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Delta State to dedicate atrium in honor of Morganti

By April 24, 2011General

Dr. Leroy MorgantiDr. Leroy Morganti, known throughout the Delta for his unique wit and storytelling, whose career spans the fields of journalism, politics, education, and administration, will be honored for his service to Delta State University on Friday, April 29, at 2 p.m., with the dedication of the atrium located in Kent Wyatt Hall on the campus.

A Delta native, Morganti was born in Clarksdale and graduated from Rosedale High School.  He received a baccalaureate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, master’s degree from Mississippi State University and doctorate from Delta State University.  He also completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

He served as a news reporter for The Hattiesburg American, Delta Democrat-Times, The Clarion-Ledger and The Associated Press before joining Delta State in 1971 as Director of Public Information. From 1976-78, he served as Press Secretary to the late Gov. Cliff Finch and returned to Delta State in 1979.

In 1993, Morganti was promoted to Vice President for University Advancement and in 2000 to Vice President for Executive Affairs and Chief of Staff, a role he filled until his retirement in June, 2002.  Upon retirement, he was granted the title of Vice President for Executive Affairs and Chief of Staff Emeritus.

Morganti was elected to membership in several journalism and educational honorary societies and served as president of the Mississippi Sportswriters Association, the Mississippi Collegiate Press Association and the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi.  He was a founder of the Staff Council at Delta State, recipient of the H.L. Nowell Outstanding Support Staff Award, inducted into the Delta State University Hall of Fame, and received the Wall Street Journal  Award for achievement in journalism.

In 2008, Morganti was presented the Bologna Performing Arts Center’s President’s Award for his leadership in the development and success of the Center, serving as its chief administrative officer and Chairman of the BPAC Advisory Board from its inception in 1995 until his retirement in 2002.

Morganti currently lives in Benoit and writes a weekly newspaper column for the Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville and The Bolivar Commercial in Cleveland.  He is the father of three sons, John and Bryan, both of Jackson and Reed (deceased), and has two grandsons, Michael and Matthew.

The dedication ceremony and reception that follows are free and open to the public.  For more information contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at 662-846-4675.