Johnny was born September 18, 1956, in Chillicothe Missouri. When he was about 3 years old his family moved about 90 miles away to Moberly Missouri. This is where he grew up, went to school and graduated from high school in 1975. He moved away from Moberly in 1981.

When he was about 7 years old he started helping his dad who did carpentry jobs. When Johnny was in his teen years his dad would sometimes become extremely irritated with him because he would always want to make the finish moldings and cabinets more intricate. His dad felt their customers might not appreciate or like the more fancy designs. Johnny also enjoyed creating small wooden objects. His dad told him there was not a market for such things, nobody would be interested in them or want to buy them. As he grew older he found out most people also agreed with his dad's statements.

In 1989, Johnny decided to stop listening to all those people and that was when J W Morlan's Unique Wood Gifts was born. He took 1 year of wood shop class in junior high school where he made average grades. Johnny has always loved and had a passion for working with wood.

Before Johnny started his own business he worked for a contractor that built and refinished cabinets and furniture.

Johnny has worked with unique woods since 1983. People from over 220 countries have viewed and admired his creations. He is a member of the International Who's Who Historical Society {his short biography is featured in the 2001-2002 edition of the International Who's Who of Entrepreneurs}. He is a member of the following organizations and associations: Rainforest Alliance Smart Wood Program, National Arbor Day Foundation, International Wood Collectors Society, Woodworker's Website Association, Woodworkers Book Club and a lifetime member of Handyman Club of America.

He received two honors in 2002, one being nominated for inclusion in the 2002 edition of the International Directory of Distinguished Leadership and the other being nominated by the Governing Board of Editors of the American Biographical Institute for the title Man Of The Year - 2002. In 2003 he was contacted by and did accept being represented by an art marketing agency in London England to market his wood art works throughout Europe.

Some of Johnny's creations were chosen to be featured and sold on the TV show America's Product Showcase. His desk set creations were selected by Home Shopping International to sell on their website {HSI Online.} HSI even shot a short video of a couple of the desk sets which can be viewed on their website through a media player. He was chosen to be a Premiere Portfolio Artist at World Wide Arts Resources {WWAR.} Hundreds of artists from around the world {all different mediums} apply and compete to become a member of this exclusive arts marketing service. Johnny was recently accepted to exhibit his woodworks of art on the Swedish art gallery web site {Arts Of Paradise}. Some of his designs, woodworking tips and jigs have been published in trade magazines. He has written a few articles that have been published and featured on websites and in newsletters.

To help create quality, unique pieces of work, Johnny has studied hundreds of woodworking magazine articles and more than 220 books on woodworking by as many as 180 authors. In addition he has studied numerous books and magazine articles on art, business, marketing, advertising and web mastering. He consults with both individuals and companies {World Tree Technologies, Impact Group New York, & B. K. Brown Designs} on the best wood, procedures and finishing techniques to use in the production of their wooden projects or products and how to advertise their products.

He has worked more than 500 species of wood and keeps more than 125 species in stock. His wood collection he periodically takes to schools and shop classes. There he answers the student's questions, educates them about the sustainable sources for wood and shows them the world of wood that many of them will probably never see.

Numerous motivational and philosophical proverbs hang on the walls of his studio. He lives and teaches them. He Loves teaching people who like and are interested in woodworking the true {Art} of woodworking!

This is one of his own sayings he teaches:

"The tools you use, the working environment you have and the raw materials you start out with, do not produce quality, craftsmanship or works of art! YOU DO!" Johnny W. Morlan