Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lincoln Chamber Honors Local Couple
NEW YOUTH AWARD GIVEN TO LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
LINCOLN — Longtime residents Bill and Marietta Morris have selflessly donated countless hours in serving others since they moved to the city of Lincoln more than 30 years ago.
The Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday night announced the couple as the recipients of the 2017 Bud Cox award, a recognition given at the annual Chamber banquet to an outstanding citizen who has given back to the community.
About 100 people attended the 17th annual banquet held at Lincoln High School cafeteria.
In addition this year, the Chamber announced the recipient of a new award, named after John M. Harvey, who passed away in January. The first John M. Harvey Outstanding Youth Award was given to Lincoln High School senior Shylynn Osborne.
Harvey was an advocate for children through several organizations, an encourager and also an avid reader. Osborne was not able to attend the Chamber banquet because she was on a school trip but Principal Courtney Jones said the senior always has a book in her hands, a smile on her face and encourages others.
Michelle Morris Hall had the honor of presenting the Bud Cox award to her grandparents, Bill and Marietta Morris, and telling those at the banquet a little bit of how her grandparents have served the community of Lincoln.
“This year’s recipients of the Citizen of the Year award hold a firm belief in the value of putting others before self,” Hall said.
She said her grandfather would give this advice to younger generations about serving others: “There is work that needs to be done and someone has to do it.”
After retiring from the U. S. Army, Bill and Marietta moved to Lincoln in 1985, and almost immediately became involved in the community.
Both were active in the Lincoln
Literacy Council, Washington County Library Board and helped to form a Lincoln computer club. They’ve served on the Lincoln Country Doctor Museum Board and have been participates in Lincoln Community Alliance.
Bill Morris served as Lincoln’s first representative for United Way.
They were involved in the Arkansas Apple Festival and served apples with the Masonic Lodge at the festival. They have been judges for the Lincoln BBQ cookoff and Bill volunteered with Lincoln Kiwanis Club when the Kiwanis served meals at the Lincoln Rodeo.
Marietta was secretary of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 20 years and Bill has been active in Lincoln Masonic Lodge for 30 years, as well as active with the Eastern Star.
Bill Morris also was instrumental in developing and organizing a noon meal delivery for Lincoln Senior Center. This program still continues today through the Meals on Wheels program.
Both are active members of Lincoln Presbyterian Church.
“In addition to these efforts, we could add a countless number of acts of service that have gone undocumented but nonetheless are valued by those who benefited from the time and energy these two individuals have poured into the Lincoln community,” Hall said.
The couple has three children, nine grandchildren, two great- grandchildren with one on the way and the professions among these include a medical missionary, two teachers, a nurse and a retired member of the armed forces.