Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Guest speaker Billy Morris ('52) shares life lessons
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Guest speaker Billy Morris (’52) shares life lessons

March 7, 2012 | 331 views

William S. “Billy” Morris III (’52), chairman and CEO of Morris Communications Co. and publisher ofThe Augusta Chronicle, told Darlington's Upper School students today that his first job delivering newspapers on horseback taught him many life lessons. 

"My father was trying to teach me some important lessons in life by giving me that horse - responsibility, accountability and the proper care of animals," said Morris, the ninth speaker in Darlington’s annual Class of 1953 Lectureship Series. "But I learned even more."

Morris' address was titled "From Horseback to the Future: My Ride and Yours." In his tales of his daily route with his horse, Baron, (and sometimes with his brother's pet goat, Billy Billy, close behind), Morris recounted learning real-life lessons about customer service, punctuality, taking care of his equipment/property, and much more. But one of the most memorable lessons he learned, he said, was that it's alright to have fun at work. 

"This was a very important lesson," he said.

Morris also relayed the following keys to success:  your attitude is your biggest asset, be friendly, be honest, set goals, get help, take action, never stop learning, stay focused, believe in your faith, and believe in yourself.

During his time as a high school student at Darlington, Morris was a member of the Glee Club, the junior varsity football team, the cheerleading squad and the staff of The Darlingtonian student newspaper. He now leads Morris Communications, a diversified, mid-sized media company operating across the United States and abroad. The company owns and operates newspapers, radio stations, visitor publications, magazines and book publishing businesses, event marketing and online services.

"Had it not been for this school, I would not be up here today," Morris told students in the chapel that bears his family's name. "Darlington made a difference in my life and it can and will in yours."

A native Augustan, Morris is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. He has served as chairman and member of the Board of Directors of the Newspaper Association of America, and is a former director of The Associated Press and the Advertising Council Inc. He received the first Bottom Line Award from the Media Management Club of the University of Georgia for his contributions to publications management education at the university.

His many honors include selection as the 1983 Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, and induction into the Mass Communication Hall of Fame at Texas Tech University. He is a former member and chairman of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and has served on the boards of trustees of the Augusta College Foundation, Paine College and the University of Georgia Foundation.

In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of Columbia Theological Seminary, Morris is a former director of the National Science Center Foundation, and former director of the Southern Company and Georgia Power Company. He is a founder and former chairman of the Greater Augusta Sports Council, director and president of the Atlantic Coast Cutting Horse Association, founder and show chairman of the Augusta Futurity, and chief executive officer of the National Barrel Horse Association of America.

He is also the founder and chairman of the Board of the Morris Museum of Art, which he established in memory of his parents. It is the first museum to focus on the art and culture of the American South. In memory of his father, he also established the Morris Eminent Scholar’s Chair in Art at Augusta State University and the William S. Morris Chair of Newspaper Strategy and Management at the University of Georgia. In memory of his mother, he established the Florence Hill Morris Scholarship at Columbia Theological Seminary.

A life trustee of Darlington School and visitor emeritus, Morris was Darlington’s 2002 Distinguished Alumnus and served as chairman of the Campaign for Darlington. He is married to the former Mary Sue “Sissie” Ellis of Columbus, Ga., and they have two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren. His son, Will, graduated from Darlington in 1979 and is a former trustee.