Hanging up his handcuffs
Gordon Morris, longtime sheriff, announces retirement after current term ends
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY Lampasas County Sheriff Gordon Morris will retire when his term ends in December 2008 after 35 years in law enforcement and 28 of those as sheriff.

Sheriff Gordon Morris has not measured his success by how many people he arrested, but by the number of citizens he and his staff have helped over the years.

With his retirement looming in December 2008, Morris is ending a 35-year law enforcement career, with 28 of those as Lampasas County sheriff.

He faces a myriad of emotions, he said: sadness to leave a career that has been such a big part of his life, and excitement because he will be able to spend more time with family and friends.

"There is no greater feeling than to know I have had the support of the public during my tenure as both justice of the peace and the 28 years I served as sheriff," he said.

Morris moved to Lampasas in 1975 from a suburb of Dallas after falling in love with the Hill Country.

In 1978, he was elected justice of the peace and served just under two years before county commissioners appointed him to fill the remainder of a term after a sheriff resigned.

Morris then ran for sheriff that year and has filled the position ever since, which makes him one of the top three longestserving sheriffs currently in Texas, as well as the longestserving in the history of Lampasas County.

The jump from justice of the peace to sheriff was a natural one for a young law official who sought more field work and less paperwork. When he was approached to fill the post, he was more than ready.

"I have enjoyed helping people," said Morris. "I am one of those law officers who really is doing the job because he loves to help people. I enjoy the trials and tribulations that have come along with the position."

But he won't be as hardpressed to leave behind the midnight calls, late working hours, missed holidays and family gatherings and other events that come with the 24-hour-a-day responsibility.

"I am still young and healthy and am going to retire comfortably. And at 60, I have other hobbies and things I really want to do and enjoy."

Before his law enforcement career, Morris attended Howard County Junior College and Sul Ross State University. He also was a journeyman carpenter and had been superintendent on a number of jobs.

His hobby is woodworking. Morris remodeled much of his home and has purchased a second home he is remodeling. In addition, he built about half the furniture in his home. "I'm not looking for a second career, just a hobby. I look forward to having the freedom to not be called out at night and to get rid of so much of the stress that is associated with a job like this, and there is a tremendous amount of stress," he said.

"It's my time to retire. And I current term ends

want to do it while I'm still young enough to do the things I enjoy."

Morris and his wife, Teresa -- an employee of the Lampasas County judge's office -- enjoy the simpler things in life, he said. They plan to visit with their five children and seven grandchildren scattered throughout the state. Mrs. Morris is not quite ready to retire, though she is excited for her husband, the sheriff said.

"She thinks about the many times I've come home late or got called out at all hours of the night, and I think she's glad it's going to end soon."

Morris said this has been an exceptional year for his office. "We saw several major floods, a capital murder case and other major crimes." But that hasn't reinforced his resolve to leave. It has had the opposite effect, he said. "I get involved in these things, and I ask myself how I can leave this."

The sheriff said his position has changed over the years from being in the field on a daily basis to spending more than 99 percent of his time now doing administrative work and problem solving.

"I've grown to accept it and enjoy it. I am still involved if I choose to go to a major incident," said Morris. "I still like to do that and be with my officers in the field. It's kind of a stress reliever because I am confined in the office so much of the time. It's always a pleasure to get out and do what law enforcement has always been about: helping people."

Morris reflected back to his first year in office when it was just the sheriff, a secretary, one jailer and three deputies. "Our day would start at 8 a.m. or earlier and didn't end until we got done, whether that was 6 p.m. or midnight. Twelve- to 16-hour days were not uncommon," he said.

There have been tremendous changes through Morris' tenure under seven county judges and numerous commissioners.

"They have worked with me to build a good department with experienced, well-qualified, highly trained staff. I would put our department up against any other department our size in Texas. I hope the public realizes what they have and how fortunate they are."

Morris said he will miss working with the public and the support he has received over the years from judges, commissioners and other elected officials.

"It's going to be a big change, and I have to learn to accept that the day after I retire it's all going to end. I won't have to worry about it any more, but in reality I know it's going to be hard.

" When you do something for as long as I have, it's hard to change," said the sheriff.

"I have been blessed with a very rewarding career and a wife who has always been supportive of my work. I am very thankful for what I have."