Hall of Fame
He has been called many things--Paul, Mr. Morrison, Grandpa--but to an entire nation of Drake University graduates and staff he was known as one thing: Mr. Drake. Paul Morrison often described his life-long association the school as a "love affair." Put simply, he was destined to be a Bulldog.
In 1935 Morrison arrived on the Drake University campus as a student with aspirations of attaining his undergraduate degree before attending medical school. While at Drake, however, he became extremely active in journalism, becoming sports editor of the Times-Delphic as well as the Drake yearbook, the Quax. Morrison also was a member of Chi Delta Fraternity, which is now the current Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter.
Paul Morrison graduated with a degree in journalism in 1939 and briefly returned to his hometown of Cedar Rapids to work for the The Gazette. Like most men of his time, Paul had a war to fight, and was drafted into the U.S. Army, 6th Division. Upon his return from the war he resumed his position with The Gazette before being hired as the first full-time director of the Drake News Bureau on December 15, 1945. He later would serve as the athletics business manager before beginning a lengthy run as sports information director.
Morrison retired from his full-time position with Drake in 1986, and has continued to serve the university by volunteering his time in the athletic department as historian and consultant.
Morrison was honored in 1997 as the inaugural recipient of the Missouri Valley Conference Meritorious Service Award, now known as presented as the Paul Morrison Award. It is presented annually at the MVC Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.