Richard Roberts Morrison III

Richard was born June 9, 1939 to Richard R. Morrison, Jr. and Emogene Morrison in Marshall, Texas. He graduated from Daingerfield High School in 1957 and the University of Texas in 1962. Richard received a JD from Baylor University, was admitted to the Bar and joined the law firm Wellborn Houston, Henderson, Texas, 1965.

He co-founded the Daniel Morrison firm, Liberty, Texas, 1968; was partner at Gray Roche Burch Morrison, Houston, 1976 and joined Krist Gunn Weller Neumann Morrison, Clear Lake, 1978; was admitted to the U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th and 11th Circuits; Houston Bar Association; Texas Trial Lawyer Association, Board of Directors 1986-87; Association of Trial Lawyers of America; American Board of Trial Advocates.

Richard was a trial lawyer handling civil and criminal cases. He appeared as trial counsel in hundreds of cases in Texas and in several other states. He made his name representing the working men and women of Texas in precedent setting cases involving workers compensation, personal injury and products liability.

His involvement in environmental and conservation matters on the Gulf Coast helped preserve what we all enjoy today. He served on many boards and committees that routinely dealt with protecting, preserving and enhancing the environment. He Chaired the Navigation District of Liberty-Chambers County, 1973-74; Commissioner, Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission, 1983-89; Vice Chair Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission, 1987-89; Texas Parks & Wildlife Emeritus Society, 1995; Governor's Advisory Panel on Offshore Oil and Chemical Spill Responses; Governor's Advisory Panel on Shrimp and Oysters; Founder of the Galveston Bay Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Galveston Bay Foundation, 1987-89; Chair Galveston Bay Foundation, 1989-90; Executive Committee of Board of Trustees, Galveston Bay Foundation, 1987-93; Executive Committee of Board of Trustees, Lower Laguna Madre Foundation, 1991-93; Mayor Bob Lanier's Transition Team on the Environment, 1992-93; Board of Directors Gulf Coast Conservation Association; Board of Directors Bayou Preservation Society of Houston; Board of Directors Wetlands Habitat Alliance of Texas; Board of Directors Quail Unlimited, Houston Chapter; Board of Directors, Armand Bayou Nature Center, 1992-93; and Chair of Committee for Safe Seafood and Recreation 1989.

Richard advocated for the Texas Coast; and diligently worked toward solving problems utilizing a balanced approach among competing interests while always striving to protect and preserve the Gulf of Mexico and its diverse and abundant fishery. As Commissioner at Parks & Wildlife he took the lead in "The Redfish Wars" by making redfish a gamefish, reducing the daily possession and banning all gill nets in Texas Bays. Also, during his time as Commissioner, Parks & Wildlife outlawed deer hunting with dogs in East Texas and set a minimum length for black bass. As a member of Galveston Bay Foundation, he helped change the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ policy of open bay disposal of dredge spoil to the containerized practice of today; helping to preserve our coastal marshes and the sea grass in our bays.

Richard was a devoted father and grandfather and passed his deep love of Texas to his kids and grandkids. He took them fishing and hunting all over Texas; teaching them to respect every gun as if it was loaded, how conservation leads to abundance, and proof that God’s existence can be seen in cool thigh deep water at sunrise. But the greatest gift he passed to his children and grandchildren was his bottomless love he had for each of them; always patient always kind.

He was known for his unconditional love, a man who loved the arts, beautiful music, people of all colors and religions, great jokes and great books; but above all, his kindness.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sheri Morrison. He is survived by wife Ann Hanna Morrison, children Richard Morrison, IV (Allyson), Paige Morrison, James Morrison (Toni), Jake Morrison, sister Charlotte Morrison, niece Leigh Smith, grandchildren Haley McDonald (Matt), 1st Lt. Austin Morrison, USMC, John Morrison, Julia Morrison, Lauren Morrison, Joseph Morrison, Alexander Morrison, and stepsons Todd Hanna and Trent Hanna.

The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be made in his memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the charity of your choice.