Walter J. Morrison

WALTER J. MORRISON, a retired partner of the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, died the 28th of March, 2006. He was born the 24th of October, 1914, in Jersey City, New Jersey. For the past 58 years, he and his wife Sue Alexander Morrison have lived in Houston, where they raised their three children. They have been active in the community and taken on leadership roles in church and civic organizations. Morrison, the first of three sons born to Walter J. Morrison Sr. and Marjorie O'Brien Morrison, spent his early years in Dallas, where he was graduated from Sunset High School. He was predeceased by his parents and by his brothers John R. and Eugene. He attended The University of Texas at Austin, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with honors, in 1936, and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1937. He was a member of Phi Eta Sigma, an honorary scholastic fraternity, and Phi Delta Phi, an honorary legal fraternity, and he was one of the editors of the Texas Law Review. He was also a member of the social fraternity Alpha Tau Omega. In 1937, Morrison was licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and began his practice with the Houston firm Hirsch, Susman and Westheimer. He joined the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski in 1947 and became a partner in that firm in 1954. He headed the firm's Banking and Business Law Dept. from 1967-76. He practiced law with Fulbright & Jaworski until his retirement in 1986. At the time of his retirement he was one of the senior partners of the law firm; before his death he was the firm's oldest former partner. He was active in the State Bar of Texas, serving as Chair of its Section on Business Law from 1966-67. He was also a member of the Houston Bar Assn. and the American Bar Assn. He was a sustaining life fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. During World War II he was an officer in the United States Navy, serving his tour of duty aboard ships in the Pacific theater. He was an officer of the U.S.S. AKA No. 1 (the "Arturus") and participated in the invasion of Okinawa on the 1st of April, 1945. He was Executive Officer of the ship when he was released from active duty. He was a member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church and he served that church in many capacities, including Chancellor from 1998-2004. He was on the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony Society and a member of the Century Club of the School of Business Administration of The University of Texas at Austin. A former Troop leader, he was a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of River Oaks Country Club. Reading, traveling the world, and playing tennis were his favorite pastimes. In addition to his beloved wife Sue, Walter Morrison is survived by his son, Mark Morrison, and daughter-in-law Ellen Barton Morrison, of Austin, Texas, his daughters Marion Morrison, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Michele Morrison, of Austin, Texas, and four grandchildren, Jeffrey Barton Morrison of New York, New York, and Scott Montgomery Morrison, Ross Anthony Roberts and Margaret Rose Roberts, of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by members of the Morrison and Alexander families who were close to him, including his sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Alexander Nisbet, of Corpus Christi, Texas and Patricia Alexander Wood, of Waco, Texas. The family wishes to thank the clergy of Saint Martin's Episcopal Chruch, the staff of Houston Hospice, and the care givers and friends who provided such capable and thoughtful support. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday the 1st of April, at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, with the Reverend Dr. Laurence A. Gipson, the Reverend Stuart A. Bates, and the Reverend John K. Graham officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the lawyers of Fulbright & Jaworski. In lieu of the usual remembrances, the family has suggested that donations be directed to the Sue and Walter J. Morrison Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law at The University of Texas School of Law, 727 East Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas, 78705, Saint Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77056, or other charity of their choice.