W. M. "Speedy" Morrison

W. M. 'Speedy' Morrison was born on July 2, 1911, in Noble, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Sunday, January 27, 2008, in Prague, Oklahoma, at the age of 96. Speedy, the son of Joseph and Dorothula Fox Morrison, was a long-time resident of Prague. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1930 and was awarded a Law Degree in 1933. He married Alice Meyer on July 9, 1932 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Speedy and Alice moved to Prague in 1933 where he began his law practice in an office above the First National Bank. When his father-in-law, Julius O. Meyer, president of First National Bank, died in 1936, the stockholders of the bank asked Speedy to join the bank. Speedy became an integral part of First National Bank serving as vice president, loan officer, and insurance department manager, and was named president in 1975. He retired from the bank in 1976. A few of his contributions to the town of Prague include the establishment of the Parks Memorial Golf Course and its subsequent upkeep where #2 sand green was his responsibility for years; was one of the founders of the Kolache Festival; was responsible for bringing Boy Scouting to Prague; served on the Prague Hospital Board for over 15 years; served on the board of the Historical Museum and helped with its renovation; was a supporter of the Prague Library; and was a charter member of the Prague Lion’s Club. In the 1940s, he had young men gather paper and scrap metal to help with the war effort. Speedy was a long-time member of the Prague United Methodist Church where he served as chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award in 1982 and received the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Speedy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 61 years, Alice Meyer Morrison; one daughter, Susan Pechacek; three sisters; and four brothers. Survivors include sons Walter M. Morrison, Jr., and his wife Martha of Luling, Louisiana, and Dr. J. Scott Morrison and his wife Judith of Vermont; eight grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.