Dr. Mark Loren Morris Jr.

Dr. Mark Loren Morris, Jr. died Sunday, January 14, 2007 at his home in Topeka, KS. A service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, January 19 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS. Dr. Morris was born February 3, 1934 in New Brunswick, NJ to Dr. Mark L. Morris, Sr. and Louise Weber Morris. His parents had built the second veterinary hospital in the United States for small animals, and Mark grew up living in his familys apartment above the animal hospital. His father was an exceptional veterinarian and in the course of his practice developed a line of therapeutic foods for dogs and cats called Prescription Diet pet food. In 1948, his father signed a contract with Hills Packing Company in Topeka to take over the manufacture and distribution of these products. That contract moved the family to Topeka in the middle of Marks junior year in high school. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1952 and then attended The University of Kansas until 1954. During this time became a passionate fan of K.U. athletics that lasted throughout his lifetime. In 1954, Mark was accepted into the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and received his DVM degree. While a veterinary student at Cornell, he met and married Bette McGehee, a student in the Graduate School of Nutrition. After graduation in 1958, the couple moved to Topeka, where Dr. Morris began his work in the family business, appropriately named Mark Morris Associates. Within just a few months of moving to Topeka, Mark was drafted and served as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Veterinary Corps from 1958-1960. He was assigned as a laboratory pathology officer at Fort Detrick, MD. After the service, Mark and Bette moved to Madison, WI where he did his graduate studies in veterinary pathology and biochemistry at The University of Wisconsin. After completing his M.S. and Ph.D. in 1963, Dr. Morris returned to Topeka and expanded the Prescription Diet line of products. He became a worldwide authority on companion animal nutrition, and his passion to improve the health and well-being of all animals through better nutrition led him to mentor and teach others in his field. He then developed the commercially successful line of products known as Science Diet pet foods, which is sold around the world today for healthy dogs and cats. As president of Theracon, Inc., a family partnership, he was dedicated to pet food research development, testing and education of the next generation of veterinary professionals. Working with Gary Clarke, then director of the World Famous Topeka Zoo, he developed the ZuPreem line of products for zoo animals. His son, David Morris, has continued to expand the line of products that now includes diets for exotic pets. Dr. Morris published widely and was a visiting lecturer in small animal clinical nutrition in the United States and internationally. During his career, he was invited to speak at more than 200 meetings around the world. Most notably, he is the co-author of Small Animal Clinical Nutrition through its fourth edition, which now has been translated into five languages. It is the standard textbook on clinical nutrition used to educate veterinarians throughout the world. In 1988, Mark Morris Associates and Theracon were sold to Colgate Palmolive Company, which owned Hills Pet Nutrition. Then with characteristic vigor and enthusiasm, Mark and Bette turned their combined focus to learning how to manage financial assets. Dr. Morris often credited the Institute for Private Investors as his single most valued resource for contacts and information. He would say that the greatest contribution he could make to charitable causes was to grow their endowment, enabling others to fulfill the mission Through the years, he served tirelessly as vice-president of scientific activities of Morris Animal Foundation, the largest, non-governmental, non-profit organization funding animal health studies in the United States. Dedicated to improving the health and well-being of companion animals, zoo animals and wildlife, MAF has funded more than 1,200 humane animal health studies since its founding in 1948 by his parents. Professional scientific organizations include American and Kansas Veterinary Medical Associations, American Animal Hospital Association, and American Association of Veterinary Nutritionists. Dr. Morris was a founding member and on the Board of Regents of American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and a member of the Cornell University Feline Health Advisory Board. In addition to his leadership in the veterinary community, he was active in the Topeka business community. Dr. Morris was a Founding Director and Board Member of North Plaza State Bank and a board director of the Security Benefit Group of Mutual Funds. He also served on the Board and Investment Committee of the Topeka Community Foundation. Dr. Morriss civic contributions include being a member of the Downtown Rotary Club; the Topeka Zoological Foundation; Topeka Friends of the Zoo; First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and Finance Committee chairperson; the Kansas Masonic Foundation; the Grand Lodge AF & AM of Kansas. Education in Kansas was a primary value for Dr. Morris. He served on the Washburn University Board of Regents; was a Trustee of the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City; and served two elected terms on the Topeka School Board during years of transition for USD 501. Dr. Morris will be remembered by his family as an affectionate and supportive husband, dedicated and loving father, and extremely proud grandfather. He never tired of pulling out photos of his long-awaited five grandchildren to show anyone who expressed interest. Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Bette McGehee Morris, Topeka KS; son Mark Lee Morris, wife Julie and granddaughter, Liza, Kansas City, MO; son David Morris, wife Darlia, and grandsons, Jack and Will, Kansas City, MO; daughter Cynthia Morris, husband Craig Curtis, and grandsons Mark and David, Eugene, OR. Dr. Morris is also survived by his sister, Ruth Morris Keesling, husband Thomas Keesling, Englewood, CO, their three sons Tom, James and Frank, and their families; and his mothers sister, Florence Weber, Denver, CO. Donations in memory of Dr. Mark Morris may be made to: Morris Animal Foundation, 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112; First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66603; Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, Development Office, MS 3012, KU Endowment Assoc., 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City KS 66160. Dr. Morris will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com. Mark Loren Morris, Jr.