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15571 Morris, Robert Franklin
December 21, 1923 - November 04, 1989

usma1946

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '91

Robert Franklin Morris No.15571 Class of 1946
Died 4 November 1989 in Statesboro, Georgia, aged 65 years. Interment: Eastside Cemetery, Statesboro, Georgia

The term "Southern Gentleman" was coined to describe men such as this. So were such adjectives as caring, loving, honest, humble, loyal, fair, persistent, persuasive and imaginative.

Robert Franklin Morris was born to Thaddeus James and Eloise Franklin Morris in Statesboro, Georgia on 21 December 1923. In the years between that memorable date and the date he was lost to this world, 4 November 1989, he lived a life truly exemplary.

All of Robert's younger years were spent in Statesboro, doing those things all young men did in small southern towns those years between the wars. His activities ranged from boxing to acting (best actor in the school district one year) to senior class president. His leadership potential was recognized early by the best of all possible judges, his peers.

Graduation from high school was followed by two years at Georgia Southern College in Statesboro. With the darkening of war clouds around the world, Robert expressed an interest in the Army. Accepting that given, his parents wanted him then to be the best possible soldier. To that end, he was entered into Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama.

From Marion, Robert entered the Military Academy on 1 July 1943 with the Class of 1946. There he was dubbed "Bob," the name to which he responded throughout the Army community. As a cadet, he qualified as a hive, graduating in the top third of the class. As was apparent throughout his life, Bob always had time to help others, in this case those needing a few more tenths from the Academic Department

Robert met Helen Doris Proctor, a southern belle from the nearby town of Twin City, at a literary meet which took place at a high school located near their two schools. Romance blossomed and survived even the rigors of plebe year. To allow as much time together as possible, Helen took employment at Grand Central Station in New York City during that wonderful yearling summer when the class took its military training at Popolopen. She received her miniature at the Ring Hop and the two joined hands permanently at the Cadet Chapel the day after graduation.

Robert chose Field Artillery as his branch and thus spent his first year of active duty at Forts Sill and Bliss. There, many lifelong friendships were established in facing with other couples the rigors and complexities of lives as young Army families.

Robert's first troop duty took him to Korea where his assignments ranged from assistant battalion communications officer to infantry platoon leader to firing battery commander. January 1948 saw the beginning of stability at last, with assignment to the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood. Here he served as a firing battery executive for six months and then served as aide-de-camp to two successive division commanders. It was here that Robert and Helen's first child, Karen, was born. When the division moved to "keep the Russians out of Western Europe" in June 1951, Robert asked for troop duty and was rewarded with command of a firing battery in one of the direct support battalions. When the Army integrated in 1951, the division artillery commander gave to one of his battalion commanders the task of reorganizing the 16th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He was given carte blanche in selecting his battery commanders and principal staff officers. He chose Robert Morris to command Battery C. After two years, Robert was hand picked again, this time to serve in the office of the Secretary to the General Staff, Seventh Army. Robert F., Jr. (Frank) was born in 1953 in Landstuhl, West Germany.

Upon their return to the US in 1954, Robert submitted his resignation. With their daughter Karen and son Frank, he and Helen returned to Statesboro where Robert joined his father's wholesale grocery business. Their third child, Suzanne, was born in nearby McRae, Georgia in 1959. Robert served in a variety of positions in the company and, with the death of his father in 1968, was named president. During his tenure with the company, it grew from about 30 employees to over two hundred. Here, as in the Army, Robert's first concern was for his people. He took care of them and they took care of him.

While in the Army, Robert became interested in oil painting and watercolors, and worked at improving his technique in both until his death. He became interested also in astronomy, studying it both in his books and with his telescope. For recreation he enjoyed golfing, participating on a weekly basis with his constant foursome. The family took annual vacations to the Atlantic coast, the locale shifting from Jekyll Island, Georgia to Fripp Island, South Carolina and, finally, to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Robert made maximum use of the 35 adult years allotted to him in his beloved Statesboro. His services to that community were wide ranging. He had served as chairman of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church, as a member of the Board of Trustees, chairman of the Finance Committee and, most recently, as chairman of the Building Committee. He also served as a Sunday School teacher. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Rotary Club, being named posthumously "1989 Man of the Year" by the latter. He served also on the Bulloch County Industrial Development Authority and the Bulloch Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. Robert was a member of the board of directors of the First Bulloch Bank & Trust Company and, with the rest of his family, was an avid supporter of the uniquely successful football program of Georgia Southern College upon whose foundation board he served both as a member and as an honorary member.

Robert thought through social, religious, economic and political issues carefully and expressed his positions clearly, objectively and persuasively. He never found it necessary to resort to strong language. His congressmen and senators heard from him regularly and came to respect him deeply.

It is interesting and instructive to note the similarities among the many, many letters of condolence received by Robert's family. They came from a congressman; from bankers, shipping clerks, doctors, mechanics; from lawyers, churchmen, friends. Robert always came through as a practicing Christian who put others first, self last. He cared; he really cared. He did so much for so many; was loved and respected by an entire community and is missed by them all.

He is missed, too, by a loving family which includes two younger brothers, Jimmy and Phil, who were partners in TJ Morris Company, as well as Helen, Karen, Frank, Suzanne and seven grandchildren.

Our literary inadequacies are exposed when we try to record the real essence of the life of a dear comrade departed. Perhaps it is enough in this remarkable West Point community of ours to say that Robert loved the Military Academy and all it stands for and that he truly lived Duty, Honor, Country.

Personal Eulogy

deceased

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