Gaylord Dean Morrison

Gaylord Dean Morrison was born on April 4, 1914 In Eagleville, MO to Oliver M. and Marguerite (Hunsicker) Morrison. He was born in the house his great grandfather built in 1865. He attended a rural one room school house and was paid 5cents a day to sweep the floor and 5 cents for bringing the drinking water from a neighbor. In 1937 he received his bachelor’s degree from Northwest State in Maryville, MO. Two years out of college he became Superintendent of Schools in Pickering, MO. He was also Superintendent of two other Missouri Schools early in his career. While working on his master’s degree at the University of Nebraska, he met Mercedes Triplett. They were married April 2, 1942 in Kearney, NE. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps. In August 1943 he went to Europe to fight the Germans via The Queen Elizabeth which had been converted into a troop ship. In 1945 he was honorably discharged from the Army and hired to teach Math & Science at Scottsbluff Jr. College. In 1946, Gaylord decided to go to Columbia University Teachers College in New York City where he earned a Specialist degree. Coming back to Missouri he was hired as Superintendent of Schools at Rockport. Gaylord wanted to be a college professor so he left Rockport in 1949 for the University of Missouri to pursue his Doctorate of Education. He wanted to graduate from the same University his Dad had graduated from in 1904. Gaylord received his EDD in 1951 and was hired as Assistant Professor of Education in June 1951 at Colorado State College. For the next 28 years at University of Northern Colorado Gaylord taught school administration, Secondary Education, Psychology, Research and Education Trends. The student advising, doctoral committees and supervising student teachers was his most rewarding. He impacted the lives of many students. The highlight of his teaching career was his 21/2 years in Dacca, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). He was invited to be the first Chief-of-Party and Director to establish the Institute of Education and Research at the University of Dacca in 1960. Prior to his retirement from UNC in 1979 he was administrator of several Denver programs which provided a Masters degree for teachers. Gaylord was active in his retirement, helping Senior citizens with home repair sponsored by RSVP. For 27 years he wrote "Morrison’s Meditations” for the Senior Voice. His "Meditations” consisted of a series of unrelated brief quips, some profound and others humorous. Gaylord never stopped helping others. He also delivered Meals –On-Wheels and volunteered in local schools. He is probably best known in Greeley for his beautiful vegetable garden and colorful gladiolus. He is survived by his wife of almost 72years Mercedes; daughter, Lynne (Richard) Luebke of Tulsa, OK; son, Lee (Deb) of Arvada, CO and granddaughter, Tara Morrison of San Diego, CA. Gaylord was preceded in death by his parents; brother’s, Dr. Carl Morrison and Commander Claude Morrison. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00p.m. Friday, April 4, 2014 (his birthday) at Adamson Chapel. Memorials may be made in Gaylord’s name to the "Gaylord and Mercedes Morrison Scholarship Fund at University of Northern Colorado” in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634. To extend condolences to the family go to adamsonchapels.com