Arthur E. Morris Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Mayor
Arthur E. Morris
Office:39th Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Term Start:1980
Term End:1990
Predecessor:Albert Wohlsen
Successor:Janice Stork
Party:Republican
Birth Date:1946
Occupation:Civil Engineer

Arthur E. Morris is an American politician and professional engineer. Arthur Morris was the Pennsylvania State Mile High School Champion in 1963.[1] He earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State University (where he was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi) and an Honorary Doctor of Science from Franklin and Marshall College.

Biography

Morris designed flood control structures as a Hydraulic Engineer for the Pennsylvania Department of Forest and Waters from 1968 to 1970. He then worked for the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania first as the City Engineer and later as Director of Public Works from 1970 to 1980.[2]

On January 7, 1980 Morris was sworn as the youngest mayor in Lancaster history at the age of 34.[3] He served as the mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1990. He served as President of Acer Engineers and Consultants from 1990 to 1993. From 1994 to 1996, Morris served as Vice-President for research and membership of Public Technology Inc. Since 1997, he has been President of Keystone National Alliance and Utility Solutions.

Morris chaired the Board of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee for the Decontamination of Three Mile Island.[4] [5]

From 2002 until December 31, 2006, Morris served on the board of the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania, which was founded by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.[6]

In January 2008, former Lancaster County Commissioner Molly Henderson sued Morris, Lancaster Newspapers, Inc., and eight newspaper employees claiming that they injured her reputation during her tenure as Commissioner. The dispute centered around building a downtown convention center,[7] and followed her defeat in a 2007 re-election bid.[8] On June 7, 2011 the Court of Common Pleas, Chester County, Pennsylvania entered a judgement in favor of Morris which judgement was affirmed by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on September 28, 2012.[9] The "Arthur Morris Lancaster Mile" Race is held in his honor as a fund raiser for his legal defense fund.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arthur Morris Lancaster Mile. 2010-11-20. 2012-03-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314032610/http://www.active.com/running/lancster-pa/arthur-morris-lancaster-mile-2010. dead.
  2. Web site: Arthur E. Morris bio . 2010-11-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707164644/http://arthurmorrislegalexpensetrust.com/bio.html . 2011-07-07 .
  3. News: Eras past; This week in Lancaster County history. Lancaster Intelligencer. January 3, 2005. 2010-11-20.
  4. News: Three Mile Island, 9 Years Later: Public Interest Cooled But Reactor Remains 'Hot'. November 20, 1988. Los Angeles Times. Jeff. Barker. 2010-11-20.
  5. News: Reactor Storage Plan Opposed. October 26, 1988. 2010-11-20. The New York Times.
  6. News: Morris leaves energy group. Dec 14, 2006. Intelligencer Journal Lancaster New Era; Combined Saturday edition. 2010-11-22.
  7. News: Colwell Adams . Helen . Good Golly Molly! Democrat Who Had Republican Support Acts Independently. Henderson’s Questions on Downtown Project Rile Her Friends in Both Parties . . April 30, 2005 .
  8. News: Dave . Pigdeon . Lehman wins over incumbent Henderson . 2007-11-07 . 2007-12-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071209192107/http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/212049 . 9 December 2007 . dead .
  9. Web site: Arthur E. Morris Legal Expense Trust . 2010-11-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707164908/http://arthurmorrislegalexpensetrust.com/index.html . 2011-07-07 .