[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E24-E25]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING STEWART MORRIS' 100TH BIRTHDAY AND THE MORRIS FAMILY CENTER 
           FOR LAW AND LIBERTY AT HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FLORES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 10, 2020

  Mr. FLORES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Stewart 
Morris, who turned 100 years old on October 28, 2019.
  To commemorate this occurrence, Houston Baptist University hosted a 
ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Morris Family Center for Law and 
Liberty in honor of its namesake and founding father of the University, 
Dr. Stewart Morris.
  Growing up in Houston, Morris was known as a cantankerous boy. He 
notoriously adopted a pet leopard named Spot who he kept in his room to 
stop family members from entering his personal space. At the age of 
ten, Morris displayed a natural drive to succeed and started his first 
job as Office Boy at the family business, Stewart Title. He quickly 
worked his way up from running errands to making business transactions.
  In 1943, Morris experienced many major milestones. He graduated from 
The University of Texas with a BA, Southern Methodist University with a 
JD, and Columbia University with a Midshipman's degree all in the same 
year. Following his many academic accomplishments, Morris joined the 
Navy and married his wife Joella Mitchell. Together they were blessed 
with three children.
  As an officer in the Navy, Morris was sent to the South Pacific. A 
young and frightened sailor, Morris distinguished himself by working to 
establish discipline and order aboard his ship.
  Following the close of World War II in 1945, Morris returned home to 
Texas, where he resumed work at Stewart Title. Determined to expand the 
business, Morris began traveling all over Texas, picking up a pilot's 
license and became proficient in Spanish along the way. Under Morris' 
diligent leadership, Stewart Title grew rapidly from a local Houston 
business to an international powerhouse with offices in all 50 states, 
13 foreign countries, and over 9,000 locations.
  His hunger for excellence, forward thinking-ethos, and deep faith in 
God inspired those around him. It was often said by his peers that 
``when Morris was at the helm of a project, it seemed like nothing was 
impossible.'' It was this same sense of passion and joy for life that 
made Morris the perfect leader to pioneer the establishment of a new 
Christian college in Houston, Texas.
  In 1952, Morris joined the Union Baptist Association in raising funds 
and assessing land for the new Houston Baptist University. For the past 
67 years, Morris dedicated countless hours of his time and generous 
financial contributions to this community. A peer once said about 
Morris that ``there is no single person more influential in the 
founding and earliest history of HBU.''
  On his 100th birthday, the Houston Baptist University community 
joined together in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. 
Stewart Morris with the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Morris Family 
Center for Law and Liberty. This new center will work to promote a 
greater understanding and appreciation for our nations history and 
founding principles amongst students.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Stewart Morris has lived a long life filled with 
love, joy, and dedicated to his belief that ``its more blessed to give 
than to receive.'' I am proud to recognize him on this joyous occasion 
and know that his family and friends love him and are proud of him. I 
wish Morris many more years of health and happiness.
  I have requested that a United States flag be flown over our Nation's 
Capitol to recognize Dr. Stewart Morris' 100th Birthday.
  As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue to pray for our 
country, for our veterans, for our military men and women who protect 
us, and for our first responders who keep us safe at home.

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