Most students know the Jerry D. Morris Recreational Center is a focal point of the campus at Texas A&M University-Commerce and serves as the “heartbeat” for student activities. Some students may be unaware of who Jerry D. Morris is and what he has done for the university.
Morris was the ninth president at A&M-Commerce and served from 1987-97. He is mostly known for getting East Texas State University to combine with the Texas A&M University system.
“His legacy as President, I believe, is his leadership in gaining approval for East Texas State University to become a member of the Texas A&M University System,” Mary Hendrix, vice president for student access and success at A&M-Commerce, said. Keith McFarland, who was the president after Morris, also emphasized the importance of what he accomplished.
“That was a difficult accomplishment because he had to convince both Boards of Regents to make the change,” he said. During his term as A&M-Commerce president, Morris authorized the Senior Faculty Forum, which allowed the president to communicate with his faculty. He also started the appointment of Regents Professors, a designation that recognized outstanding achievements in faculty scholarship and teaching.
Student concerns were also very important to Dr. Morris. He began the Presidential Forums, which gave students a chance to put questions to administrators. Other accomplishments by Morris in his tenure were renovations done to several buildings on campus and the change of the former President’s Home into the Heritage House.
Most of Morris’ peers thought very highly of him. “His leadership always demonstrated great vision,” McFarland said. “As an individual, Dr Morris was one of the most sincere and pleasant persons I have ever met. He related well to students faculty and staff.”
In addition to his achievements, people that worked with Morris remember his pleasant personality.
“Dr. Morris was a kind individual who loved people and people loved him,” Hendrix said. “He had a quick wit and a terrific sense of humor.”
Current A&M-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones met Morris last summer. Jones met him while Morris was passing through A&M-Commerce on his way back to his home in Arkansas.
“He was gracious and gentle, and wished me success in leading the institution which he had served for virtually his entire professional career,” Jones said. “He guided the university through some very challenging times, leaving it bigger and better when he retired.”
Morris saw an extraordinary amount of change during the more than thirty years he spent at East Texas State University. “His first job at ET was as director of placement services in 1970, and he served in a number of positions before being named president in 1986,” Jones said.
Morris passed away early in 2009 after a battle with cancer.