Biography

Biography

Download a pdf version of Senator Morris' biography here.

Download a pdf version of Senator Morris' resume here.

Download a high resolution press photo here.

Family

Wife (Barb), three daughters and eight grandchildren

Business

Farming operation consisting of wheat, corn and grain sorghum

Education

  • Hugoton High School, 1964
  • Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, 1969
  • Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, 1970

Military Service

  • US Air Force, Active Duty Pilot, 1969-1974
  • US Air Force Reserve, 1974-1991
  • Liaison Officer for US Air Force Academy (Completed term as commander of this organization in Kansas in April 1991; consists of 23 officers)
  • US Air Force Reserve Retired, 1991-Present

Honors/Awards

  • Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians Government Service Award - 2010
  • Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns Legislative Leadership Award - 2009
  • InterHab Legislative Leadership Award - 2009
  • National Guard Association of the United States Charles Dick Medal of Merit - Presented Fall 2007
  • National Guard Association of Kansas Legislative Support Award for 2005-2006 - Presented April 2006
  • Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians Assoc. “Outstanding Elected Official” - April, 2005
  • Stevens County Soil Conservation “Public Achievement Award” - February, 2005
  • Rocky Mountain Council on Mental Health Centers Award - May, 2004
  • Jim Widrig Award for Legislative Achievement presented 1998 by Kansas Fertilizer & Chemical Association
  • National Council of State Legislatures Leadership Program, 1995
  • Council of State Governments Toll Fellow Program (Class of 35 from around the nation), 1993
  • Leadership Kansas Class of 1991, sponsored by Kansas Chamber of Commerce
  • National Friend of Extension Award in November 1990 from Epsilon Sigma Phi (National Honorary of Extension Professionals)
  • Distinguished Service Award from Kansas State University College of Agriculture, May 1990
  • Outstanding Air Force Liaison Officer of the Year, 1987
  • State Friend of Extension Award in October, 1983, from Epsilon Sigma Phi, Sept. 1987
  • Outstanding Public Official of the Year Award - 2002 (presented by Community Mental Health Association of Kansas)
  • United States Air Force Air Medal, 1973 (For combat missions flown in Vietnam)
  • United States Air Force Air Medal, 1971 (For combat missions flown in Vietnam)

Civic Activities

  • Kansas Teacher of the Year Program, Regional I Selection Committee, 1993, 1999, 2000
  • Kansas Teacher of the Year Program, State Selection Committee, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002
  • Kansas Wildscape Foundation, Board of Directors, 1997-present
  • University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Advisory Committee, 1996-2000
  • Friends of Cedar Crest, 1995-2001, 2004-2007
  • Aquaculture Advisory Council, 1995-2001
  • Member of SRS Continuous Quality Improvement Council, 1999-2003
  • Kansas State Board of Emergency Medical Services, 1993-1997
  • Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Development, 1993-1997
  • Citizens Committee on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (SRS), 1993-2000, Ex officio since 2000
  • Kansas Extension Advisory Council, 1979-1991; president and vice-president, 1979-1983; Ex Officio, 1983-2000
  • Member of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Joint Council on Agriculture and Food Science, 1992-1996
  • Hugoton United Methodist Church Administrative Council, 1974-2000
  • Congressman Pat Roberts Academy Screening Board, 1983-1996
  • Congressman Jerry Moran Academy Screening Board, 1997-2002
  • Feed Grains, Subcommittee Chair for the Kansas State Board of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Initiatives Committee, 1991-1992
  • Board of Directors of CARET (Council for Agriculture, Research, Extension & Teaching); Vice-Chair, 1986-1988; (Advisory council to the Agriculture Division of the Land Grant University System. All 50 states are represented with two or three people per state), 1980-2000
  • Kansas State University Essential Edge National Steering Committee, 1989-1994
  • Kansas State University Essential Edge National Policy Committee, 1989-1994
  • Interstate Migrant Educational Council, 1997-2004
  • USD 210 Board of Education, 1977-1992; vice-president, 1981-1985, 1991-1992; president, 1985-1988
  • Kansas Association of School Boards Legislative Committee, 1980-1992
  • Hugoton Chamber of Commerce member
  • Chair of Hugoton Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee, 1990-1992
  • Chair, College of Agriculture Legislative Support Group, 1988-1992
  • National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, 1991–Division of Agriculture USDA
  • Budget committee member (committee functioned from 1988-1991, and makes recommendations to the USDA on Agriculture Research, Extension, and Resident Instruction Budgets)
  • Stevens County Extension Executive Board, 1977-1983; 1984-1991; chair or vice-chair 10 of these years
  • Member of the Kansas State University Alumni Association Board of Directors, 1985-1990
  • President of the Kansas State University Alumni Association Board of Directors, 1989-1990; Agriculture 2000 Committee 1987; Chair of Crops, Horticulture & Forestry Subcommittee (Citizens Committee to make recommendations to Kansas State University concerning Ag Research & Extension)
  • KARL (Kansas Agriculture Rural Leadership) Board of Directors Ex-Officio, 1994-present
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Honorary Fraternity
  • Kansas Farm Bureau
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • American Legion
  • Member of the Hugoton United Methodist Church
  • Trustee for the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

