Published: December 13, 2008 12:16 am      

Former Texas A&M University-Commerce president dies

A graveside service is scheduled in Arkansas Sunday for Dr. Jerry D. Morris, President Emeritus of Texas A&M University-Commerce, who died Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

The university flag on the Commerce campus flew at half staff In Morris’ honor Friday. The graveside service has been scheduled at 10 a.m. Sunday in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Cotter, Ark. University officials said that a memorial service will be conducted in Commerce sometime next month after the first of the year.

Morris served as president of the university between 1987 and 1997. In a 2002 interview with university news magazine “The Pride,” Morris looked back on his tenure.

“I believe the ‘best’ thing accomplished during my time in the presidential role was the merger into the Texas A&M University System,” Morris said. “I saw the affiliation then, and do today, as insurance of our permanency as a university in the State of Texas. The need of an attitude adjustment, and not the kind that alcohol induces, but the kind that emanates from pride in what we had done, were doing and would do. We always have had a very fine faculty and student body, and it was time we recognized those facts and told ourselves and everyone else just how good we were and are. I think we got our pride back, and that is what I take the greatest pride in being a part of during my time as president. This is a GREAT UNIVERSITY; we must tell the world!!”

Morris served as a junior high school principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent for the Mountain Home school district in Mountain Home, Ark., from 1963 to 1969, and served one year as editor of the "Arkansas School Boards" newsletter.

Morris had enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the university, where he rose through the ranks.

He joined the East Texas State University (ETSU) staff as director of placement in 1970. In 1971, he became dean of admissions and records. He served in this position until 1973, when he became dean of the graduate school, a position he held for nine years.

Morris served as vice president for academic affairs at ETSU from May 1982 until Dec. 1986, he became the ninth president and chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 1987.

ETSU joined The Texas A&M University System on Sept. 1, 1996 and was renamed Texas A&M University-Commerce.

In recognition of his long and distinguished service to Texas A&M University-Commerce, the title of President Emeritus was conferred upon Dr. Morris at the Dec. 4, 1997 meeting of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System.