Mark Carlson-Ghost

On May 10^th, 1948, newly returning veteran Rex Morgan drove into the town of Glenbrook to take over the practice of the beloved (and recently deceased) Dr. Mason.

Walking from the boarding house around the corner to the neighborhood clinic, Morgan met Dr. Mason’s nurse, an attractive young woman by the name of June Gale. While Morgan would later claim it was love at first sight, it seemed more like a lively interest at the time.

“I… I was expecting to see someone older,” June exclaims.

Pleased by her looks, Rex grins, “So was I!” (5-14-48)

It’s the most action the youthful nurse gets for quite some time.

Rex Morgan (and Nick Dallis)’s Mission

That’s one origin story for Rex Morgan. The other involves the genesis of the good doctor in the mind of his creator, a psychiatrist by the name of Nicholas Dallis. Dr. Dallis, in his mid-thirties, was obsessed with the idea of illuminating topical medical issues in comic strip form. The venture was to be titled “Great Discoveries in Medicine.” An early submission to a syndicate was soundly rejected. Dallis sat on the idea for some time, continuing to pursue a career in psychiatry.

Luckily for Dallis (and for fans of the strip), in his second effort he was assisted by Allen Saunders, the writer behind Mary Worth and Steve Roper. Dallis sought Saunders out at the Mental Hygiene Clinic in Toledo, Ohio where he was working and Saunders served on their board. Saunders assured Dallis that the strip, as originally envisioned, would never fly. But a fictional comic strip with a handsome doctor as the lead just might. But Dallis would need to infuse the effort with a large dose of drama and romance to make the medicine go down.

Saunders showed Dallis how to craft a sample submission and had him send it to Publishers Syndicate, the group that distributed his own comic strips. After a couple month wait, Dallis and artist Frank Edgington got the happy news of its acceptance. The syndicate added Marvin Bradley on artwork.

The new comic strip appeared in the Washington Post (and dozens of other newspapers) on the same day Dallis was in the capital to take his “specialty exam” in psychiatry. Dallis’ two careers would coexist for some time. But with the creation of two subsequent comic strips, Judge Parker and Apartment 3-G, Dallis gave up the active practice of medicine.

June Gale’s Burden

June Gale made her debut on the fifth day of the new comic strip. At first June feels like the perfect foil for Dr. Morgan, ala 1940s romantic comedies. Not overly interested at first, June often makes clever replies and cogent observatons.

But before long June’s romantic feelings towards Rex become ever clearer, even as the good doctor remains clueless and a steadfastly committed bachelor. Rex will have some flirtations with romance with other women in those early years, with June given little to do storywise than watch.

Publishers Syndicate was expecting a steady stream of romance and drama from Rex Morgan. This is clearly indicated by a promotional ad that the syndicate offered to newspapers that were running the comic strip to draw in new readers.

“Calling Dr Morgan!” the copy begins, showing Rex surrounded by three attractive nurses. “Never a dull day at a big hospital,” the text continues. “It is ‘Grand Hotel’ with fever charts! Down its corridors strides a tall, young doctor—cool, capable and dangerously handsome…”  (Winona Daily News, 7-29-48, p. 10)

The cards were stacked against poor June from the very start!

Rex Morgan’s Other Women

In the early years of the narrative, Rex Morgan enjoys the attention of several beautiful women who all return later to further complicate the good doctor’s life. There’s spoiled debutante Toni Van Coyne (1948, 1959),the exceptionally beautiful model Maple Forrest (1949, 1950, 1956), and wealthy and ambitious young widow, Karen Corother (1951, 1954-55). In featuring returning iconic female character types, Dallis was following the footsteps of his early mentor, Allen Saunders. Saunders had been utilizing such glamorous figures in Mary Worth throughout the forties.

An early recognition of the romantic dynamic between Rex, June and these other women is exemplified by this bit of well written dialogue from 1954. June and Karen Corother have a tense exchange as Corother’s romance with Morgan is heating up.

June begins the exchange by confessing that she in love with Rex. Does it seem strange for her to admit that, June wonders.

“For you to admit it—yes!” Karen replies, taking a puff from her cigarette. “I always felt you were the martyr type—long suffering and silent.”

But June gives as good as she gets. “I was, until about ten minutes ago when I suddenly realized that if I weren’t careful, you might lead him right off to the altar. And I think enough of Rex that I wouldn’t want him to make a mistake he’d regret the rest of his life.” June places a playful finger to her chin. “What would you say now, Karen? Is it love I feel for Rex—or loyalty?” (10-18-54)

Melissa Claridge and Old Maid Stigma

Three years into the narrative, in 1951, Nicholas Dallis introduces Melissa Claridge, an elderly and decidedly feisty patient with a chronic heart condition. Rex often makes home visits to check up on her. Melissa soon becomes a good, if often pushy friend to both Rex and June. Before long, Melissa is serving as a surrogate for the reader, saying things to both doctor and nurse that the reader presumably has been feeling.

By 1954, during the same storyline that finds June and Karen at odds, Melissa articulates the elephant in the room for the first time.

“Why don’t you ask June to marry you, Rex Morgan?”

:”Well, I—I…,” Rex stammers, “That’s quite a question! I think June is one of the most wonderful girls I’ver met, Melissa, but—what makes you think she’d marry me if I did ask her?”

Melissa reaches for a phone, leaving Rex uncharacteristically alarmed. “By gosh then I’ll call her right now and we’ll find out!” (9-18-54)

In the first decade of the comic strip, these exchanges feel fresh. Indeed, in 1954, a survey revealed that Rex Morgan ranked second in popularity among high school girls, second only to Dick Tracy. The romantic element in Rex Morgan clearly intrigued. (“Rex Morgan Revealed, Time, 1/25/54)

During the fifties, Rex Morgan as a property seemed poised to take off in other mediums. A television pilot was shot by Hafner-Halpern, who specialized in comic strip adaptations, in 1952 starring Louis Hayward as the good doctor and Coleen Grey as June Gale. Unfortunately, it was never picked up. The spring of 1959 found Dallis writing a new pilot script in hopes for a Fall season pickup. But the project went no further.

As the years pass, variations on the “you can’t keep treating June this way” conversation, but nothing in the dynamic between Rex and June changes. June increasingly begins to seem the silent, long suffering victim that Karen Corother accused her of being. And Rex Morgan seems to confirm that he is indeed an oblivious bachelor who doesn’t know a good thing when he sees it. It is not a good look for either Rex or June.

Nicholas Dallis seems to recognize the problem and tries to counter the sense that June is a passive victim. In 1968, June considers an extended leave of absence to work overseas on a Medico of Hope Ship. Melissa encourages June to go and Rex to let her go.

“June’s always been in love with you—but you’re satisfied to keep her as an office nurse—nothing more.” Rex protests but Melissa is having none of it. “June’s a lovely woman … Encourage her to leave, Rex Morgan! Give her an opportunity to find someone who’ll really appreciate what she has to offer.” (1-14-68)

Melissa is just as blunt with June. “It’s no good for you to continue working for him. And, frankly, I don’t think you’ve been good for him, either. You’ve given him companionship without the responsibility of marriage. You’ve given him affection and understanding without expecting the same from him.” (1-21-68)

June does indeed leave and for a year readers wondered if she was really gone for good as she was off the canvas for several storylines. When June does return she has a millionaire suitor, Willie Rodell in tow. In 1972 and into 1973, June has an extended romance with handsome pro golfer Kenny Baron. Governor Wade Norton actively pursues her in 1974. But the increasingly unsatisfactory status quo is always restored.

June gives a peculiar response when a colleague asks her if she’s in love with Ken Baron.

“It depends on your definition of love,” June begins as she looks away. “I don’t want ot just take from the man I marry. I want to feel needed by him—and do things for him. Ken’s in love with me—I know that. By my definition, I’m in love with him.” (5-11-73)

Perhaps Dallis, as a former psychiatrist, was trying to provide a psychological insight into June’s decidedly unsuccessful romantic life. It did nothing, however, to change her “in a rut” image.

Rex and June’s relationship remained moribund until Dallis’ death in 1991. Not only did Dallis never figure a way out of the romantic conundrum he created in Rex Morgan, but he recreated it to a lesser degree in his second comic strip, Judge Parker, with the relationship between Sam Driver and Abbey Spencer.

At a subliminal level, it didn’t help that June’s only apparent friend was a seemingly never married woman in her eighties. Melissa’s lenghthy unmarried status was never addressed in the narrative to my knowledge. It would have been a refreshing moment had Melissa explained that she had remained single by choice and enjoyed the perks of that choice. Instead, Melissa embodies the stereotype of the meddling old crone, even if she does enjoy moments as the comic strip’s preeminent truth teller.

