - and it will help others.  Your community needs YOU!"