Obituary: Del. Theodore ‘Ted’ Virgil Morrison Jr.

Former Newport News Del. Theodore “Ted” Virgil Morrison Jr. died July 6. He was 89.

Del. Morrison graduated from Newport News High School in 1953 and subsequently attended Emory University in Atlanta. While at Emory, he was a member of Alpha Tau and Phi Delta. He was first in his law school class and was admitted to the Georgia bar prior to graduation.

In 1959, Del. Morrison was hired by Bivins, Jacobs and Bivins in Newport News. Later, he partnered with Elmo Stephenson to form Morrison, Stephenson, Saunders and Spratley.

Over a 30-plus year legal career, Del. Morrison maintained an active trial law practice in both civil and criminal cases across various Virginia jurisdictions. He was president of the Newport News Bar Association.

During his legal career, Del. Morrison also served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, including basic infantry training and six months active duty at Fort Knox, where he served as the sports reporter for the post newspaper, the Fort Knox Turret.

Del. Morrison was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1967, representing Newport News. He served in the chamber for the next 20 years, including stints on the standing committees on Interstate Commerce, Chesapeake and Its Tributaries, and Finance. He chaired the Finance Committee and was vice-chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee.

In 1973, Del. Morrison was a founding member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, where he acted as vice chairman. He was also a member of the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Virginia Code Commission, among other committees.

Del. Morrison’s legislative achievements include being the chief patron of the bill creating the Court of Appeals of Virginia and in legislation authorizing tax relief for elderly homeowners.

In 1989, Del. Morrison was tapped by the General Assembly to serve as a member of the State Corporation Commission, which he chaired five times until his January 2008 retirement.

Off the clock, Del. Morrison was a board member of the Hampton Roads Boys Club and was active in the Newport News Rotary Club, the James River Country Club and the Peninsula Jaycees. In 1968, he was named at the Virginia Jaycees Young Man of the Year.

Apart from government and the law, Del. Morrison enjoyed golfing, boating, scuba diving and winning card games.

Del. Morrison is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sharon; his sons, Matthew, Charles and Thomas; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Charles and Shepard; and his sister, Mary.