Community dedicates Marsh Park bench in honor of Kirkland icon Chuck Morgan

Charles "Chuck" O. Morgan was a man of many hats. In addition to his hat as the long-time publisher of the Eastside Journal, he was a community activist and entertainer.

Charles “Chuck” O. Morgan was a man of many hats.

In addition to his hat as the long-time publisher of the Eastside Journal, he was a community activist and entertainer. For his 95th birthday, he strutted his stuff across the stage at the Kirkland Performance Center.

“His editorials influenced the town over and over again,” said former Mayor and long-time friend Bill Woods during a bench dedication ceremony in Morgan’s honor at Marsh Park on Saturday.

Morgan, who passed away Oct. 30, 2009 at the age of 98, was so influential during his 63 years in Kirkland that he was dubbed “Mr. Kirkland.”

Morgan co-founded the Kirkland Performance Center and his efforts helped establish the Evergreen Hospital Medical Center.

During the dedication, Terri Fletcher recalled humorous stories of her friend, including an inside story of how Morgan got his red feather boa he wore on many occasions.

Fletcher, along with Sue Contreras, G.G. Getz and Patty Leverett, led the effort to get the bench placed at Marsh Park.

Before Woods presented the toast in Morgan’s honor, he recalled a line from composer Victor Schertzinger’s “I remember you”: “When our days are done, and the angels ask us to recall the thrill of it all, then I will tell them: I remember you.”