Bill Morgan, Houston based Morgan Group founder and Holocaust survivor, dies at 98

May 2024 · 3 minute read

On October 15, 2023, the world bid farewell to a true visionary and the founder of The Morgan Group, Inc., Bill Morgan of Houston, Texas, at the remarkable age of 98. His passing leaves a void that words can’t adequately express, and his legacy lives on within the great company he proudly built.

Bill Morgan, originally Wolf Youssela Marguiles, was born into a close-knit Jewish family in 1925 in the small Polish village of Czerniejow. The horrors of the European Holocaust and World War II tested his courage and resilience from a young age. At 16, he and his family were forced into the Stanislawow ghetto in Poland, where he faced unimaginable suffering and was coerced into digging graves for fellow prisoners. Despite these dire circumstances, he found the strength to escape, using a borrowed birth certificate. This marked the beginning of an incredible journey that led him to adopt the name William Morgan upon arriving in the United States.

After surviving the war and spending years in a displaced person camp, he was sponsored to move to the United States, arriving with hope and a determination to build a better life. In the United States, he worked various jobs while attending school at night, learning English by watching American movies, particularly those featuring cowboy actor Roy Rogers. His tenacity led him to Houston, where he met his wife, Shirley, and embarked on a journey into real estate.

In 1959, Bill Morgan founded Globe Construction and Management Co., marking the start of his impactful career in real estate. Over time, his sons, Mike and Ronnie, joined him, leading to the formal incorporation of Morgan Inc. in 1987. The business flourished, developing thousands of apartment units across nine states, amassing a combined value of $2.5 billion. In 2011, Mike Morgan purchased Ronnie Morgan’s stake in the business, rebranding it as the Morgan Group.

Bill Morgan’s work ethic and principles continue to be the bedrock of the company’s DNA, reflected in its success and growth. Today, Morgan Group manages a portfolio worth $1 billion, with $350 million in the development pipeline.

Aside from his remarkable business achievements, Bill Morgan was deeply committed to the Houston community and, notably, to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. In the early 1990s, he began work on the Holocaust Museum Houston, driven by a desire to honor his family and the millions lost during that dark period of history. He tirelessly raised funds and played a vital role in its construction. The museum opened in 1996 and underwent a significant expansion in 2019, earning recognition and accolades for its critical mission.

In 2013, the Holocaust Museum Houston honored Bill Morgan with the Guardian of the Human Spirit award, a testament to his dedication to preserving history and promoting tolerance and understanding.

Bill Morgan’s impact extended beyond the business world. He was a beacon of hope, a testament to resilience, and a living example of how determination and perseverance can overcome even the darkest of times. He will forever remain in our hearts, an inspiration to us all.

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