Public Service and Drama Coexisting

All the while, Dallis stayed true to original intention of providing educational and even enlightening lessons to his reading audience.

Among the various medical and social issues addressed by Dallis in his comic strip was sexism in medical practice. One of his very first stories in the fall of 1948 features Dr. Belinda Parks, an attractive female surgeon who Dr. Breck Walker reluctantly takes on as his surgical assistant due to sexist attitudes.

“As the first woman physician on our staff,” Dr. Walker pompously warns his new colleague, “you should expect to find some prejudice.”

Dr. Parker gets the message loud and clear. “I did,” she pointedly replies. “But not so soon.” (8-9-48)

The two fall in love and Belinda performs a heroic surgery while trapped in a collapsed building. Parks continues in her practice at the end of their story. That there was no immediate marriage and a subsequent surrendering of her career was a narrative innovation for the time.

Dallis went on to explore mercy killing in a controversial late 1950 storyline. A nurse named Jan attempted to euthanise her gravely ill father, a patient under Dr. Morgan’s care. The attempt failed and the father recovered. But before all that unfolded, several newspaper editors expressed concern. The Newark Times went so far as to drop the comic strip for the duration of the storyline.  

Overall, though, the powers that be approved of Dallis’ earnest efforts to educate the public. By 1954, Dallis had already also penned narratives on cerebral palsy, epilepsy, bogus cancer cures, and the dangers of misued hypnosis and extreme diets. The American Medical Association that year gave Dallis special recognition for “the outstanding health educational service he performs.”

Dallis’ two careers would coexist until 1959, when the world of comic strips won out. By this time, Dallis had launched his second comic strip, Judge Parker. A third, Apartment 3-G would soon follow in 1961. Writing comic strips, it would turn out, was his true passion. He developed a routine of devoting two days a week to the writing of each strip.

Rex Morgan’s (and Dallis’) World View

For all its progressive advocacy, Dallis’ essential world view is essentially conservative. While he champions more accepting attitudes towards various maladies such as leprosy, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy, Dallis doesn’t endorse radical shifts in social mores. This is nowhere more in evidence in a storyline in which he advises a patient who has exhibited poor judgment.

“What are some the basic mental health principles for happiness, Dr. Morgan?” the patient asks.

“Probably the most important is to do only things that are socially accepted.”

“I don’t quite understand,” the patient’s mother admits.

“Then let me explain it this way, Judy. Society has placed certain restraints upon us which beniet not only society but each individual who must live within it.”

“But there are times when we don’t want to accept society’s restraints.” Judy admits. 

“That’s granted,” Rex allows. “But if you want happiness, you must.” (8-29-50)

This belief remains a lynchpin of Dallis’ long tenure on the strip. Nearly twenty years later, in a story of dangerously rebellious college students, the overly permissive campus president argues just the opposite.

The president chastises a female professor who has expelled two students with high IQs from her class.

“They have great potential for leadership! Let us not stunt their growth by demanding that they conform to the mundane demands of society.”

Professor Willobee counters with a non-negotiable demand that “they wash. Are you intimately that a little soap and water will erode their IQs?” (10-21-67)

Rex Morgan’s Arch Enemy?!

It may come as a surprise to modern readers, but Rex Morgan had a reoccurring villain who appeared in the narrative a total of six times. The Professor (he went by different last names with every appearance) was an amoral con man but a rather charming one at that. On the pudgy side, the Professor was balding with a well trimmed mustache that later grew into a van dyke.The Professor had a fondness for drink and attractive women who typically work as his assistant at the tempory offices he sets up to “practice.” He first appears in 1949 and last pops up in 1966.

The Professor, in addition to being an engaging antagonist, was a way that Dallis could alert his readers to medical health scams. On different occasions the Professor offered unwitting wealthy women bogus cancer cures, diabetes care, weight loss strategies, and even paths to finding true love. has made a specialty out of bogus health cures. His real name was never revealed. Other scam artists occasionally popped up, but the Professor was clearly a Dallis (and likely a reader) favorite.

Keith Cavell, The Male as Unlucky at Love

On the male side of the romantic ledger, Rex’s old med school pal, Keith Cavell turns up every few years after his first appearance in the narrative in 1957. In that first story, Keith romances June, the first real threat to their static relationship. Keith proposes to June and she accepts! But Keith is too restless to stay put for long, and besides June’s heart belongs to Rex, however ill advised that commitment might seem.

Cavell is the first indication that Nicholas Dallis recognizes the need to inject a little extra energy into the strip. Handsome with a van dyke that adds to a devil may care appearance, Cavell is a globe-trotting surgeon whose restless spirit has led him to provide medical services in troubled regions across the world, from Africa to Vietnam. He is first heard in the narrative calling collect from Mexico City needing money to fly home and escape a bad situation.

After an unsuccessful romance with June, Keith’s specialty appears to ill advised romances, a new one emerging every time he returns to the States. Melissa Claridge is charmed by Cavell and readily takes his side in situations, unlike her relationship with Rex.

Enter Brice Adam—And Other Energizing Efforts

When Rex Morgan is injured in 1970, handsome young Brice Adam fills in for him and soon is made a partner in the practice. Adam is clearly meant to interject an element of youth to the strip, as Rex and June are feeling increasingly middle aged. Specifically, Dallis felt that Adam brought the increased “social consciousness” typical of younger physicians. That said, Brice never really emerges as a dynamic presence, never catching on like Sam Driver did in the Judge Parker comic strip. It took more than slightly longer hair to clinch the deal. Brice leaves for a conference in 1978 and never comes back. Well into his sixties, Dallis had increasing difficulty channeling the mindset of his younger readers.  

By 1975, Dallis was even considering letting Rex and June tie the knot. As he told The Saturday Evening Post, “There are many dramatic possibilities within the marital relationship” (11/75, p. 22). He himself married during his psychiatric internship and never regretted. Dallis’ wife went on to become a nurse. Oh, the irony. But the syndicate was dead set against the idea. To do so would ruin the romantic tension and decrease reader interest, they argued. But after almost thirty years, how much tension could be left?

In 1979, Dallis has Rex and June leaving their neighborhood clinic for a professional office building. By then, he openly admitted that for last few years he was trying to tell more relevant stories. To the Baltimore Sun (9/4/79), relevance seemed to include an uptick in violence in the narrative.The move to a big city locale was intended to speed up adventures, with Rex closer to the hospital and its emergency room. In practice the move had little impact on stories other than to provide a rationale for why Dr. Adam was no longer around.

Keith Cavell returns only once during Adam’s tenure as a younger, more reckless foil for Morgan. But as soon as Adams was written out of the strip, Cavell begins reappearing again—literally subbing for Adam until a return that would never come. Dallis may be forgiven for liking to write for characters that appealed to him in a way that Brice Adam never did. Cavell has two significant and overlapping romances during this period. Both of which unfold over time. One with psychiatrist Rita Carson in  1978-79 and 1981-82 and the other with single mom Martha Dane in 1981-82 and 1984. While he once again retreats from center stage, Cavell is never permanently absent from the narrative until 1995. A hero to the last, Keith Cavell is shot and killed while rescuing a woman from an attacker.

Nicholas Dallis’addition of Dr. Ken Crisp to the narrative from late 1985 to early 1993 was even less successful than Brice Adam, and barely remembered by longtime readers. (It’s possible that Crisp was the creation of Woody Wilson, Dallis’ assistant who was taking over more and more of the writing chores.) Older than Brice, Crisp briefly dates June, but he harbors a secret, a serious gambling problem. Once that’s resolved, Ken handles a couple of cases before falling in love with his high school sweetheart back home and moving back there to practice.

Rex Morgan and Continuing Ed

Beginning in the sixties, and carrying through the seventies and eighties, Dallis began to have an increased focus on the threat of substance abuse, particularly alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Heroin was tacked in 1964, LSD in 1966, marijuana in 1968 and 1980, steroids in 1968, and cocaine in 1985 and 1988. Alcohol abuse and its impact on families continued to be addressed as well—1971, again in 1983. This list is likely incomplete.

Dallis continues to do his best to explore other relevant medical and lifestyle concerns, including shining a light on multiple forms of domestic abuse. Storylines included a father abusing his child in 1971, a husband abusing his wife in 1979, a stepfather abusing his stepchildren in 1986, and an engaged college senior abusing his youthful fiancé in 1988.    

