Morris was born in Norris City, Illinois and attended Frankfort Community High School in West Frankfort, Illinois where the high school gymnasium is named after Morris.

[4] That year, Morris set a Big Ten Conference single-game record with 158 receiving yards in a game against Minnesota.

[5] Morris was also selected as a consensus All-American basketball player at the forward position in 1946.

[6] He won the Big Ten Conference basketball individual scoring championship in both 1945 and 1946.

[11] In 1985, the gymnasium at Frankfort Community High School, Morris' alma mater, was named in his honor.