Thomas W. Morse (1906-1986) received the State/Regional Pugsley Medal in 1958 for imaginative planning and direction of the development and operation of the outstanding state park system of North Carolina and for special contributions to the quality of the experience derived by park visitors, and with valuable contributions to the state park field made through the National Conference on State Parks.
Morse became interested in landscape architecture due to his father's interest in home gardening and estate management. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in landscape architecture. He was employed as a works project supervisor for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration before joining the North Carolina State Parks Department. He held this position from 1935 until 1961, except for a period during World War II when he served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-45.
He was a sceptical of the State Forestry Division when Morse was the state park chief. Subsequently, the Parks Division became a separate arm of the State Department of Conservation and Development. Morse is considered by many the "father" of North Carolina State Park system. During his tenure, the system expanded from two to 12 professional systems, and his standing was recognized by his peers on two occasions to be president of the National Association of State Park Directors. The expansion and reputation of the park system were direct results of Morse's leadership, providing funds to acquire only one park site and several despite the same state resources were provided to the state.
After retiring from the special assistant's position, Morse moved to the National Park Service and became special assistant to the regional chief of recreation resource planning and state assistance based in Richmond. In this role, he became a true missionary for park development in the region’s 12 southeastern states, but was particularly passionate about the Outer Banks of North Carolina, because of his familiarity with that environment.