Edmund L. Morris Explained

Edmund Leverett Morris
Birth Date:4 February 1923
Birth Place:Halifax, Nova Scotia
Death Place:Halifax, Nova Scotia
Spouse:Lorraine Ware
Office:MLA for Halifax Needham
Term Start:1980
Term End:1988
Predecessor:Gerald Regan
Successor:Gerry O'Malley
Office2:Mayor of Halifax
Term Start2:1974
Term End2:1980
Predecessor2:Walter Fitzgerald
Successor2:Ronald Hanson
Office3:Member of Parliament for Halifax
Term Start3:June 1957
Term End3:February 1963
Predecessor3:John Dickey
Successor3:Gerald Regan
Profession:broadcaster, journalist, radio commentator
Party:Progressive Conservative

Edmund Leverett Morris (4 February 1923 – 3 January 2003) was a Canadian politician, broadcaster and university administrator.

Early life and education

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was the only son of Leverett Morris and Catherine Larsen.[1] He attended school at Saint Mary's Boys School. After graduating high school, he pursued an undergraduate and graduate degree in political science from Dalhousie University. After graduation, he went to work for a local radio station in Halifax.

Political career

In the 1953 federal election, Morris made his first attempt into politics when he ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the electoral district of Halifax. Although he lost, he continued to be involved in politics at the local level, and offered himself for election again in the 1957 election, in which he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada.

Between 1957 and 1963, Morris represented the riding of Halifax in the House of Commons. He held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Postmaster General, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Commerce.

In 1963, Morris was appointed as chief assistant to the President of Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Saint Mary's, a Catholic university administered by the Society of Jesus, saw Morris serving as one of the few lay persons on staff. Morris was instrumental in large scale building programs at the university throughout the 1960s as well as the eventual change of the university to non-denominational institution in 1970. Morris served as Interim President of Saint Mary's University during the school year 1970–1971.

Between 1974 and 1980, Morris served as Mayor of the City of Halifax.

After stepping down as Mayor of Halifax, Morris, entered provincial politics by standing as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the urban riding of Halifax Needham, during a by-election, on 6 May 1980. Morris won the seat by 26 votes.[2] [3] Morris was re-elected in 1981 and 1984. Morris served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Fisheries and Social Services.

Morris received an honorary degree, Doctor of Civil Law, from Saint Mary's University in 1986.

Death

Morris died on 3 January 2003, at age 79.[4]

References

Notes and References

  1. Halifax Herald - January 5, 2003
  2. News: N.S. Tories win 2 of 3 by-elections. The Globe and Mail. 7 May 1980.
  3. Web site: Returns of By-elections for the House of Assembly 1980. Elections Nova Scotia. 1980. 2014-10-03.
  4. Web site: Longtime politician Morris dies at 79. The Chronicle Herald. 4 January 2003. 2014-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20030429194403/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/01/04/f276.raw.html. 29 April 2003.