Katy Mourns Former City Mayor, A True Trailblazer

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

August 10, 2020

By Natalie Cook Clark

Former Katy Mayor, John George Morrison passed away last week. The city honored him this weekend by declaring August 8 “John George Day.” Morrison is known for obtaining Katy’s first charter, which is still used today.

John Morrison with his sons, Gary on the left and Jonathan on the right. All Photo Credits: Morrison Photo Collection.

Katy Mayor 1979-1983

John George Morrison served on the Katy City Council in the 1970s before serving as mayor from 1979-1983.

“John was known was the ‘Charter Mayor,’” says current Katy Mayor Bill Hastings. “He served on the original charter commission.”

The Katy Rice Festival also launched during Morrison’s tenure. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce became involved in promoting the festival in 1981, while he was mayor.

Morrison passed away in his sleep on August 5 at the age of 95. He was born on May 10, 1925 to Harry and Elizabeth Davis Morrison in Martinton, Il, a small farming community south of Chicago.

Three days after he graduated from high school, Morrison enlisted in the Army Air Corp where he trained as a ball turret gunner. While stationed at Lowery Field in Denver he met and married Bobbie Henderson. After his time in the armed services they moved to the greater Houston area and raised their sons, Jonathan Lee and Gary Alan. (Bobbie and John Morrison pictured left)

A Natural Entrepreneur

Morrison was a natural entrepreneur. He owned a paint and wallpaper store in the Lakewood area of Houston that led to distributorship for Cook’s Paint and Wallpaper Company. He had a real estate business in the Spring Branch area while he owned a string of laundromats.

Established BG's Fried Chicken

In the mid-70s the couple moved to Katy and Morrison established BG’s Fried Chicken. He also owned the City Café in Brookshire, while continuing his restate business as John Morrison & Associates.

Morrison loved golf, gardening, painting, history books, and his favorite of all, singing. While serving as Katy’s mayor he continued to chair and serve on many boards and organizations throughout the city. He was an active member of the Katy Chamber of Commerce and in 1987, he served as the chairman of the Katy Area Houston Board of Realtors.

Campaigning for Katy Mayor.

The Morrisons were actively involved in Katy’s First United Methodist Church. In 1992, at the age of 67, John Morrison accepted the call to go into full-time ministry. This decision led him and his wife to move to Carthage, TX. Over those years he served as pastor at four area churches: St. Andrews, Murvaul, and Woods as head pastor and First United Methodist of Carthage as an associate pastor.

Bobbie Morrison passed away while they lived in Carthage. The couple had been married for 62 years.

In 2007, Morrison married Emily Hester and they moved to Chireno, TX where they sang in a local group.

Emily and John Morrison.

Loved Everything Part of Katy

Morrison made an impact on any community he joined. “He loved Katy and being part of everything ‘Katy,’” says Mayor Hastings. “He was a fine man and friend.”

John Morrison is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Harry and Myron, and his wife Bobbie.

Silly Picture from Left to right: back row Jon, Bailey, Jennifer, Emily, Jan Morrison, Charlotte Morrison. Front row: Scout Bobbie Leigh, Gary Morrison, John Morrison, Jonathan Morrison.

He is survived by his wife Emily, brother Ross and wife June of Lancaster, PA; sons Johnathan and wife Jan of Socorro, NM, and Gary and wife Charlotte of Austin, TX; granddaughter Jennifer Adams and husband Kevin of Katy, TX; great grandchildren Bailey, Jonathan, Katie, and Scout Adams; grandchildren Loden and Cyan Lizaso of Carrollton, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Those wishing to honor Morrison’s memory may send donations to Love In The Name of Christ, P.O. Box 630423, Nacogdoches, TX 75963 or to the charity of your choice.