In his Presidential address to the American Political Science Association on December 27, 1910, Woodrow Wilson said “Your real statesman is first of all, and chief of all, a great human being, with an eye for all the great fields on which men like himself struggle, with unflagging, pathetic hope, toward better things…. He is a guide, a counselor, a mentor, a servant, a friend of mankind.”   These are fitting, eloquent words that describe our most recent inductee to the Wisconsin Debate Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame -- Clif Morton.

In the words of his nominator:  Sometimes when you hear the words "coach" and "opportunity" it is followed up with a diatribe about inner-city programs with no money and lost kids that would've ended up dead had they not been offered an opportunity by a coach. These coaches are described in saintly terms and it's all because the plight of the urban poor is well established as a moniker of hardship...an almost insurmountable condition.  Well, living in a rural community can seem like just as insurmountable a condition.  One alum recently attended his 15-year reunion and over three-quarters of the people he spoke with still live there.  This alum doesn’t claim his hometown is not a desirable place to live, but the only people he spoke to who no longer live there were involved with the Debate and Forensics teams.  The reason for that is simple – their coach provided them with opportunities to see life outside of small town, Wisconsin.  He also helped instill in each and every one of his students the motivation to compete, improve themselves, an ethic of caring, and a keen sense of fairness.   This coach gave so much that many of his students felt compelled to give back.

Look around at your fellow coaches and you'll see his alumni from across the years: Neil Young, Kristi Plamann, Cory Puuri, Robin Birr, and Melissa Krahn to name a few.  Just look around this community to see the lasting legacy left by this legendary National Forensic League three-diamond coach of Hortonville High School.

Below is the complete list of WDCA Hall of Fame members.

1988
Rudi Angeli, Oconomowoc
Dick Duesterbeck, Durand
Ron Ernst
Art McMillion, Eau Claire Memorial

1989
Duane C. Bosin, Appleton West
Jim Copeland, Marquette University HS
Drucilla Munson, Brookfield Central

1990
Elizabeth Brieman, Dodgeland
Sr. Anne Marie Trimberger

1991
Bob Frederick

1992
Alexandria Hoecherl, Appleton East

1993
Doris Sexton, West Bend East

1994
Bill McBride, Neenah

1995
Don Weinman,  Neenah

1996
Jim Sauer, LaCrosse Central

1997
Robert Leet, Sheboygan South

1998
Roland Faas, West Allis Nathan Hale

1999
Donna Frenzel, Wisconsin Rapids

2000
Gary Wolters, Slinger

2001
Ken Sajdak, Waukesha South
Marilyn Schiel, SPASH

2002
Terry Falk, Solomon Juneau (Milwaukee)

2003
Steve Gargo, Appleton West

2004
Mary Knutson, Cedarburg

2005
Jeri Kimmel, Beaver Dam

2006
Thomas Noonan, Marquette University HS

2007
Michael Traas, Appleton East HS

2008
Clif Morton, Hortonville HS

2009
Jeff Holt, Sheboygan North HS