His dream of providing valuable education to readers continued until the end of Dallis’ life. In 1982, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms asked Dallis to craft an educational pamphlet entitled “Rex Morgan Talks About Your Unborn Child!” It was all part of an effort to alert women about the dangers of drinking while pregnant and the risk of Fetal Alchohol Syndrome as a result. Over 600,000 pamphlets were printed before funding ran out. Pennsylvania went so far to make the pamphlets available at state-owned liquor stores.

And after his first cocaine storyline in 1985, Dallis received the Print Media Award from the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth. Dallis surely took great satisfaction from both of these developments. Even in his seventies, he was still making a difference.

Woody Wilson and the Realities of Practice

With the death of Nicholas Dallis in 1991, at the age of 80, Woody Wilson assumed  official control over the narrative. Wilson had worked behind the scenes with Dallis for some time, taking more and more responsibility for the writing. Nonetheless, Dallis clearly had influence over the general direction of the strip. Wilson’s takeover and new direction provided a much needed breath of fresh air.

One of Wilson’s  first innovations was to pay more attention to the staff that would be needed to support a thriving medical practice. In 1993, Rex hires chubby Berna Hold to manage the office, who promptly has a romance with a celebrity chef named Tito. In 1995, June hires a second fulltime nurse, Becka Hanson, to help cover for her while she’s in school. June has decided to get training to become a nurse practitioner. Becka, naturally, has a ne’er-do-well husband and an irresponsible musician brother for story fodder.

What is more sublimal is how these additions amplify how much “male” medical practice is dependent on the scaffolding efforts of women.

To make narrative room for all these new characters, Melissa Claridge makes only three appearances in the nineties, though she isn’t forgotten at key moments.

Wilson also finally unstalls the moribund, four decades long Rex/June romance.

Rex finally proposes to June in 1995 and the two are married the following year. Once again, Melissa provides a voice to the reader, exclaiming that she never thought she’d live long enough to see this moment. Though little is made of it, June retains Gale as her last name.

Wilson also has June return to school to become a family nurse practitioner, though her studies proceed at a glacial pace. (Wilson, who also took over writing chores for Judge Parker, was known for having a single day of narrative last as long as several weeks.)

In the midst of those studies, June gives birth to the Morgan’s first child, Sarah. Berna and Melissa clash over who can best serve as maternal figure to June in the final days of her pregnancy. Melissa hilariously claims to be June’s midwife to be at her side!

This prompts another female member to be added to the Morgan family entourage, attractive and mysterious Englishwoman Heather Gray, to be newborn Sarah’s nanny.

Wilson’s penchant for adding gratituous glamor into the proceedings is examplied by Heather’s credentials, which included serving as a royal nanny for the Duchess of York.

And feisty millionaire businessman Milton Avery enters the narrative in 2005, bringing with him regularly emerging medical concerns. A romance and later a marriage between Avery and Heather soon becomes a recurring plotline for more than a decade. 

With all these characters to follow, medical issues recede into the background but are not entirely neglected. Wilson address HIV as a medical concern in 1992. In 2000, Rex tesitifies before Congress on the need for more comprehensive health insurance for Americans. Issues of costly medical insurance and frivolous lawsuits are also addressed.

Interestingly, when a questioner participating in a live online segment sponsored by the Washington Post described Rex Morgan as a “liberal, leftist physician,” Wilson denied that characterization.

“Fact is,” Wilson replied, “I’m a registered Republican. The issue of access to health care should not be a partisan issue.” 

Wilson continues to skillfully use office personnel to good effect. When Berna Holt seemingly exhausted story possibilities in 2011, she retires after winning the lottery and Summer Knight replaces her. Summer’s daughter Kelly promptly falls for Niki Roth, a troubled young man Rex has taken under his wing. And when Becka Hanson quits in 2015, an African American veteran named Michelle Carter takes her place.

One feature present in Wilson’s writing style in both the Rex Morgan and Judge Parker comic strips is to have unlikely good fortune fall upon his characters. The Morgan’s daughter Sarah is incredibly precocious and an art prodigy to boot. She soon has a devoted financial backer in wealthy Dotty Pierpont. In  2015, after a lengthy pregnancy, June gives birth to the Morgan’s second child, Michael.   

June Gale’s Substantive Makeover

As can be seen, Woody Wilson makes an effort to elevate June Morgan to a more or less equal professional level to her husband without abandoning her nursing roots. In a 1996 interview with the Washington Post, Wilson explained he was aiming for a “kind of a Nick and Nora Charles” vibe, a reference to the Thin Man series of films of the 1940s. In this, Wilson was largely successful. June Gale was never portrayed as bright, vibrant and attractive as she was during this period.

Wilson also attempted to populate the narrative with a wide array of interesting women. Heather Avery, in particular, seems a fully fleshed out character who admirably rises to the occasion to save her husband’s company from the vulture’s who circle when they get wind of Milton’s failing health.        

Frank Edgington and Marvin Bradley provided admirable artwork from the strip’s inception to 1987. They excelled in drawing realistic figures and settings, though even their bad girls rarely engendered any carnal thoughts in readers. Fernando “Fred” DaSilva took over in 1980 after a brief and unsuccessful sting by Frank Springer, whose art was just too much a change from Edgington and Bradley. Tony DiPreta, who took over in 1985 and drew the comic strip until 2000. Both DaSilva and DiPreta contributed a workmanlike efforts, trying their  best to make Rex and June look as much like their Edgington and Bradley versions as they could.

A visual makeover for the female characters, however, had to wait until the arrival of new artist Graham Nolan in 2000. He allowed the character of Rex and June to have a greater range of facial expressions. While some readers balked at the change, others were surprised to find that June had a rather nice figure. Now married, June wore attractive slips to bed. Rex—gasp—went shirtless, revealing a surprisingly fit chest.

Wilson, for his part, even featured this new and quite attractive June Gale in storylines of her own in which Rex was largely absent. When Rex and June were together, they had a nice personal chemistry together, clearly a match of peers who were equal partners in facing life’s challenges. If anything, June was the brighter, more dynamic member of the pair. Marriage did not entirely cure Rex of his occasional cluelessness.

Terry Beaty: Glamour Out, Domesticity In

Since late 2013, Terry Beaty has supplied the artwork for the Rex Morgan comic strip. With Woody Wilson’s retirement in 2016, he took over the writing as well. One of his first actions as writer was to have Sarah get hit by a car and suffer some brain damage. The end result was Sarah losing her artistic genius and becoming a far more normal six-year old child. She also ceased to be a driving force in the narrative, a welcome change for many longtime Rex Morgan readers.

Storylines under Beatty have a much smaller, less glamorous and more realistic tone. Beaty also introduced that rarity in American comic strips, a lesbian character! Kelly Knight is jealous of her boy friend Niki’s friend Holly until both of them learn that she’s gay. Holly is a forthright and admirable character without being a model minority. Kelly also learns she has two gay uncles, a reality that seems a bit odd that she never realized. Though never underestimate “the will not to know” in human nature.

Consistent with a more domestic tone, Rex and June adopt the son of one of June’s childhood friends who is dying and wants to find a good home for her offspring. June also appears very invested in Heather Avery’s new baby via her now late husband Milton, who finally succumbed to his Alzheimer’s Disease and other ailments. Some readers have found June’s “baby mania,” as its been called, to take away from the more professional stature she gained under Wilson’s watch.

Unfortunately, June takes a back seat in the stories and only returns to her career in 2017. Her status as a nurse practitioner has yet to be highlighted. Even Rex only occasionally takes center stage to provide a brief medical intervention. The social lives of childhood friend Buck Wise, elderly comic book artist Hank Harwood, and former major domo and vet chef Jordan Harris have become a major focus of the strip.

But June Gale’s transformation remains in tact. When Rex and June ponder how some people are hard to figure out, snuggling on the coach, her husband asks her if she thinks she has him all figured out.

“Oh, Rex,” June smiles a wonderful smile. “I had you figured out a long time ago.” (2-4-18)

Only time will tell what the future will hold for June Gale. And, if you’re still interested, her husband Rex.

An Addendum

Terry Beatty, in several sly narrative asides, has made it clear that stories from the first several decades of Rex Morgan are no longer canon. In that spirit, in 2020, Beatty decides to tell the story of how Rex and June first met and fell in love with decidedly different details than those provided in 1948 and onward. Rex is jogging and bumps into June, a nurse at the hospital he has failed to notice and fails to apologize–at least as June remembers it. Complications ensue. Beatty takes this opportunity to reintroduce long absent characters into the narrative, such as Melissa Claridge, introduced in 1950 an unseen since 2013, and Dr. Keith Cavell, introduced in 1957 and killed off in 1995. Whether these characters will reappear in the narrative after the flashback runs its course remains to be seen but it has been a delightful nod to longtime readers. What remains unchanged is how June remains the more “woke” of the pair as Rex is clearly as clueless then as he occasionally still is today!

