CWU Board of Trustees Honors Longtime Board Member Sid Morrison

Central Washington University’s Board of Trustees today honored longtime former board chair Sid Morrison for his many contributions to the university by formally naming the trustees' board room for him.

The Sid Morrison Board Room will be marked with a bronze plaque displaying Morrison’s name and image with a brief biography. The plaque will be mounted outside room 412 in Barge Hall.

“Sid Morrison has given so much to this university over the years that the Trustees felt it appropriate to take this action as a small token of thanks for everything he has done,” said Keith Thompson, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Morrison was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from CWU in 2016 and received a Board of Trustee resolution in his honor following his retirement from the board in 2015.

“In addition to being a trustee for 12 years, Sid served the people of Washington for nearly five decades as a state representative, state senator, U.S. Congressman, and state secretary of transportation,” CWU President James L. Gaudino added. “Sid truly defines what it means to be a statesman.”

While serving as chair of the board, Morrison led the process of hiring a new president. Over the years, he participated in the approval of 20 new bachelor’s degree programs and six master’s degree programs. He was involved in board actions associated with major construction projects such as Barto Hall, the CWU-Wenatchee Higher Education Center, Dean Hall, Hogue Hall, the Music Building, Science Phase II, and Wendell Hill Hall. He also was a valuable mentor to new trustees and encouraged members to get involved in statewide discussions about higher education.

Morrison earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington State College in 1954. After serving in the U.S. Army, he helped manage Morrison Fruit Company in Zillah, Wash., until 1980. He was a state representative from 1967-73 and a state senator from 1974-80. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980, where he served six terms through 1992. He was Washington State Secretary of Transportation from 1993 through 2001.

In retirement, Morrison chairs the executive board of Energy Northwest, which produces and delivers electricity to utility companies. He is also a board member of Mainstream Republicans of Washington; which is an organization that supports the election of moderate GOP candidates to public office.

Media contact: Richard Moreno, director of content development, 509-963-2714, Richard.Moreno@cwu.edu.