R. Gillis Morgan, of Auburn, was born in Evergreen, Alabama on March 5, 1934, and passed away at his home on February 20, 2018. He was 83 years old. He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Gerry Morgan; son, Greg Morgan; sister, Mary Lillian Cross; his parents, Hunter Morgan and Lillian Morgan. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Alfrey, and sister, Mylan Ryan. Gillis was a loving husband and father, and dedicated his career to the field of journalism. He worked as an award-winning reporter who developed a reputation for solid spot news reporting, earning recognition and awards from the Associated Press in both 1964 and 1965. He was also an active supporter of the civil rights movement, both in his news coverage and his walk with Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery. After his years of reporting, he became a Journalism Professor at Auburn University, an editor for the Opelika-Auburn News, and wrote a weekly column for The Villager. In 2016, he was awarded the Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist award from the Auburn University Journalism Advisory Council. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. (CST), Friday, February 23rd at the Auburn United Methodist Church. The family has asked that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. (CST), Friday, February 23rd at the Auburn United Methodist Church.