Mark Carlson-Ghost

All rights reserved

References

Papke, David R. “Cartoon doctor: Rex Morgan, M.D.” Saturday Evening Post, November 1975, pp. 22, 24, 81.

Robert, Cynthia, Associated Press Writer, “People listening to Rex Morgan, The Gettysburg Times, 7-7-1982, p. 5.

Saunders, Allen. “Playwright for Paper Actors, ch. 14,” Nemo, the Classic Comics Library #18, 1986, pp.  

Vick, Karl. “Wedding of the Century,” Washington Post, 8-3-1996.      .

Keep scrolling down for a list of notable characters and when they appeared in the comic strip as well as year by year abbreviated history of events.

Rex Morgan’s Family

June Gale Morgan. Morgan’s nurse and long-suffering romantic interest. June meets Rex for the first time when Rex takes over the practice of a recently deceased physician. June had served as that doctor’s nurse. June admits her love for Rex to others in 1954. Good friend and Morgan patient Melissa Claridge believes Rex takes her for granted and that she deserves better. In the meantime, June enjoyed (and sometimes suffered from) the romantic attentions of numerous successful men, many of whom proposed. But none of them ever seemed to manage to supplant her affection for Rex for long. It is not until Rex experiences a wildnerness ordeal that he realizes his priorities and proposes to June in 1995. That same year June goes back to school to become a nurse practioner. Rex and June finally exchange vows and are married on August 3^rd, 1996. June gives birth to their daughter Sarah in the Spring of 2000. In January 2001, after an extended period of time in school, June obtains her nurse practitioner degree which allows her to practice medicine on a more equal basis with Rex. That same year, June  works closely with the parents of Beau McBride who has received a diagnosis of asthma. She also independently invesitigates a serious mold/bacterial outbreak. June realizes she’s pregnant with their second child in April 2013.  She gives birth to Michael in 2015 and in 2017 adopts Johnny, whose mother is an old childhood friend dying of cancer. June returns to working as a nurse practitioner that same year. 5/14/48-pr.    

Sarah Ann Morgan. Rex and June’s daughter. For a time, Sarah displays extraordinary talents in art and a precocious personality, but a car accident and resulting brain damage results in her becoming a girl of average intelligence and skills. 2/22/00-pr.

Michael Dallis Morgan. Rex and June’s son. His middle name is described by Rex as in honor of an “old friend.” 11/29/15-pr

Johnny Taylor Morgan. The son of Margie Taylor and Ronnie March. After Ronnie’s death, Margie struggles to raise him as a single mom. But when Margie is diagonosed with cancer for a third time, she asks her childhood best friend, June, if she and Rex will raise him. They agree and become his guardian when Margie disappears so her son won’t see her waste away. With her death in late 2017, Rex and June begin adoption proceedings, briefly engaging in a custody struggle with Johnny’s grandparents, Arnold and Helen March. 7/16/17-pr.

Rex Morgan’s Friends and Colleagues

Toni Van Coyne. Spoiled debutante, daughter of wealthy business man who “owns half the town. Morgan first encounters her as she speeds past him on his way to start his practice in Glenbrook. She later donates her blood to help save the life of young Danny Starr, the boy she secretly hit without stopping. Her father asks Morgan to look after her, given her lack of “emotional health.” She works for the shady Lucky Deale, as a singer at his casino, to help pay off a gambling debt of her father’s. When she next appears years later, she is the widow of Ferdinand Monterego, who was murdered by a mutual friend named Conrad Jardon. June is wary of her on both occasions, while Rex is inclined to give her a chance. 5/10/48-8/2/48, 7/23/59-10/59.

Dr. Belinda Parks. Attractive female surgeon who Dr. Breck Walker reluctantly takes on as his surgical assistant due to sexist attitudes. The two fall in love and Belinda performs a heroic surgery while trapped in a collapsed building. Parks continues in her practice at the end of their story. 8/6/48-11/11/48.

Maple Forrest. Beautiful and successful model, Rex and Maple become close when she comes to town, until an amnesiac at Rex’s hospital turns out to be her presumed dead husband. Two years later, Maple’s husband has really died and Maple returns to Glenbrook in hopes of doing some good in her life by becoming a nurse. Rex thinks she doesn’t have the focus to ever succeed in the profession, but June writes her a letter of reference, believing anyone deserves a chance to pursue their dream. Maple is suspected of an attempted mercy killing but is soon exonerated. Year later it emerges that Maple quit the nursing program not long after. Now preparing to take on a role in a Broadway play, Maple falls under the influence of a sinister hypnotist named Winslade. 11/17/48-2/49, 9/10/50-2/1/51, 7/21/56-12/2/56.

Karen Corother. Attractive, wealthy widow who initially crosses horns with Rex when protecting his drunk driving brother, Craig, from legal consquences. Karen and Rex fall for each other, but Karen realizes with Melissa Claridge’s help that she would find his constant devotion to his patients troubling were they to be married. She flies off to South America, later returning with a daughter, Heidi, who has cerebral palsy. Initially she shows renewed interest in Rex but ends up with a more devoted suitor, Cory Stiles. With she exits the narrative with her happy ending. 2/51-5/51, 8/54-2/55.

Melissa Claridge. Initially portrayed as an elderly woman who somewhat jokingly insists she is in love with Dr. Morgan. Rex would come and visit and play checkers with her periodically while also checking in on her health. Melissa initially provides advice to Karen Corother, but by 1952 is confronting Rex on how badly he treats June, gradually becoming frustrated and even playfully hostile towards Rex because of his lack of follow through in proposing marriage to June. In 1954, she openmindedly takes in the family of Jim Hartley, who is being treated for Nelson’s disease or leprosy. By the late fifties, Melissa is actively supporting June’s romances with other men. In 1971, Melissa is initially pleased to be visited by her beautiful niece, Heidi, but discovers that she is a pathological liar. In 1983, Melissa befriends her teen-aged neighbor, Denise Tandem, whose mother Loretta it emerges suffers from alcoholism. By 1991, another niece named Sandra Whitworth is apparently living with her. Despite her acerbic comments, Melissa is thrilled when Rex and June are finally married in 1996. At the wedding, she declares, “I never thought I’d live to see the day.” In 1997, Melissa decides to move into the retirement community, Vintage Haven, run by George and Jan Axelrod. She does so despite the protests of Sandra. That doesn’t stop her from insisting on being present at the hospital in 2000 when June gives birth to their first child.She claims to be her midwife in an effort to be at her side.In 2001, Melissa shows up decked out in leather and engaged to her motorcycle riding beau, Merle Bird. 3/23/51-5/51, 2/52-3/52, 5/53,-9/53, 4/54-10/54, and at least once every year through 9/80, 8/82-9/82, 5/83-11/83, 8/86, 12/91-5/92, 7/96-10/96, 11/30/97-5/98, 1/00-6/00, 11/01-5/02, 8/12, 2/13, others.

Cory Stiles. Handsome architect who enters the narrative to design a cerebral palsy treatment center being planned by Rex and Karen Corother. He secretly suffers from epilepsy. He pursues June for a time but grows closer to Karen. When he asks Rex is “as an epileptic, do I have the right to ask a certain woman to marry me?” Rex isn’t certain which woman he means. Rex assures him that he does and he proposes to Karen who accepts. 11/54-2/55.

Dr. Keith Cavell. An old medical school friend of Rex’s, Cavell is handsome, sporting a van dyke that adds to his devil may care appearance. Cavell is a globe-trotting surgeon whose restless spirit has led him to provide medical services in troubled regions across the world, from Africa to Vietnam. He is first heard in the narrative calling collect from Mexico City needing money to fly home and escape a bad situation. When, shortly after their reunion, Rex fractures an ankle, he asks Keith to cover his medical practice while he recuperates away. Cavell, an inveterate womanizer, immediately sets his sights on June, the two even becoming engaged in August, 1957, before things fall through. Cavell returns briefly again in 1959, and periodically thereafter, almost always engaged in some new romance. Melissa Claridge is charmed by Cavell and readily takes his side in situations, unlike her relationship with Rex. From late 1962 into 1963, Keith attempts to romance attractive intern, Dr. Tracy Keith. In 1968 Keith genuinely falls in love with Ginny, a nurse at Morgan’s office. In 1975, Keith is shot in the shoulder while preventing a robbery at the motel where he is staying. He soon meets and falls badly for the amoral Valerie Layne. Cavell fills in for Brice Adam during his leave in 1978 and falls in love with beautiful psychiatrist, Rita Carson. The two become engaged, but in 1981, while in South America, Rita is kidnapped and develops amnesia. While waiting for Rita to recover her memory, Cavell falls in love with single mom, Martha Dane, and enjoys playing surrogate father to her son. In 1984, Cavell reappears, distressed to find he has a rival for Martha’s affections in Bert von Dale. After an absence of several years practicing overseas, Cavell returns in 1993, having been deported by the South African government, and just in time to pick up the slack with Dr. Kenneth Crisp’s departure from Rex’s practice. He soon is entagled in an illicit scheme by another ill advised paramour, Graciella Demiro. In 1995, while out jogging, he spies a woman in distress and while rescuing her is shot and killed by her attacker. 3/30/57-9/57, 2/59, 1/60-5/60, 7/61-10/61, 11/62-3/63, 5/65-8/65, 7/68-11/68, 6/70, 5/23/75-12/75, 5/17/78-2/79, 4/26/81-2/82, 7/84-12/84, 5/30/93-11/93, 6/94-7/95.

