Former MBFAA president dies

IRVING, Texas—Jim L. Morris, founder and owner of American Detection Specialists Inc. in Springfield, Mo., died of a heart attack on Nov. 21.

“Mr. Morris was well known as a strong advocate for both ESA and the industry. He founded American Detection Specialists in 1989, and spent more than 27 years as a security professional. In addition to being the current vice president of ESA's Missouri chapter, he served for many years on the ESA board of directors. He was also active in the association's Sales & Marketing Professionals (SMP) group,” Electronic Security Association officials said in a prepared statement.

Morris was past president of ESA's Chartered Chapter when it was formerly known as the Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (MBFAA), and was serving as president of the southwest Missouri regional association. In 2006, Morris was selected as a member of the GE Security Pro Hall of Fame.

He was born Nov. 23, 1944 in Butler, Mo., the son of Roy O. and Thelma B. (Cornell) Morris. He married Lurenda L. Sivils Worley on Oct. 29, 1983.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Morris served as a radarman third class during the Vietnam era. He served on the USS Kitty Hawk in 1963 off the coast of Vietnam. He was a two-time past president of the USS Kitty Hawk Association. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and a sergeant in the Army Reserve.

He was a master Mason and member of Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422, the Scottish and York Rite bodies and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine, where he was active in the Legion of Honor Unit.

Morris is survived by his wife, Rendy; three sons, Bryan Morris and wife Kelly, Jimmy Morris, Reid Worley and wife Jennifer; his mother, Thelma Morris Wheatley; a sister, Sue Lockard and husband Gene; a sister-in-law, Pat Reed and husband Eddie; eight grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.