Guy Walker Morriss

1951 - 2022

Guy Walker Morriss
May 13, 1951 - September 5, 2022
Lexington, Kentucky - Guy Morriss, former head coach of the University of Kentucky and Baylor University football teams, died Monday at the age of 71 in Danville. He was surrounded by his wife Jackie and his daughters as he passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord at their Happy Trails family farm.
Guy arrived in Lexington in 1997 as assistant head coach and offensive line coach for UK. His offensive lines provided the pass protection and running holes for the record-setting offenses directed by quarterbacks Tim Couch (1997-98), Dusty Bonner (1999), and Jared Lorenzen (2000). Coach Morriss and Couch provided the first win over Alabama in 75 years during the 1997 season and a 7-4 regular-season record and trip to the Outback Bowl â€" UK's first New Year's Day bowl appearance in 47 years.
Guy returned to his native Texas as head coach of the Baylor Bears from 2003-07. He lifted the program to a higher level of respectability with the Bears achieving a memorable 35-34 overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M in 2004. Baylor fans stormed the field, quickly taking down the goal posts in the south end zone and carrying them out of Floyd Casey Stadium. It was Baylor's first win over the Aggies since 1985.
After a year as line coach at Kentucky State University, he became head coach at Texas A&M-Commerce from 2009-12. In 2012, Guy graduated from the Texas A&M-Commerce graduate school with a master's degree and received his diploma with a rousing ovation.
Returning to Kentucky for good, Guy was the line coach at Warren Central High School in Bowling Green (2014) and Lexington Christian Academy (2015) before retiring.
Guy Morriss was born in Colorado City, Texas. He attended Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas where he was a standout lineman and earned a scholarship to Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from TCU in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education.
A second-round selection in the 1973 NFL draft, Guy was a Pro Bowl center in the National Football League (NFL), where he played with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973 to 1983, and the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1987. He played in two Super Bowls, one with each team, and was an All-Pro selection in 1981.
Guy Morriss entered the coaching ranks as offensive line coach at New England (1988-89). He was head coach of the Washington Marauders of the Professional Spring Football League in 1992. He entered collegiate coaching as offensive line coach under Mumme at Valdosta State in 1992-93, also guiding the O-Lines for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals (1994), San Antonio of the Canadian Football League (1995), and Mississippi State (1996).
Always a Texan and cowboy at heart, Guy's true love was being on the farm, raising black Angus cattle, and working with his hands. He loved riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and driving large and loud pickup trucks. He idolized Stevie Ray Vaughn, loved some good ZZ Top, and country music was always a favorite.
Guy was tough as nails on the outside, but full of love and kindness on the inside. He was never selfish, a friend to anyone that crossed his path, and always took time to share his experiences with others. He was a mentor to hundreds of student athletes throughout his time in collegiate football. Though he never had a son, Guy was a father figure to many players, and he and Jackie looked after each one like they were an extension of the family. Even in retirement Guy kept in contact with many former players and coaches, especially his friends and mentors, former Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Dick Vermeil, and former head coach of the New England Patriots, Raymond Berry.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ross Morriss, and mother, Guynell Morriss, of Omaha, TX, and leaves behind two brothers, Vic Morriss and Robert Walker. He was a devoted father to four beautiful daughters: Colleen and her husband Charles of Shippensburg, PA; Kerry and Tommy Clark of Valdosta, GA; Savannah Morriss of Lexington, KY; and Austin and JD Blacklock of Ft. Worth, TX. He will be missed by his grandchildren Aidan, Kade, Kyleigh, Tanner, and Vivienne. And he leaves behind his best friend and soulmate, his wife Jackie.
A public visitation will be held Sunday, October 2, 2022 beginning at 2:00pm with a memorial service celebrating Guy's life and kindness to others at 4:00pm at Southland Christian Church, 5001 Harrodsburg Rd, Nicholasville, KY in Theatre 81.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider supporting the Guy Morriss Memorial Fund established at Farmer's National Bank in Perryville, KY. If you would like to give, please make your checks payable to:
The Guy Morriss Memorial Fund, Farmers National Bank, C/O Lisa Bottom, 309 East 2nd St., Perryville, KY 40468