“Vermont Sports Hall of Fame sportswriter Dave Morse, born and raised in VT, spent the last twenty years (1994-2015) of his life in Hardwick, where, in addition to covering multiple sporting events, he wrote the weekly column “The Morse Code” for the Hardwick Gazette. His beat was all sports and all ages. He was a widely respected reporter, and a willing conversationalist, but, unknown to his readers, he had overcome childhood trauma, heartbreak and adversity to achieve his professional success. Over the course of his years at the Gazette his readership grew to love and admire him for his empathy, fairness, generosity — and his magnificent mustache.”

— Brendan Buckley

  • Pictured: Dave at Hazen Union. To many in Hardwick, when you mention Dave Morse they think of this image.

    The Morse Code. This was the name of Dave's weekly column in the Gazette, a forum he used to comment on events, on people, on history - sometimes even his own. But, the very term 'The Morse Code' reminds us of how Dave lived his life - on behalf of others, especially young athletes and reporters whom he helped along the path toward their dreams.

  • Deanna French sitting holding the plaque from Dave Morse's induction into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame

    Pictured: Dave’s younger sister, Deanna French, holding the plaque from Dave’s posthumous induction into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

    “I have dedicated the book to Deanna. She was my first interview as I embarked on this project, and was a regular source of information and encouragement. She dearly loved her big brother, and was extremely proud of his professional accomplishments and the life he led.”

  • Artist: Brittany Lumsden, Hazen Union Alumna

    Brittany Lumsden, Hazen Union alumna, class of 2008, painted this portrait of Dave and presented it to him on the occasion of his Appreciation Night, February 2014. Her portrait, a head and shoulders view of Dave wearing his Hazen Union state basketball championship jacket, now hangs in the school.

Dave Morse Tribute Night

On a raw northern Vermont winter night, in February 2014, two hundred sports fans gathered in the Hazen Union School auditorium in Hardwick, Vermont. Aaron Hill, coach of the boys’ high school basketball team, had organized the occasion. He had invited Dave on the premise of a team gathering, to thank Dave for his coverage of the team and for his efforts to acknowledge the contributions of every player through the season. In truth, the event had been planned as an opportunity for the families of area athletes across all sports, and the athletes themselves, to express their thanks to a man whose mission over the previous twenty years had been, in his words, “to shine a light on the kids.”

Remembrances of Dave

“I can say with certainty that Dave showing up that weekend, at a time when I felt lonely and discouraged, and offering a friendly face and words of encouragement was more impactful than he will ever know.”

— Brad Mader, Hazen Union High School Alumnus

“Half the battle is believing in yourself. Dave made sure that you did.”

— Brendan Greene, Hazen Union High School Alumnus

“I remember his enthusiasm for each player’s success. I could tell that he felt like the Hazen community was his family, and I wanted to show him that we felt the same way.”

— Brittany Lumsden, Hazen Union High School Alumnus and artist of the portrait of Dave

“He believed in what I did for the kids. Dave Morse forever impacted how I feel about myself. He loved others; he was a loving friend.”

— Steve Pratt, former Hazen Union High School basketball coach

“I had the impression from him, in all the hundreds of games we saw, that we were enjoying, not just a sporting event, but a human experience. He was a level above most sportswriters. He was an extraordinary person.”

— Howard Coffin, former colleague of Dave’s at the Rutland Herald in the late 1960s-early 70s