William R. Morris Scholarship Endowment Established at SWOSU

Sept. 11, 2024

SWOSU Press Release

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has announced the receipt of a major gift from William and Gail Morris of Wichita (KS).

The gift will be used to establish the William R. Morris Endowment at SWOSU. The endowment will benefit SWOSU students who are studying Elementary Education in the SWOSU Department of Education which is situated within the SWOSU College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.

Scholarship awards from the endowment will be called Kay Morris Rozzell Scholarships and recipients will be styled as Kay Morris Rozzell Scholars.

William R “Bill” Morris majored in political science at SWOSU, and after graduation in 1974 moved to Wichita, KS to work toward a master’s degree at Wichita State University. He started working for the City of Wichita in 1975 as a management intern and spent most of his 37-year career as an administrator in the City’s engineering division.

Bill’s sister, Kay Morris Rozzell, also attended SWOSU, graduating in 1971 with a BA in elementary education. She taught in the Pauls Valley Public Schools system for 43 years as a third-grade teacher. Kay’s late husband, George Rozzell, was also a long-time teacher in Pauls Valley. Two of Kay and George’s daughters, and a granddaughter, are teachers as well.

Bill and Kay’s mother, Marguerite Morris, also got her degree in elementary education from SWOSU, and went on to teach in the family’s hometown of Carnegie.

“We are deeply grateful to longtime SWOSU benefactors Bill and Gail Morris for this latest generous gift,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana R. Lovell. “Bill has thoughtfully chosen to honor his family’s extensive ties to education by endowing a scholarship for students majoring in elementary education. It will be known as the Kay Morris Rozzell scholarship, in honor of Bill’s sister, who, along with his mother, helped lead the way here on the SWOSU Hilltop for the Morris Family.”

The William R. Morris Endowment and the Kay Morris Rozzell Scholarship are stewarded by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. The Foundation was established in 1977 to raise, administer, and disburse private funding in support of the activities and programs of SWOSU. For more information, please contact 580-774-3267 or visit www.SWOSUFoundation.com.