On Monday, Morgan suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting family in Southampton, Massachusetts. He was 56 years old.

Morgan, a former Air Force lieutenant, was born on May 17, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1973. After working as an information officer in the Air Force, and as an aide to Presidents Nixon and Ford, Morgan worked as a reporter for the Miami Herald. Following six years at The Washington Post, Morgan joined the New York Times, where he served as a reporter, editor and business manager. From 1989 to 1991, Morgan also served as the first openly gay president of the National Association of Black Journalists, with mixed reception, after six years as NABJ's treasurer. During his tenure as president, Morgan was honored with a Nieman Fellowship by Harvard University.

"I struggled with how to represent NABJ without embarrassing the organization but while also being true to myself," said Morgan on the controversy surrounding his election, with some of his colleagues worrying out loud about how an openly gay president would affect NABJ's standing.

"I was elected as a black journalist, not a gay one."

Morgan used his position in NABJ not only to expand opportunities for black journalists, but for women as well. NABJ President Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, the first of five female presidents, credits Morgan with opening the door for women to rise to top posts within the organization.

Morgan, having lived with HIV, remained healthy and active after his retirement, serving as a board member for the Gay Men's Health Crisis and Care for the Homeless. In 2005, Morgan helped create NABJ's LGBT Task Force, and was inducted into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame by the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association. Years earlier, the New York Times had honored Morgan with the Thomas Morgan Internships in Graphics, Design and Photography program.

“We were blessed to know Tom," says Marcus Mabry, the first chair of NABJ's LGBT Task Force, "and when we talk about standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, we mean Tom.

In a very real literal way, we are here thanks to him."

Thomas Morgan III is survived by his partner of 23 years, Thomas Ciano, and three brothers.