Political Activities

  • Kansas State Senator, 39th District, 1993-present
  • Senate President, 2005-2008
    Committees include:
    • Legislative Coordinating Council, 2005-present
    • Interstate Cooperation Committee, 2009-present
    • Organization, Calendar & Rules, chair 2005-present, member 1997-2004
    • State Finance Council, 2001-present
    • Capitol Restoration Commission, 2002-present
    • Agriculture, chair, 1997-2001; member 1993-1997; 2001-2004; 2005-2008; 2009-present
    • Energy & Natural Resources, vice-chair, 1997-2001; member 1993-1997
    • Federal & State Affairs, 2009-present
    • Utilities, 1997-2001
    • Ways & Means, chair, 2001-2004; member 1993-2001, 2005-2008 
      • Ways & Means Subcommittees, chair
      • Department of Aging Subcommittee, chair, 1997-2002
      • Agriculture Subcommittee (Department of Agriculture, Animal Health and
      • Kansas State Fair), chair, 1993-2004
      • Public Safety Subcommittee on Fire Marshal, Highway Patrol and Adjutant
      • General, chair, 1997-2002
      • Department of Revenue Subcommittee, chair, 1997-2004
      • SRS Subcommittee, chair, 2001-2004
      • Subcommittee on Higher Education (KU, KSU, KSU-Veterinary Medicine, KSUExtension, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Ft. Hays State
      • University, Pittsburg State University, Board of Regents, KUMC, Regents
      • Systemwide); chair, 2001-2008
      • Capital Improvements Subcommittee, chair, 1997-2004
      • Special Committee on Ways and Means Issues, vice-chair, 2001
      • Special Committee on Ways and Means Issues, chair, 2003
    • SRS Transition Oversight Committee, chair, 1997-2000
    • Joint Committee on State Building Construction, 1996-present; chair-2002, vice-chair-2001 and 2003, chair, 2004
    • Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments & Benefits, chair/vchair, 2005-2008
    • Special Committee on Utilities, 2000, chair
    • Special Committee on Agriculture, 1999, vice-chair
    • Special Committee on Rail Transportation, 1998, vice-chair
    • Legislative Budget Committee - chair/vchair, 2000-present
    • Kansas, Inc., Board and Executive Committee, 2005-2006
  • The Energy Council, Executive Committee, 2007-present
  • Council of State Governments (CSG), Executive Committee, present
  • CSG Midwest, Executive Committee, present
  • CSG, Health Capacity Task Force, 1997-2000, chair, 1997-1998
  • CSG, Agriculture Task Force, chair, 2000-2003; member, 2000-present
  • National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Agriculture and Rural Development Committee-vice-chair, 2002-2003; chair, 2004-2005; member, 2006
  • NCSL - Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee, vice chair, 2006-Present
  • NCSL - Rural Policy Task Force Steering Committee, 2001-2002
  • Stevens County Republican Chair, 1982-1992
  • Stevens County Precinct Committeeman, 1976-1992
  • Republican State Committee Alternate, 1984-1992, 2000-2002, 2002-2004
  • State & District Convention Delegate, 1976-1992
  • Stevens County Chair for Senator Kassebaum, 1984, 1990
  • Stevens County Chair for Bush-Quayle, 1988
  • Stevens County Chair for Bush-Cheney, 2000
  • Republican State Committee - Executive Committee, 2005-2008

District Profile