- Date Of Birth: March 28, 1923
- Date Of Death: January 25, 2014
- State: Colorado
Frank Morriss, longtime editor and Catholic defender of the Faith has died at his home in Wheat Ridge Colorado on January 25, 2014.. Morriss was born March 28, 1923 in Pasadena, California, the son of B.G. Morriss and Regina Spann Morriss. He spent most of his life in Denver, Colorado. He married Mary Rita Moynihan on February 11, 1950; she preceded him in death, as did his daughter Regina (Sister Mary John) Morriss. His surviving children are Patricia Bateman (Louie) of Wichita, KS, Mary Ellen Hill (Jeff), and Gerard both of Denver, and his grandson, Lee Francis Hill, also of Denver.
Morriss held a doctoral degree in law (JD) from Georgetown University and a doctorate in Journalism, as well as an undergraduate degree in philosophy and literature from Regis College, Denver, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Between his studies at Regis and Georgetown, he enlisted in the Army in 1942. He was in active duty from 1943-1945. His rank was a S/Sgt. He was in the Battles and Campaigns of the Northern Solomons and Southern Philippines.
Frank Morriss was a writer, columnist, and teacher. He taught on the college and adult levels for over twenty-five years and taught religion for over 30 years at Colorado Catholic Academy in Denver, a private Catholic school which Morriss founded in 1970.
He authored a number of books for children as well as many for adults. Among his works are The Divine Epic, The Catholic as Citizen, and The Forgotten Revelation, The Conservative Imperative, A Little Life of Our Lord, The Divine Epic, Saints in Verse and Two Chapels. Francis Thompson: A Reflection on the Poetic Vocation, Boy of Philadelphia, Submarine Pioneer, the Legend of Broken Hand. Alfred of Wessex
Morriss worked as a journalist beginning in 1949. He served as editor of the Register Newspapers at the Denver Catholic Register and then the National Catholic Register, Denver, from 1949 to 1961. From 1961-1963 Morriss served as associate editor of the Vermont Catholic Tribune, Burlington.
Perhaps Morriss’ life is best summed up in a short book he published in 2008 “Francis Thompson: A Reflection on the Poetic Vocation”, where Morriss discusses Thompson’s famous Hound of Heaven saying “it describes this age, the whole age is in flight from God…you can reach the moon, but that won’t satisfy you because the whole universe, if scientists are right, will be gone someday, “ Morriss concludes, “the only thing left will be our relationship with our Creator.” May Frank find that ultimate rest which he so confidently proclaimed. In the words of St. Paul, “He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith”.