Ginny. Pretty, 23-year old blonde nurse who fills in for June during a leave of absence. Keith Cavell falls in love with her and proposes marriage. But marital bliss is thwarted when Ginny leaves Morgan’s practice (and Cavell) to care for her ill mother. 7/68-11/68, x/xx.

Brice Adam. Handsome young, brown-haired doctor who joins Morgan’s practice, Adam is more impetuous than his older colleague and represents the younger generation of physicians in the narrative. In 1971, he is involved in uncovering a child abuser in the person of Kevin Brown. In 1972, Brice falls for nurse Laura Pace. In 1973, Brice is a suspect in a murder case. In 1976, Brice gets entangled in an affair with Mary Gordon, the wife of another physician. In 1977, Brice is kidnapped by Jase Crandall to care for his very ill girl friend. After the ordeal, Brice advocates for Jase’s younger brother Billy and takes him under his wing. In 1978, Brice leaves for medical training in cardiology, ostensibly only for a month. He is never seen again, only passingly referenced as not following his medical partner, Rex Morgan, to his new offices in a new professional building. 6/13/70-6/28/78, (referenced 9/78 and circa 10/79).

Billy Crandall. Troubled teen whose older brother and ex-con Jase Crandall is along for the ride for some robberies and the kidnapping of Brice Adam to treat his ill girl friend. Brice, the wild bachelor, takes Billy under his wing, providing him with a place to live. Often in the wrong place at the wrong time, Billy next cleans in the office of bogus cancer specialist Dr. Jim and then works for a car jacker. He then disappears from the narrative along with Dr. Adam.  6/77-5/78.

Connie Bell. Young nurse hired to assist June in Morgan’s office, and is hit on by Keith Cavell her first day at work. But Connie, it turns out, is clearly infatuated with Rex Morgan instead. 5/20/78-9/78.

Dr. Rita Carson. Attractive psychiatrist who is romanced by Keith, hiding the fact of her epilepsy from him for fear of rejection. The two ultimately become engaged, but she wants to wait to get married.  9/78-2/79, 4/81-2/82.

Martha Dane. Attractive blonde-haired nurse and single Mom. Keith Cavell falls in love with her while his onetime fiancé has amnesia and had no feelings for him. When Keith returns from one of his overseas medical ventures, he is distressed to find that Martha has been being romanced by wealthy civic leader, Bert von Dale. Martha’s son grows close to Keith and ultimately Martha chooses him over Bert. 7/81-2/82, 7/84-12/84.

Ken Crisp. Handsome younger physician who fills in for Rex when he is seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver. Ken briefly dates June, but he harbors a secret, a serious gambling problem. Ken confesses his gambling problem to Rex in August of 1989. He falls in love with his high school sweetheart, Ivy Green, now unhappily married to Bo Knight in November of 1992. Ken decides to stay and become a rural physician and live with Ivy, who is now divorcing her husband. 12/85-1/21/93.

Sandra Whitworth. Melissa Claridge’s feisty niece who lives with her for a few years and becomes concerned in 1991 when she falls ill and is later disoriented. She again contacts Rex when Melissa decides to enter a retirement community so Sandra can “get on with her life.” In 2012, Melissa reports that she will be attending Sandra’s wedding, though neither Sandra or the ceremony are shown. 12/7/91-5/92, 12/3/97-5/98, (ref. 8/12).  

Berna Holt. Sixty-something woman who decides to revitalize her life by going back to work as Rex and June’s office manager and also to finish her college degree after over forty years. The latter sets her into conflict with Dr. Cavell who doesn’t approve of her resulting irregular hours. Berna becomes a reliable figure in the lives of Rex and June, attending their wedding and seeing to it that Melissa doesn’t intervene with June during the delivery of her daughter. 11/93-6/11.

Dexter Holt. Sixty-something brother of Berna, who is far less ambitious than his sister. She encourages him to take a cooking class, and June has Rex join him. He shows a real talent for cooking. When Berna wins the lottery in late 2010, Dexter goes crazy and spends unwisely. 11/28/93-6/94, sporadic thereafter, 12/10-6/11.

Chef Tito. Noted chef who teaches cooking classes as his financial situation worsens. He He ultimately becomes romantically involved with Berna Holt. After witnessing Rex and June’s wedding vows, Tito proposes to Berna and she accepts. Both vow to lose weight for their wedding, but Tito cheats and Berna feels betrayed. They continue to see ach other, but never marry. When Berna wins the lottery and leaves the Morgans’ practice, Tito is not referenced. 1/13/94-6/94, 7/96-12/96, 5/01-11/01, (6/02 referenced)..

Becka Hanson. Rex’s nurse hired in late 1995. Rex is aware that her husband has a bad reputation which soon ends with his dismissal from the hospital for sexual harassment. When Peter shows remorse, Becka decides to stay with him. In 1997, Becka follows her instincts and help Valeria Vasquez, in the states without a green card, and helps undo Wallace Dilbert’s baby smuggling operation. In 1999,Becka’s irresponsible brother, Rick Stone, comes to town. Becka is generally a reliable, behind-the-scenes member of the Morgans’ joint practice and is present for their wedding. Becka resigns and leaves town in 2015. Her nursing position is taken by Michelle Carter. 11/19/95-3/96, 7/96-8/96, 7/97-11/97, 10/98, 9/99-1/00, 6/09-12/09, 6/11, 3/13-4/13, 1/14, 8/14, 12/14, 3/15.

Peter Hanson. Handsome young doctor beginning his residency and husband to Becka. Peter is accused of sexual harassment when first seen in the narrative and is suspended from the hospital. He later shows, despite his remorse, to be unreliable and there marriage is over by the time that Becka leaves the Morgans’ practice. 11/95-3/96, 11/97, 9/99-10/99, 6/09-12/09, (referenced 12/14, 3/15).

Valeria Vasquez. “Undocumented alien” who is hired to care for a 13-month old baby who unbeknownst to her is being prepped to be sold. When Valeria brings the child in to be seen, Becka Hanson senses the child isn’t hers. Head of the scheme, Wallace Dilbert ends up kidnapping Valeria’s actual young children for potential sale. Valeria feels unable to go to the police for help. Ultimately she helps the police bring down Dilbert and is reassured that she likely will be able to stay in the country as the result of her help. 7/24/97-11/30/97.

Rick Stone. Becka’s irresponsible musician brother who runs afoul of a gangster named Whitey who mistakenly thinks Rick has stolen and pawned jewelry he supposedly stole while romancing Whitey’s daughter.9/9/99-12/99.

Heather Gray Avery. The Morgans hire an attractive, highly competent English woman, Heather Gray to beSarah’s nanny. But Heather has a dangerous suitor from her past. In 2003 she is romanced by the wealthy and powerful Milton Avery, with whom she soon falls in love and ultimately marries. In 2004, Heather considers starting a day school for young children. In 2006, Heather and Milton get married. When Milton is apparently missing, Heather must help protect his company from his scheming son, Hugh. When Milton is diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2013, Heather resigns as Sarah’s nanny and sells her day care center to help manage affairs at Avery International. In 2015, caring for Milton becomes too much one person to handle and so Heather hires wounded vet Jordan Harris to assist her. After faithfully serving as a caregiver and business surrogate, Heather’s husband finally dies in 2018. That same week, Heather gives birth to their daughter, Elena “Phoenix” Avery. Heather moves permanently back to England, leaving the company in charge of its existing officers. She also funds Jordan Harris’ dream of opening a restaurant before leaving. 3/00-8/00, 5/02, 7/02, 10/02-11/02, 2/03-10/03, 8/04-12/04, 10/06, 3/07-9/07, 4/09, 5/13-9/13, 7/15-11/16, 3/17-4/17, 9/24/17, 12/31/17, 4/29/18-6/18.

