William G. Morgan was born in Lockport, New York January 23, 1870. He worked as a boy in a canal boat building yard owned by his father, George Henry Morgan, a Welshman (who married Nancy Chatfield Morgan of Northfield, Vermont). At the age of 14, young Bill Morgan ran away from home to follow an inland maritime career on canal and Great Lakes boats. His desire to secure an education led him to enter Mount Herman School where he became active in campus activities. His voice earned him a place on the school quartet. (The young lady who played the piano accompaniment for the group, Mary King of West Northfield, Mass., later became his wife).

Morgan became acquainted with Mr. Naismith who was assistant coach of the football square with the College in Springfield (then called the School for Christian Workers) in the autumn of 1891 (a short time before Naismith invented basketball). Morgan was a big, strong fellow and played center on the Mount Herman School team. Football coach Naismith explained the opportunities for Christian service through sports, recreation and physical education and the professional leadership training program offered in Springfield. This appealed to Morgan and he went to Springfield in 1892 and completed his course two years later. He is said to have played on the famous Springfield football team under Amos Alonze Staff, a fellow student. Morgan's training in Springfield had much to do with his interest in athletics and the development of a background suitable for devising a new recreational and competitive game.

After leaving Springfield College in 1894, Mr. Morgan spent one season as physical director in the Auburn, Maine YMCA (September 24, 1894 to July 3, 1895) then during the summer of 1895 he went to Holyoke, Massachusetts. He served at Holyoke from July 15, 1895 to May 1, 1897. Morgan returned to Lockport, New York and was out of work for seven months. He then went to New Haven, Connecticut for a short period of service in the YMCA, from January 1, 1898 to April 1, 1898. He again left work. On October 15, 1898 he became physical director in Lockport, New York and served until January 1, 1900 when he left the YMCA work for a business career. He did not return to the Springfield campus until 1938, 42 years after his history-making Mintonette exhibition. HE had a family of one daughter and four sons. He liked people and enjoyed doing things for others. His naive modesty caused him to view surprise the widespread popularity of the game he had invented.

On March 22, 1939 the Springfield Varsity Club arranged a dinner and reception for Mr. Morgan in Lockport attend by Springfield Alumni and friends. Prof. Leslie Judd, coach of the exhibition gymnastic team presented a varsity sweater to Morgan in recognition of his invention of the game of volleyball. William G. Morgan died December 27, 1942.