Stanley Ward Morgan Jr.

 Stanley Ward Morgan Jr. was born in 1964 in Topeka, Kansas, to Stan and Ellen Morgan. At the time, his father was attending Washburn University, working on his Juris Doctor degree. Stanley grew up in Oberlin, Kansas, where he attended Oberlin Elementary School and Decatur Community High School, graduating in 1982.

After high school, Morgan joined a harvest crew that traveled from Oklahoma to the Canadian border during the summer. He later moved to Dallas, Texas, where he worked for his uncle, William “Billy” Horton III, at his ServiceMaster cleaning business.

Morgan returned to Kansas to attend Kansas State University but was expelled for poor grades. He then attended Northwest Kansas Area Vocational Technical School (NWKAVTS) to study auto mechanics, earning a certification and becoming an ASE-certified mechanic.

Determined to complete his education, Morgan returned to Kansas State University. While studying, he worked as a mechanic at Rex’s Tire during the day and as a gas station clerk at night. Eventually, he worked his way up to assistant manager at Arby’s in Aggieville and later became the manager of the Junction City Arby’s.

 In 1988, after seeing an ad in the Kansas State Collegian for a bar for sale called "Brothers," Morgan bought the bar, which he operated for a year before selling it in 1989. He then returned to Kansas State University, where he earned his degree.

Following his graduation, Ward married Brenda Umscheid, and they had a daughter, Brittany, and a son, Matthew. In 1993, he began working for the accounting firm Kennedy & Coe in Salina, Kansas. However, he left in 1994 and co-founded Networks Plus in Manhattan, Kansas. Over time, this venture expanded into CivicPlus, a well-known technology company providing civic engagement solutions.

Ward also co-founded ICON Investments and became a co-owner of The Phone Connection, a telecommunications business. Expanding his entrepreneurial pursuits, he started ICON Restaurants, which included notable establishments such as Hibachi Hut, 324 Speakeasy, and Tallgrass Tap House.

 Ward and Brenda Morgan founded Green Apple Bikes, a free bike-sharing program, and contributed to the creation of the Midwest Dream Car Collection. He has been a board member of numerous charities throughout his life and served as a volunteer firefighter in Riley County.

Ward also held a position as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Kansas State University, where he mentored aspiring entrepreneurs. He has been an active supporter of Kansas State University Athletics, with a particular fondness for volleyball.

 Stanley Ward Morgan Jr. and his wife, Brenda, received the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation Cornerstone Award and were named the 2019 Lud Fiser Citizens of the Year by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
Individually, Morgan was awarded the Huck Boyd Leader of the Year Award by the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development. 

 Ward is an avid hot-air ballooning enthusiast and has a passion for cars, especially through his involvement in car collection and admiration. Individually, Morgan was awarded the Huck Boyd Leader of the Year Award by the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development. 

  Throughout his life, Stanley Ward Morgan Jr. has been a mentor to individuals seeking to start or grow their businesses. His dedication to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and community engagement has left a lasting impact on the Manhattan, Kansas, area.