Merle Bird. Wealthy senior who romances Melissa Claridge, getting her to don motorcycle leathers and ride with him. His daughter is wary of Melissa, thinking she might be after her father’s money. The two are engaged to be married, but Merle’s heart attack and his daughter’s concerns ultimately lead to their break-up. 11/01-5/02.

Milton Avery. Arrogant but charismatic millionaire becomes a patient of Rex’s and falls passionately in love with the Morgan nanny, Heather Gray. The two are soon married. When Milton is presumed missing, his bitter, estranged son Hugh tries to take advantage of Heather. Milton begins a long struggle with Alzheimers in 2013. Avery pulls it together long enough, with the essential support of Heather, to thwart a hostile takeover of his company, by his son, Hugh. In his final months, Milton fathers a child with Heather. Heather gives birth in 2018, even as Avery finally passes away, having largely lost his faculties. He leaves his fortune to Heather. 6/22/03-9/03,(10/01/06 wedding referenced),8/07-9/07, 5/13-8/13, 7/15-11/15, 3/16-4/16, 8/16, 10/16-11/16, 9/24/17, 12/31/17, (4/29/18 death referenced).

Niki Roth. Niki is a tow-haired teen-ager who first appears in the narrative snatching June’s purse. It soon emerges he is a likeable young man whose mother is a meth addict and is part of a meth lab. Niki stays with the Morgans while his mother gets drug treatment and Sarah develops a crush on him. Rex begins going on camping trips with Niki through the Big Brother program, trips that are always eventful. Niki’s first crush is on Kelly, Summer Knight’s Goth daughter. 9/06-3/07, 7/07, 9/07-3/08, 8/11-12/11, 11/13-12/13, 4/14, 7/14, 10/14, 1/15-4/15, 6/16-7/16, 4/17-7/17, 2/18-4/18.

Brook. June’s younger and feistier cousin. Brook stays with the Morgans and has a tumultuous if engaging relationship with Tony Toots, a young man with a scruffy goatee who is hiding in June’s basement. 12/09-7/10.

Summer Knight. Office associate of Rex and June, interested in electronic medical records. Knight replaces Berna Holt as office manager when she retires but never assumes the same prominence in the narrative. Knight has blonde hair, a ponytail and glasses. She looks younger than her age and has a rebellious teen-age daughter named Kelly. 6/18/11-x/11, 4/13. 11/13, 1/14, 10//14, 1/15, 5/17-7/17, 4/18, 9/18.

Kelly Knight. Summer’s goth daughter is initially rebellious, dating Spider Webb, who gives her drugs that leave her unconscious. Niki Roth and Rex Morgan come to her rescue. Kelly and Niki have been dating ever since. When Heather Avery left as Sarah’s nanny in 2013, June hires Kelly to serve as an ongoing babysitter. When precocious Sarah catches Kelly necking with Niki on the job, she blackmails Kelly into becoming her servant. In 2017, Kelly is jealous of Niki’s friendship with Holly until she realizes that Holly is gay and has a girl friend. 6/18/11-1/12, 11/13-1/14, 4/14-7/15, 11/15-12/15, 4/16-8/16, 4/17-9/17, 2/18-4/18.

Junior Claridge. Nephew of Melissa Claridge, a well intentioned fellow who falls hard for the one time exotic dancer, Honey Combs.10/12-2/13.

Honey Combs. Given name, Valerie. Former exotic dancer taking care of another dancer named Delores who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Befriended by Melissa Claridge’s nephew, Junior. 10/12-2/13.

Louis “Buck” Wise. A pudgy high school classmate and friend of Rex’s. He returns as a troubled husband who is being physically and emotionally abused by his second wife, Doris Calhoun Wise. Buck has a son from his first wife hamed Corey, of whom he was full custody. Under-employed when he reenters Rex’s life, he takes on a job as an ambulance driver for Rex’s hospital and later finds a second career as selling comic books and comic book art. In 2017, Buck finds love with a similarly chubby pink-haired woman named Mindy. Buck’s ex Doris returns, jealous of Mindy and interested in Buck again after he has lost some weight. Buck and Mindy are married in 2018 in an eccentric Las Vegas wedding. 9/16/13-3/14, 5/16-7/16, 1/17-2/17, 9/17-12/17, 4/18-8/18.

Mindy Wise. Pink-haired owner of an antique store, Mindy meets Buck Wise at a gym where both were trying to lose some weight. Mindy accepts Buck’s proposal of marriage in 2018 and the two are married later that year in a marriage officiated by Elvis. Buck’s son Corey is very accepting of Mindy and likes her cooking. 1/27/77-2/17, 9/17-12/17, 4/18-8/18.

Helen Golden. New Dean of the Nursing school at which June Morgan has taken on a part-time teaching position. Many of the existing faculty, including Becka Hanson—a former graduate of the school–disagree with her efforts to make the school more rigorous.5/14-8/14, 11/14-12/14.

Dolly Pierpont. Elderly woman of immense wealth she has obtained from past and perhaps present illegal rackets. She takes an unusual interest in Sarah Morgan’s artistic talents. It only emerges in 2016 that her interest is driven by Sarah’s remarkable resemblance to her now grown and estranged daughter, Linda. When Rex learns that Dolly had bought all of Sarah’s art books to insure its success, Rex forbids her to see Sarah anymore. Dolly, however, risks Rex’s anger by going to check in on Sarah after her serious accident. Her chauffeur and trusted right hand from the old days is named Bugsy. After Dolly is forbidden to see Sarah he contacts Dolly’s daughter and convinces her to give Dolly another chance. 6/8/14-10/14, 4/15-7/15, 4/16, 6/16. 8/16, 10/16-12/16.

Holly. Blonde-haired high school art school student who works at the museum that paid for Sarah Morgan’s book of drawings. In 2017, Holly befriends Niki, sharing his interest in old cars. Kelly is jealous until Holly comes out as having a girl friend named Crystal  who is starring in a local play. 6/14, 6/16, 4/17-6/17.

Michelle Carter. African American woman and air force flight nurse veteran who replaces Becka Hanson as the Morgans’ office nurse. Beginning in 2016, Jordan Harris and she begin a romantic relationship—careful not to violate dual relationship norms, since Michelle met Jordan during a one time medical visit.Like June before her, Michelle is working on her family nurse practitioner degree.1/12/15-7/15, 10/15, 9/16-10/16, 1/17, 5/17, 9/17, 5/18-7/18, 9/18-12/18.

Jordan Harris. One-legged war veteran who serves as Milton Avery’s driver, chef, and security in the United States as his Alzheimer’s grows worse. Jordan decides to stay in the States when the Averys move back to England, in large part so he can pursue a burgeoning romance with Michelle Carter. In August 2106, he reveals his disability to Heather Avery. When Milton Avery dies, Heather Avery sees to it that Jordan has enough money to achieve his dream of opening up his own restaurant. With the support his girl friend, Michelle, Jordan remodels a space for the restaurant in 2018, helping an alcoholic homeless veteran and former combat buddy named Delmer “Red” Robertson in the process. 7/26/15-4/16, 8/16-1/17, 3/17, 9/17, 5/18-7/18, 9/18-12/18.

Hank Harwood, Sr. A famous artist of 1950s horror comic books. Buck Wise becomes his agent, when he begins selling his artwork to comic book fans. In 2017, Harwood offers to help Sarah Morgan learn how to draw again after her brain injury. In 2018, Hank takes an eccentric cross country trip with his son, Hank Jr., to attend Buck Wise’s wedding, the two visiting a wealth of kitchy tourist destinations along the way. 6/16-7/16, 1/17-3/17, 10/17-12/17, 4/18-9/18

Margie Taylor. A close childhood friend of June’s, the two lost touch early on. Margie reenters June’s life in 2017, when she receives her third diagnosis of cancer. She asks Rex and June to raise her son Johnny after she dies. 7/5/17-9/6/17, (her death referenced 12/5/17)..

Arnold and Helen March. The grandparents of Margie Taylor’s son, on his father’s side. They first spy on the Morgan’s caring for Johnny before briefly engaging the Morgan’s in a custody struggle. But once they see the Morgans love for their grandson, and receive reassurances that they can be part of Johnny’s life, they drop any legal action. 12/12/17-2/18, 8/18.

