RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) – A North Carolina political strategist died over the weekend in a boating accident off the coast, friends said.
Conen Morgan, the president of Longleaf Agency and a graduate of North Carolina State University, was lauded and praised on social media by elected leaders ranging from Gov. Roy Cooper to state Rep. Robert Reives, the House Democratic leader.
The governor posted on Twitter that “Morgan’s hard work and determination made a real and positive difference for the people of North Carolina.”
“His loss is a tragedy and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” Cooper said.
Among the officials whose campaigns were cited as clients of Morgan’s firm: U.S. Reps. Alma Adams and Valerie Foushee and Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal.
Nate Toering of the National Park Service reported the death of a man in his 40s on Sunday, saying a wave threw three boaters from their boat into the ocean south of Shackleford Banks.
All three made it back to the beach, but the man collapsed around the surf line, he said.
The other passengers performed CPR and called 911 at 4:47 p.m., with park rangers arriving on the scene within 15 minutes and paramedics from the Harkers Island and Beaufort Fire Departments taking over after that, Toering said.
Toering did not identify any of the sailors involved. He says National Park Service rangers are handling the investigation along with the US Coast Guard and NC Wildlife.
Morgan was 42 years old.
