William Noel Morris

From 1978 to 1994, Morris served four terms as Shelby County Mayor. Traveling the globe with Governors Alexander and McWherter, he promoted tourism with Memphis In May, Beale Street and Elvis' Graceland. He also sold the concept of Memphis as America's Distribution Center, helping to bring foreign businesses such as Sharp Manufacturing and Nissan Motor Company to Tennessee. His work promoting foreign trade earned him a seat on Pres. Ronald Reagan's International Economic Committee. Morris became a close friend and companion of Elvis Presley, deputizing Elvis and members of his "Memphis Mafia" in 1965. Morris was also one of a few close associates to participate in a never, publicized secret seance in an attempt to communicate with Elvis immediately after his death. After an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1994, Morris retired from politics. Three years later, his wife, Ann, suffered a major stroke, which began his greatest challenge. For the next 19 years, he became devoted to his wife's day to daycare until her death in 2016..
Awards & Accolades
During my professional career, I was honored to be affiliated with the following organizations:
100 Club of Memphis (100 businessmen who contributed to support families of fallen firemen and policemen)
Aging Commission of the Mid South, Chairman
Al Chymia Shrine, Ambassador, Greeters, Lifetime Member
American Heart Association
American Legion, Bodley Americanism Award
Beta Lambda Epsilon, Law Fraternity
Blind Benefit Football Game, Chairman
Boys Town, President, Admissions Committee Chairman, Board member, Advisory Committee, Finance Committee
Boy Scouts of America, Chickasaw Council Advisory Board, President, Kentucky-Tennessee President, Explorer Advisor, School Night for Scouting, Chairman, Region 5 Director, National Committee Urban Relationships, National Cub Scout Committee, Silver Beaver & Silver Antelope Awards
Cancer Crusade
City and State Magazine, National County Executive of the Year
Christian Brothers University, President’s Council
Church Health Center, Development Committee
Colonial Park Methodist Church, Long Range Planning Committee., Board of Stewards
Delta Area Agency on Aging, Board Chairman
Duration Club of Memphis, Advisor
Easter Seal Society, Life Member, Executive Board
Easter Seal (National) Campaign, TN Co-chair with UT coach, Doug Dickey
Eastwood Manor Civic Club
Family Services of Memphis
Foundation of World Literacy
Gavel Club, President
Goals for Memphis, Board of Trustees
Hotel-Motel Association Distinguished Service Award
Itawamba Junior College, Distinguished Alumnus
Junior Achievement
Junior Chamber of Commerce, Past President, Life Member, Senator, Tennessee Colonels, Boss of the Year Award, Mr. Jaycee, Tennessee Jaycee of the Year, Spoke Award
Kiwanis National Lawman of the Year
Liberty Bowl Association, Board
Life Blood Foundation, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Lindenwood Christian Church, Capital Campaign Chairman and Board Chairman, Life Elder
Lions Club
Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club (City Current), Legacy Award
March of Dimes, Executive Board
Masonic Order, Stonewall Masonic Lodge #723 F & AM
Master Detective Magazine, Outstanding Lawman Award
Memphians for Economic Growth, Board of Trustees
Memphians for Patriotism
Memphis Athletic Association
Memphis Bar Association, Liberty Bell Award
Memphis Chamber of Commerce,
Tourism Committee
Memphis Cotton Carnival, Board of Directors, Parade Grand Marshall
Memphis Institute for Bail & Criminal Justice
Memphis Jobs Conference, Board of Trustees
Memphis Junior Chamber of Commerce, Past President, Vice President Public Relations, Tennessee Distinguished Service Award, Memphis’ Outstanding Young Man of the Year, Outstanding New Jaycee (Spoke Award), Jaycee of the Month Tennessee’s Outstanding Young Man
Memphis Partners, Inc., Board of Directors
Memphis-Shelby County Safety Council, Director, Vice President, President’s Award
Memphis Symphony, Wild Game Dinner Co-founder
Memphis Youth Guidance Commission
Mid-South Fair, Board of Advisors
Military Affairs Council, Civilian of the Year
Muscular Dystrophy Association, Executive Board
National Association of Counties, Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman, President, Council of Elected County Officials; Member, State & Local Coalition; Chairman, Committee on the Future; Vice-Chairman, National Institute of Leadership
National Council of Christians and Jews, Special Human Relations Award
National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, Contribution to Amateur Football Award, Memphis Chapter
National Jewish Center for Immunology & Respiratory Medicine, Council of National Trustees
National Jewish Hospital & Research Center Humanitarian Award
National Sheriff’s Association, Corrections Committee
Navy League
Omicron Delta Kappa
Optimist International, Lifetime Member, Founder & Charter Member of Germantown Club, Charter Member, Fox Meadows Club; Founder, Poplar East Club; National Optimist Award for Community Service
Orpheum Theater, Executive Board
Parent Teachers Association, Life Member
Parents Against Illegal Narcotics, Founder
Partners for Livable Communities, Chairman, Board of Trustees, President, Award of Merit
Pi Delta Epsilon, Journalism Fraternity
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Alumni Association
President Ronald Reagan’s International Economics Committee
Printing Industry of America, Ben Franklin Outstanding Citizenship Award
Ptah Secret Cotton Carnival Society, Co-founder
Redbirds Baseball Foundation, Executive Board
Rhodes College, President’s Council
Rotary Club, Harris Fellowship Award
Saint James Methodist Church, Board Member; Christian Social Concern Group, Founder and Chairman, Men’s Club, Sergeant-at-Arms, Church Usher Committee
Sales & Marketing Executives of Memphis, Inc., Outstanding Community Sales Award
Sertoma Club, Service to Mankind Award
Scottish Rite Mason
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Advisory Board
Shelby County Mental Health Association, Board of Directors (non governmental)
Shelby State Community College, Dr. F. Oliver Hardy Award for Outstanding Community Leadership
Southeast U.S. – Japan Association
Southeast U.S. – Korea Association
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Advisory Board
Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
Tennessee County Officials, Chairman
Tennessee County Services Association, President, Board of Directors
Tennessee – Japan Friends in Commerce, Friendship Award
Tennessee Prison & Jain Reform Action Committee, President
University of Memphis, William N. Morris Chair in International Economics at the Fogelman College of Business, Dr. C.C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Ambassadors Club, Alumni Association Chairman, Special Gifts, Chairman; National Foundation, Tiger Club Board of Directors, President’s Board of Visitors, Chairman, Fogelman School of Business Advisory Board, Co-chairman Athletic Capital Campaign, International Committee
University of Southern California’s Community Leadership Award
World Affairs Council, Citizenship Award
YMCA Management Board