Rex Morgan’s Notable Patients

Claudia Bishop. A saleswoman whose mood swings, fainting spell and later paranoia increasingly concern her husband Brady. Claudia finally agrees to treatment. Rex lets them know that, contrary to popular belief, cocain is addictive and “a killer.” 3/3/85-11/8/85.

Eric and Derek Remington. A pair of identical twins, one wildly successful but secretly sufferering a terminal illness, the other not.Both are in love with June. Eric, the selfish twin must decide if he’s willing to give up a kidney to save his “good” brother. Derek dies before Eric can do so. 2/58-6/58.

Eric Jade. Eric appears to have it all, a star football player about to sign a pro deal for seven million dollars. But the pressure has gotten to him and he is physically abusing his longtime girl friend, Linda Ballard, to whom he is newly engaged. With Rex’s support, Eric gets psychiatric help and Linda breaks off their engagement. 2/19/88-6/24/88.

Jack Benton. College freshman whose mental stability is hurt by his use of LSD. 11/66-3/67.

Jackson Wilcox. A married one-eyed veteran that gets swamped over his head with gambling. Another disabled vet insures he has a big win before he gives up the vice, just in time to receive the news that his loyal wive Cindy in pregnant. 9/05-2/5/06.

Jeffrey Arigorn. The son of Governor Wallace T. Arigorn abuses cocaine and causes brain damage to his girl friend Vera Valette when he crashes his car with her in it while high. Concludes Rex, cocaine is “a drug that seduces… and then destroys.” 6/25/88-12/13/88.

Paul Brant. Handsome, blond-haired boxer who some assume is stupid but actually has an undiagnosed 50% hearing loss. His trainer is an older African American man named Roxy. Babs Van Kirk is an attractive young woman who buys his contract. 8/80-x/81.

Paul Winthrop. A blind man engaged to Dr. Tracy Heath, who finds himself in a romantic triangle with Keith Cavell. 12/62-3/63.

Senator Wesley Thorne. A contender for the presidency, Thorne’s abuse of steroids leads to his increasingly erratic temper. He ultimately withdraws his bid for the nomination once he accepts his problem. 2/68-7/68.

Rex Morgan’s Antagonists and Villains

Baru. A bogus “herb and gland doctor,” Baru develops an elaborate scheme tohave his henchwoman Shiela marry men and then kill them for their insurance money. 1/53-5/53.

Cindi Kane. Cindi first appears to be an earnest college student who wants to learn everything she can from Professor Paul Wingate. But Professor Wingate is actually worth 20 million dollars. Cindi is part of an all female extortion gang headed by the lovely “Aunt” Kate and assisted by the hard-hearted but pretty Charlene. Kate’s plan is to have Charlene claim that Wingate physically abused Cindi, after getting the three in a compromising situation. But Cindi who has developed real feelings for Wingate ultimately confesses what she’s been up to to June. (Cindi was seen by Dr. Morgan for migraines). Kate is never caught and Cindi is never punished, but Wingate wisely if belatedly rules that she may never take another course from him. 7/25/87-2/28/88.

Doris Calhoun Wise. Buck Wise’s violent and alcoholic second wife who literally attacked her husband with a staple gun. Rex helps Buck realize he is an abused husband and to press charges. Doris returns after their divorce in an attempt to ruin Buck’s reputation in the comic book world and possible reconcile with him when she sees he’s lost weight. Doris briefly dated Rex Morgan when they were all in high school together and still expressed attraction towards him. 10/13-2/14, 10/17-11/17.

Dr. Jim. Despite the name he goes by, Dr. Jim is no doctor, but rather a self-styled “cancer specialist” who profits from promises of bogus cancer cures. 9/26/77-1/26/78.

Graciella Demiro. Beautiful diamond smuggler from South Africa, who uses Keith Cavell, who was recently deported from the same country, to unknowingly assist her getting the stolen diamonds into the United States. She genuinely falls in love with Cavell, however, and Keith—who is injured in her arrest—sends Rex to where she is jailed to check in on her. 7/93-11/93.

The Great Julian. A coldly handsome and charismatic huckster who promotes his special diet pills during lectures and private meetings. When he sets his sights on a wealthy women, he attempts to dispose of Georgi, his female accomplice, by pushing her out of his car while driving 90 miles per hour. 4/52-8/52.

Greg Gregory. A sinister hospital maintanence man, Gregory is behind a an illegal adoption scheme. Gregory has a past criminal record of child abuse, kidnapping and assault. 9/86-2/18/87.

Gretchen “Ellis”. A killer and blackmailer, Gretchen is an attractive if tough looking woman. She sports buzz cut brown hair, wears bright red lipstick, and has a prominent beauty mark, She is fond of wearing blouses that bare her midriff. Gretchen kills her boy friend, Harry Ellis, who knows the secret of Troy Grainer’s double life as a “doctor” and goes full steam ahead alone with their blackmail scheme. Gretchen briefly kidnaps Troy’s wife, but is sympathetic to her being in the dark about her husban’s duplicity. Gretchen is shot but survives a gun battle at stories end, where she is expecting Rex to drop off some money. 5/06-8/06.

Heidi Claridge. Melissa’s niece, an attractive young woman who is also a compulsive liar. She attempts to seduce both Brice Adam and Rex Morgan. The extent of her deceptions leads her aunt to uncharacteristically slap her across the face. 5/23/71-11/71.

Hugh Avery. Arrogant son of Milton Avery who attempts to take over his father’s corporation when Milton is presumed lost after a plane crash over the Atlantic. Hugh is bitter because he says he only saw his father twice a year, spending the rest of his time in boarding schools. Hugh returns years later upon hearing of his father’s Alzheimers, in an attempt to take over the company in order to sell it to an Indian comglomerate headed by  Jagdish Dewan. 4/07-9/07, (ref. 12/14, 3/15), 10/15-11/15.

John Woods. When his wife dies, John Woods cynically sues Dr. Morgan for malpractice. 11/02-2/03.

Karl Lamon. Hitman and former boy friend of Ginny, Morgan’s nurse. Jealous of Ginny’s emerging relationship with Keith, Lamon becomes increasingly dangerous. It is ultimately revealed that he has killed some 27 men, including two of Ginny’s former boy friends. 7/68-11/68.

Landros. Hypnotist who encourages in his clients an unhealthy emotional dependency on him. 12/53-2/54.

Max “the Ax” Mallory. Unethical personal injury lawyer and television personality.  4/28/08-8/08.

Nancy Taylor. Mean girl cheerleader who enjoys tormenting Kelly Knight whenever she gets a chance. 3/15-5/15, 5/17.

Nancy Willobee. Emotionally unstable psychology professor who attempts to seduce Rex, all the while maintaining a contentious relationship with her students. 10/67-2/68.

Nero. Sleazy adult night club owner who gets his best dancer, Jeanie Tang, hooked on heroin. 12/63-4/64.

The Professor. The Professor is a con man with a fondness for drink and attractive women who has made a specialty out of bogus health cures. The Profesor is on the pudgy side, balding with a well trimmed mustache that later grows into a van dyke. His actual name is uncertain. Whatever alias he takes up, however, he is fond of having others refer to him as “the Professor.” He first appears fraudulently providing worthless treatments, aided by his henchman Albert, aka Squeeky. The Professor makes the mistake of trying to throw Squeeky under the bus when one of his patient is accidentally killed. He later returns twice as a Professor Borrigard, in 1955 posing as a cancer specialist and in 1957 as the possessor of a secret formula that allegedly can cure almost any ailment, including excess weight. On both of those occasions the Professor is assisted by an icy beauty named Cleo. He returns in once again in late 1960 as Dr. Needel, a dedicated physician whose foundation is supposedly in desperate need of funding. He is now married to Lilli Wilson, a woman equally as larcenous and devious as her husband. The Professor returns yet again in 1963 posing as Dr. Bernard Van Bean, a romance advisor, all to execute an elaborate blackmail scheme. Finally, in 1966, he adopts the identity of Professor Leonardo Pettigrew. He advises a diabetic woman to stop using insulin and when she falls into a coma, steals five thousand dollars from her. 10/24/49-1/13/50, 2/55-5/55, 10/57-2/58, 11/60-3/61, 3/63-7/63, 1/66-5/66.

Rene Belluso. Art forger who teaches art to Sarah Morgan between 2014 to 2016. Belluso is an associate of Dolly Pierpont’s criminal enterprise, disguising himself with a fake, gray longhair wig. He disappears through a window, doffing his wig and revealing a bald head when a rival gang attempts to collect a debt. He turns up a year later, passing off forgeries of Hank Harwood’s valuable comic book artwork. 9/14-1/15, 6/15-7/15, 22/25, 4/16-7/16, 10/17.

