Caught in the headlights A voice for those who don't have gas

Hundreds mourn Bicycle Bob in Edmond

Dwight Morgan, known as Bicycle Bob, 54, left, and Edmond police officers, from left, Dan Butcher, Jeff Meadows and Bruce Leeham were photographed together in 2008.

The man known to people in Edmond Oklahoma as Bicycle Bob was buried yesterday. In life he was a loner, but in death more than 350 people from all walks of life came to say good-bye.

Morgan, known by many as Bicycle Bob, was buried Monday at the city’s Gracelawn Cemetery - eight days after he was found stabbed and beaten in his makeshift home under the open sky in downtown Edmond.

He is buried next to his late grandmother, Grace Mae Ballard, who tried to raise Morgan when he was young. He spent most of his life on the streets. Family members said he struggled with mental illness.

Little was known about Bob but everyone had a story of the homeless man who rode his bicycle through the streets of Edmond, always wearing a coat no matter how hot or how cold the weather.

A bicycle wheel, covered in yellow flowers, stood opposite the white bicycle with an evidence tag attached. One of his bicycles stood by his light tan casket draped with orange roses and yellow carnations.

The stories about Morgan made people laugh and cry during the service. Eight Edmond police officers were pallbearers. Other police officers were scattered throughout the sanctuary. Each of the officers had a story about Morgan. Officer Paul Sinclair, a pallbearer, said all the new officers for years got their training on Morgan.

Stories of Morgan spread on Facebook, where four pages in the man’s memory were set up after he died. He had 3,293 friends on those pages just before the funeral began.

The Rev. Chris Shorow, senior pastor at First Christian, said the service would last for days if people were given a chance to tell all their stories about Morgan.

"He became a part of our family,” Shorow said.

Morgan, known to the people around town as Bicycle Bob, battled a number of demons throughout his 54 years. His last and fatal fight came a week ago when he fought for his place under the trees he called home. Police said Morgan was fatally stabbed by another homeless man, Travis Monroe Jim, 20, over his outdoor sleeping spot.

Morgan, born to Jack and Jewell Morgan, was mentally ill. So were his parents, said friends and family members. His mother was in and out of mental institutions throughout her life, which ended several years ago, said Morgan’s half-brother, Glendon Jacks of Edmond. Jewell Morgan was their mother.

"Dwite would drop by occasionally,” Jacks said.

"I would offer to help, and he would refuse. I tried to get him a place to stay, but he didn’t want any help. He would not accept any help.”

Morgan lived with his late grandmother, Grace Mae Ballard, in Edmond until she couldn’t handle her grandson anymore, Jacks said.
Morgan and his brother, Darrell, were sent to a state boy’s home until they were 18, Jacks said.

Then, Morgan took to the streets, living under railroad bridges, on vacant lots and under trees. He lived in his grandmother’s chicken coop until his grandmother died and the family sold her home, Jacks said.

Morgan was hardly ever around his father, Jack Morgan, who lived in Haileyville. He would hitchhike to southeastern Oklahoma to see his father, who also rode a bicycle or walked everywhere he went, Jacks said.

Still, people in Edmond were fond of the man who rode his bicycle across town. They opened up their hearts for Morgan, Edmond’s most recognized homeless man, when he was alive and now that he is dead.

The Rev. Kyle Maxwell, who was pastor at the church for 34 years, said Morgan was an important part of the affluent community.
"He was a humble person, who reminded us to live that way,” said Maxwell, executive director of Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Inc. "Dwite was an integral part of the community.”