ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics family mourns the loss of former football and track & field athlete Don Morrison, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September, 1.
 
Born on December 16, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, Don was the beloved son of Sanford Wilson Morrison and Mildred Viola Youngquist.
 
"We are all very saddened by Don Morrison's passing," UTA Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jon Fagg said. "Don was a tremendous student-athlete during his time here at Arlington - both on the gridiron and as a thrower on the track and field team as evidenced by his Hall of Honor inclusion in 2018. He will be greatly missed and will forever be an important part of our UTA family."
 
Morrison a native of Forney, Texas, had a decorated career for the Mavs from 1968-70, before a nine-year NFL career.
 
A 6-foot-5, 255-pound force on the offensive end, Morrison joined the UTA roster for the 1967 season after starring at Class-A Forney High School. He arrived with a 210-pound projectable frame before developing into a physical weapon as the biggest player on the roster.
 
With the NCAA requiring all freshmen to sit out their first season on campus, Morrison was limited to a practice and "B Team" role. He was one of three UTA freshmen to make the traveling squad in 1967, when the Mavs went 10-1 and won the Pecan Bowl.
 
In 1968, Morrison immediately seized a starting role and earned second-team all-conference accolades, the first of three all-league honors for the three-year starter. He was tabbed first-team all-league after the 1969 season.
 
Morrison, a 13-time letterwinner at Forney High School, was named co-captain of the 1970 team and earned honorable mention All-America accolades twice.
 
Morrison was not just a star for the UTA football team, he also thrived as a thrower for the track and field program.
 
He competed in javelin, shot-put and discus while earning three track letters.
 
Following his collegiate career at UTA, Morrison was selected in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He played seven seasons, and 94 games, with the Saints (1971-77), before a year with Baltimore (1978) and Detroit (1979).
 
After retiring from professional football, Morrison embarked on a fulfilling career as a fireman at University Park, where he retired after serving for two decades. His commitment to service and helping others continued as he became a financial planner and served as the Constable of Precinct 3, making a positive impact on his community.
 
Don's life was filled with love and joy, shared with his wife, Stephanie of Wolfe City; his children, Chris Morrison and wife Lacie, Katie Walden and husband Jordan, their mother, Marsha Brown, children Sean Green, Amber Landeros and husband Juan, Chance Green and wife Karley; and his 10 cherished grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sanford Wilson and Mildred Viola Morrison and infant sister Vicki Lynn.
 
Visitation will be Friday, September 5, from 5-7 p.m. and a memorial service celebrating Don's life and legacy will be held on Saturday, September 6, at 11 a.m., both at R.W. Owens Funeral home in Wolfe City, TX.
   
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