Deceased August 28, 2007

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In Memory

Duane “Hump” Morris died unexpectedly on August 28, 2007, as a result of a heart attack and fall from a ladder.  He was born March 12, 1927, and was a lifelong resident of the Barberton-Norton area in Ohio.  Duane graduated from Barberton High School before he joined the US Navy.  Upon his honorable discharge, he applied to Amherst and was accepted for admission to the famous Class of 1950.  At Amherst, he was known to many of his friends as “Hump,” which is short for Humphrey (a character in the old Joe Palooka comic strip).  I believe that it was Bob McKean who tagged him with this name after seeing him wolf down a huge hamburger.  Hump was my roommate for three years, my best friend, and my best man at my wedding.  He had a great sense of humor with the ability to laugh with others as well as at himself.  He was also a very serious student at Amherst, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduation, he went to Michigan Law School for his degree.  Within a few days of his graduation from law school, he was quickly employed by the Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs law firm where he practiced law till he died (fifty-four years).  He also served as prosecutor for the City of Norton, OH.  He was very active in his church, where he sang in the choir and served on the board of deacons.  He was considered by all to be a man of great dignity.  He was an avid reader and war history buff.  He enjoyed gardening and was a connoisseur of good food and beer.  He liked to quote Ben Franklin’s saying, “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

Duane was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, and his son, Alan.  He is survived by his four daughters: Amy Nitz, Belinda Morris-Fairchild, Kim Razza, and Terry Fillow.  All who have known him will miss him very much.

Jack Gillies ’50