Obituary

Funeral services for Dr. Morris Glenn Harrison, 86, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Max Browning, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Bartley-Silva Funeral Home. Dr. Harrison died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at his residence. He was born June 7, 1916, in Timpson and moved at an early age to a farm in southern Hale County. He graduated from Plainview High School, received an associates degree in arts and sciences from Wayland Baptist College in 1935, a bachelor?s in arts and sciences from Texas Tech in 1937, a master?s in arts and sciences from the University of Texas in 1939 with majors in English and romance languages, and received his doctorate in education from Texas Tech in 1968. He taught English, Spanish and Latin in Plainview High School from 1939-1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as an officer from 1942-1946 in World War II and was discharged as a captain. He maintained his commission in the Army Reserve and National Guard, retiring as a major in 1966. After returning to Plainview, he worked as an interviewer and claims adjustor for the Texas Employment Commission from 1946-1947 and then taught general science and health in Plainview Junior High School from 1947-1950. He was principal of Central Elementary School from 1950-1956, principal at Plainview High High School from 1956-1958, principal at Estacado Junior High School from 1958-1962 and curriculum director for the Plainview schools from 1962-1966 when he became superintendent of schools, serving until 1979. He initiated and implemented a complete school desegregation plan acceptable to OCR-HEW. Dr. Harrison was a member of Plainview Noon Lions Club, on the advisory board of the Plainview Salvation Army, on the state board of managers of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers, chairman of the education committee of the Chamber of Commerce, on the board of Central Plains Higher Education Authority, YMCA governing board and was captain of the United Way drive. He was a member of Alpha Chi Honorary Scholarship Society. He received Plainview?s Man of the Year award in 1968 and was in Who?s Who in American Education in 1963-1964. On Dec. 7, 1942, he married Bonnie Jean Prycer in Lubbock. She died Aug. 14, 1980. Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dr. Boyd and Nadine Harrison of Princeton Junction, N.J., and Johnny Harrison of Plainview; a daughter, Elizabeth "Libby" Ware of Amarillo; a brother and sister-in-law, Billy and Billie Jean Harrison of Abernathy; a sister, Sibyl Mitchell of Rio Rancho, N.M.; and five grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to VistaCare Family Hospice or to the American Cancer Society.
Plainview Daily Herald - Aug. 16, 2002