Stewart Title honors Stewart Morris Sr. for 80 years of service
Stewart Title recently commemorated 80 years of dedicated service of a living legend in the Houston business community, Stewart Morris Sr.
His contributions to Stewart Title and the industry were celebrated at a private reception attended by more than 150 business and community leaders from across Texas and around the country.
“Dr. Morris can be described through these four words: faith, passion, zest and generosity. He exemplifies these values every day as he touches lives here at Stewart and around the world,” said David Stutts, senior vice president and chief risk officer at Stewart Title.
Rising through the ranks, from office boy to president and co-chief executive officer, Morris grew up in the family business, learning from his father, W.C. Morris. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his LLB degree from Southern Methodist University in 1943. The same year, he graduated from the U.S. Navy midshipman’s school at Columbia University and served in the Pacific during World War II.
“Stewart has largely defined our culture upon which we continue to build even today,” said Matt Morris, chief executive officer, Stewart Information Services Corp. “We are extremely grateful for his legacy and his continuous investment in the Stewart Title family, our industry and our community.”
Morris, one of Houston Baptist University’s founding fathers, twice chairman and currently a member of the board of trustees of HBU, and his wife, Joella, were instrumental in the establishment of the university, which opened its doors in 1963. Involved in his community for more than 50 years, Morris has served as advisory trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; director of the Harris County Heritage Society, Galveston Historical Foundation and the Oldham Little Church Foundation; senior chairman of Southern National Bank; chairman of the Carriage Museum of America; and honoree life trustee of the Carriage Association of America. In 1995, Morris was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
Among the honored guests who attended were Dr. Robert B. Sloan, president of Houston Baptist University; Paul W. Hobby; Welcome W. Wilson Sr.; Beth Wolff of Beth Wolff Realtors Real Living; Rob Ginn and Brian Spack of John Daugherty, Realtors; Jerry and Lisa Simon; Madeline Collier; Charles Bacarisse, former Harris County district clerk; Hydie McAllister of McAlister Assets; Steve Peacock of HouReal Corp.; Dr. Paul Sanders, president of Oldham Little Church Foundation; and Garry Blackman, Houston Fire Department chaplain.