No one, including Toyota of Tampa Bay owner Larry Morgan, could have predicted a simple invitation to serve on the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Inc. finance committee would result in a $5 million donation and a dedicated health care philanthropist. That’s exactly what happened, however, when Mr. Morgan accepted that invitation.

In 1990, Mr. Morgan moved to the Clearwater area from Virginia and started his retail tire distribution business, Tires Plus. After working seven days a week and growing the business to 600 nationwide stores, Mr. Morgan sold the company and retired. Spending the first three days of his retirement playing golf, Mr. Morgan quickly found he had more to give.

Wanting to become more involved with the local community, and give back some of the good fortune he had received, Mr. Morgan accepted an invitation to become involved with the local hospital system. Shortly after, he attended 21 meetings in a 30 day period in his first year of involvement. The enthusiasm and commitment of the hospital staff left Mr. Morgan so inspired, he became further involved with the hospitals governance.

When he controlled the reigns in his previous business, Mr. Morgan provided health care for 7,500 families. Now on the other side of the health care spectrum, Mr. Morgan was able to see how all the pieces must come together to make the health care system complete. Mr. Morgan’s ever growing passion for the health care industry eventually lead to the $5 million donation from the Morgan family that was used to help fund the construction of the $52 million Morgan Heart Hospital, located at the Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater.

Today Mr. Morgan splits his time between the six automotive dealership he owns with his son Brett Morgan, and serving as chairman of the four-hospital health system.