Biography: Riddick Morton

Riddick Morton was born July 16, 1954 to Nathaniel and Janice Morton in Oxford. His father worked for the Illinois Central railroad and his mother worked as a checker at a local supermarket, Sunflower. His older brother, Adrian, lives in Chicago, Illinois, where he works for a freight company. Riddick attended Oxford High School where he played football and ran track and graduated in 1973.

After high school, Morton hung around Oxford and since he did not have a job and did not attend college, he was able to devote all his time to drinking. In 1974, his father kicked him out of the house and, having no money and nowhere else to go, Morton joined the U.S. Army. He was dishonorably discharged after one year when it became apparent that his life was out of control because of his alcohol abuse. During his time in the Army, he received 16 demerits or citations for disorderly conduct, usually after he had been drinking, and spent a total of two months out of twelve in the U.S. Army brig in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Upon his release from the Army, Morton moved to Chicago to live with his brother, who had promised him a job at the freight company he worked for. Morton worked at this company for nine years and continued battling a serious drinking problem. In 1984, he was fired for being drunk at work.

When he was unable to find another job in Chicago, Morton moved back to Oxford in 1985. He has had several jobs in the Oxford area since his return, most recently working the 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. shift at Whirlpool for the last four years. Since his return to Oxford, Morton has incurred countless citations for public drunkenness and related charges. He often sits in the Square during the weekdays and talks to passing citizens before going to work the night shift.