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February 7, 1911 - December 30, 1999
Mr. Morgan was born in Columbus, GA, the son of Mr. James Thomas Morgan, Sr. and Francis Harris Morgan. Interested in art as a young boy, he later studied commercial art and began his career designing labels. After brief stints of work in both Chicago and New York, he returned to Columbus and went to work for Commercial Printers, Inc. as a commercial artist. He quickly worked his way up in the company, and was eventually presented the opportunity to assume ownership following the death of the previous owner.
Often frustrated by the disappointing quality of color reproduction at the time, Mr. Morgan set out to test and perfect many of his ideas that would later become standard industry practices, while raising the quality of color printing reproduction to new levels. A tireless and determined worker, Mr. Morgan slowly began to see the fruits of his labors. The quality of the color printing in his facility began to be noticed by others, even outside of the local area. Soon, customers from all over the country were knocking on his door, asking and sometimes even insisting that their jobs be printed at his company. In 1949, a reproduction of photographer Victor Keppler's "Wine and Cheese" image won the New York Art Directors Award, and was ultimately chosen by the Smithsonian Institution as the premier example of modern color lithography.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Mr. Morgan continued to push for better and better color reproduction. Commercial Printers, Inc. became Litho-Krome Company, and the company continued to produce the finest quality printing for many well-known companies throughout the country. It was during this period that a long standing relationship with Hallmark Cards was formed. Litho-Krome began printing greeting cards for Hallmark and when Mr. Morgan began considering retirement, he found that Hallmark was interested in purchasing Litho-Krome from him. That happened in 1979, when Litho-Krome became a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. However, Mr. Morgan did not really retire. In 1985 he founded Jr. Tom Morgan Enterprises, Inc. where he continued to research and develop new techniques and processes in color reproduction. Although he did not live to see the full impact of electronics, computers, and digital technology on the printing process, he accurately predicted that it would soon happen, and in the few short years since his death, the printing industry has been totally transformed by this technology.
Key Career Achievements
•Began working at Commercial Printers as a commercial artist - 1933
•Assumed operating responsibility for Commercial Printers, Inc. - 1942
•Founder and President of Litho-Krome Company 1948-1979
•Art Directors Club of New York Award - 1949
•Elmer G. Voight Award - 1958
•Southern Graphic Arts Association Award - 1958
•Ben Franklin Award - 1959
•Perfected the "Litho-Krome Black" process for world-class black and white reproductions - 1960
•Printing House Craftsman Award - 1961
•NAPL Soderstrom Award - 1964
•GATF Robert F. Reed Technology Medal - 1976
•Completed the sale of Litho-Krome Company to Hallmark Cards - 1979
•Published his biography "Kiss Impressions - My Love Affair with Lithography" - 1983
•Founder and President of J. Tom Morgan Enterprises, Inc. - 1985-1999
•TAGA Honors Award - 1986
•NAPL Craftsman Award - 1989
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