Roy Jason. Unscrupulous attorney who tells everyone his wife Kay has a drinking problem in order to gain advantage in divorce proceedings. In the meantime, he is having an affair with a younger woman named Denise. He manipulates a young criminal who he got released despite his being guilty. Jason physically abuses both his wife and mistress, and it is implied that he had an abusive father. Jason ultimately kills and is arrested for the murder of Denise, but not before Kay has ended up in the hospital by his hand. 2/79-9/79.

Dr. Sindoo. Foreign-born medical charlatan who provides false hope to family members of the mentally ill, all the while abusing his own psychiatrically disturbed brother. 5/62-7/63.

“Spider” Webb. Given name Lonne. Shaved head with the slight suggestion of a Mohawk, Spider is a bad-tempered punk who romances and then attempts to sexually assault Summer Knight’s daughter, Kelly. 7/11-11/11.

Troy Gainer. Gainer isn’t reall a bad guy, he just is practicing medicine even though he never went to medical school. An ex-con whose real name is Adam Long, was convicted for swindling and bank fraud. Gainer tries to start a clinic with Rex to serve the poor but ends up deserting the wife that he loves for fear of going back to prison. It is a sinister Gretchen “Ellis” who undoes his fake life. 2/15/06-8/27/06.

Valerie Layne. Beautiful blonde who has “suffered” the tragedy of two husbands who have passed away. Valerie is devious and potentially dangerous. She simultaneously sets her sights on both Keith Cavell, who is madly in love with her, and Rex, the man she really wants. She ends up breaking Keith’s heart. 6/75-12/75.

Wallace Dilbert. Head of baby selling scheme that ensnares Valeria Vasquez, who is unaware of her true role in the criminal enterprise. 8/97-11/19/97.

Willie Rodell. International playboy and ruthless businessman who initially shows only his softer side to June, whom he hopes to marry. Before all is over, June learns he drove one business associate to suicide and was actively undermining the health of another. (referenced 3/69), 8/69-1/70.

A Timeline of Rex Morgan and Notable Events

Nicholas Dallis, Frank Edgington, & Marvin Bradley

1948  Rex moves to Glenbrook to start his practice and meets June and Toni Van Coyne.

1949  Rex falls for model Maple Forrest and exposes the Professor’s bogus cancer cure.

1950  Maple Forrest returns, becoming a nurse and suspected of a failed mercy killing.

1951  Rex meets feisty patient Melissa Claridge and falls in love with Karen Corother.

1952  The Great Julian uses his good looks to push his bogus diet.

1953  Baru’s herbal scam andLandros’s misuse of hypnosis are exposed.

1954  Karen Corother reenters Rex’s life with a daughter, Heidi, with cerebral palsy.

1955  The Professor returns with the lovely Cleo, pushing a new fake cancer cure.

1956  Maple Forrest returns, an actress under the influence of hypnotist Winslade.

1957  Dr. Keith Cavell visits and gets engaged to June.The Professor and Cleo return.

1958  Rex and June become entangled with troubled twins Eric and Derek Remington.

1959  Keith Cavell briefly returns, as does Toni Van Coyne, now a troubled widow.

1960  The Professor seek donors for his bogus “Foundation.” Keith treats an amnesiac.

1961  Keith struggles with the suffering he’s seen abroad with heavy drinking.

1962  Dr. Sindoo provides faulty care for the mentally ill.

1963  The Professor tries his hand as a romance advisor and a blackmailer.

1964  Neroe, a sleazy adult club owner, hooks one of his dancers on heroin.

1965  Keith pushes Jessica Lance away. Bert and Vivian Howe have a retarded child.

1966  The Professor’s schemes are undone by Rex for the sixth and final time.

1967  Dr. Nancy Willobee catches Rex eye, to June’s dismay.

1968  June leaves indefinitely. New nurse Ginny is sought by Keith and her hitman ex.

1969  June returns after a year’s absence, withmillionaire Willie Rodell in pursuit.

1970  Rex is injured. Cocky ladies man Brice Adams fills in for Rex, then stays on.

1971  Enter Kevin Brown, a child abuser. Heidi Claridge, Melissa’s niece, is trouble.

1972  Brice falls for nurse Laura Pace. Pro golfer Kenny Baron is in love with June.

1973  Kenny and June’s nine-month romance ends. Brice suspected in murder case.

1974  Dr. Karen Carter yearns for Rex, Govenor Wade Norton for June.

1975  Keith Cavell returns, romantically entangled with the devious Valerie Layne.

1976  June’s intrigued by patient Norman Prescott, Brice by Dr.’s wife, Mary Gordon.

1977  Brice is kidnapped and takes troubled teen Billy Crandall under his wing.

1978  Brice leaves for training. Keith fills in and falls for psychiatrist Rita Carson.

Nicholas Dallis and Frank Springer

1979  Rex confronts Roy Jason re: domestic abuse and moves to new office w/o Brice.

Nicholas Dallis and Henry DaSilva

1980  Rex treats a boxer named Paul Brant with hearing loss.

1981  Rita Carson is kidnapped and develops amnesia. Keith falls for nurse Martha Dane.

1982  Jealous husband Owen Cole hits Rex with a one million dollar malpractice suit.

1983  Drug kingpin George Katon falls. Loretta Tandem’s drinking impacts her family.

1984  Wealthy Bert von Dale is Keith’s rival for Martha Dane’s affections.

Nicholas Dallis and Tony DiPreta

1985  Claudia Bishop, a travelling saleswoman, is addicted to cocaine.

1986  Jasper Barrot is a child abuser. Greg Gregory heads an illegal adoption scheme.

1987  Cindi Kane is part of an all female extortion gang targeting Prof. Paul Wingate.

1988  Eric Jade is a domestic abuser. Jeffery Arigorn abuses cocaine. Enter Dr. Crisp.

1989  Ken Crisp fills in for Rex when he’s hit by a car. Also has a gambling problem.

1990  Ken Crisp treats suicidal starlet Becky Tremane.

1991  Enter Melissa’s feisty niece, Sandra Whitworth.

Woody Wilson and Tony DiPreta

1992  Ken Crisp connects with h.s. sweetheart, Ivy Knight. Christine Slater is HIV+.  

1993  Keith replaces Ken and is seduced by Graciella Demiro.Rex hiresBerna Holt.

1994  Celebrity chef Tito falls for Berna. Keith has more romantic troubles.

1995  Rex finally proposes. Keith dies a hero. June goes back to school, hires Becka.

1996  Dr.Peter Hanson, Becka’s husband, harasses women.Rex and June are married.

1997  Undocumented alien Valeria Vasquez is caught up in a baby selling scheme.

1998  Alston Quincy is arrested. Jessie Simons buys the Morgan’s old house.  

1999  Enter Becka’s irresponsible musician brother, Rick Stone. June’s still pregnant.

Woody Wilson and Graham Nolan

2000  June gives birth. The Morgans hire Heather Gray. Rex testifies before Congress!

2001  June graduates as a family nurse practitioner.Tito has a dangerous mold problem.

2002  Melissa considers marriage.Rex addresses insurance and malpractice issues.

2003  Rex takes on multi-millionaire Milton Avery as a patient. Avery falls for Heather.

2004  Rex and June go on a white water rafting adventure that goes terribly wrong.

2005  Jackson Wilcox, a one-eyed veteran,gets over his head gambling.

2006  Troy Gainer isn’t really a doctor.Niki steals June’s purse, is mentored by Rex.

2007  Rex and Niki’s camping trip goes wrong. Hugh Avery tries to take advantage.

2008  Rex deals with a MRSA outbreak. The Morgans take a cruise.

2009  Becka and Peter have more marital problems. Rex meets Max the Ax Mallory.

2010  Mayor Dalton has prostate cancer.

2011  Berna wins the lottery. Summer Knight replaces her.Kelly likes Spider Webb.

2012  Foster Woods dies and his daughter, Iris Woods, clashes with his widow.

2013  Milton Avery is diagnosed with Alzheimers. Buck Wise is an abused husband.

Woody Wilson and Terry Beatty

2014  Wealthy Dolly Pierpont is obsessed with Sarah’s art career. Becka quits.

2015  Rex hires Michelle Carter. Heather hires Jordan Harris. Michael is born. .

Terry Beatty as writer and artist

2016  Buck represents horror artist Hank Harwood, Sr. Sarah has brain damage.

2017  Kelly is jealous of Niki’s friend Holly until… Buck’s crazy ex-wife returns. 

2018  Hank and son travel cross country for Buck’s wedding. Jordan’s dream comes true.