Mercedes Morris

Mercedes Rosalind Morris was born on January 29, 1915 in the original J. E. Morris residence in Wahpeton, North Dakota, where she lived her entire life. Mercedes attended Wahpeton public grade school, St. John's School and was the only student in her class at Wahpeton High School to graduate with a classical diploma. She attended what was then North Dakota State School of Science but went on to North Dakota State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in languages, English and political science. At NDSU she was a member of the Alpha Omicron chapter of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Later she returned to NDSU and received a Master's degree in administration and student personnel. She did additional graduate studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Mercedes was a student at NDSU, then the "AC," in 1937 when that institution lost its accreditation. She was one of the "Committee of Eleven," a group of students who organized themselves, campaigned around the state and succeeded in having a bill passed which mandated the establishment of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education. As a result of their initiative the school eventually regained its accreditation. In 1978 NDSU bestowed on Mercedes the Alumni Achievement Award.

In 1941 Mercedes' sister, Marcella Morris Radde of White Rock, SD, died leaving two boys, Paul and Jim. She and her sister Geraldine took them into their home and raised them.

During World War II Ms. Morris became active with the American Red Cross. She was home service chairperson and college representative over a ten-year period. Mercedes was a leader for the Girl Scouts. She served on the USO board in Wahpeton for eight years. During this time she also helped the war effort by harvesting with a team of horses on a family farm.

Mercedes began her teaching career at NDSCS in 1942 in English and business. In 1958 she became Dean of Women and Director of Women's Housing. When she retired in 1985 she was Associate Dean of Students, Director of Student Development and Adviser to foreign students. She was named 1985 NDSCS Wildcat of the Year. In 1990 Ms. Morris was NDSCS Alumna of the Year. More recently, in 2008, she was named a Dean Emerita.

Mercedes actively engaged in numerous educational organizations at the state and local levels. She served as state president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), president of its Wahpeton branch and as the state representative for the AAUW at the United Nations Environmental Conference in New York.

Mercedes was elected president of the North Dakota Association of Women Deans and served as vice-president and secretary of the North Dakota Association of Personnel Deans. Mercedes held charter membership and served as first president of Eta chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international fraternity for women educators. For many years she served on the Board of Regents at the University of Mary in Bismarck. Over the years Mercedes traveled widely in Europe with her sister Geraldine.
Mercedes was on the committee which oversaw the renovation of St. Francis Medical Center and served on its Ethics Committee. In 1989 she helped plan the North Dakota Centennial celebration for Richland County.

Throughout her life Mercedes supported the Arts. She was the Upper Midwest chairperson for the Metropolitan Opera. She also served on the North Dakota Committee for the Humanities and Public Issues and, for eight years, on the Board of Directors of Prairie Public Television. Mercedes participated in the Plains Art Museum Council and in the President's Council which planned the Ella Stern and Harry Stern Cultural Center at NDSCS. She was a charter member of the Friends of the Library and of the Twin Towns concert series.

Mercedes Morris was the youngest daughter of the late John Elmer and Mary Simonitsch Morris. She was preceded in death by her nine siblings: Marcella Morris Radde of White Rock, SD, Ethel Morris Lunday of Towner, ND, Florence, Clarence, Francis, Norbert, Coleman, Angela and Geraldine Morris all of Wahpeton. She is survived by her nephews Dr. Paul O. Radde, Ph.D., of Longmont, CO, Fr. James M. Radde, S.J., of St. Paul, MN, Coleman Morris, Jr. of Wahpeton and Mesa, AZ and seventeen more nieces and nephews.

Memorials are preferred to Carmel of Mary Monastery, Wahpeton, ND.