Ron Morris

2012

Ron Morris

BSIE 1958

President and CEO (retired) Lyons Manufacturing, Inc.
Dallas, TX

Ron Morris was born on a small farm near DeQueen, Ark., at the height of the Great Depression. As a young man, he recognized the importance of a college education, so he began working after school and during the summers to save for college.

Ron received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1958, and later earned a a master’s degree in business administration at Southern Methodist University.

Ron began his career with General Electric. After six years with that company, he moved to Texas Instruments. During the time Ron worked at TI, the company made revoluationary strides in technology, including the development of the the first hand-held calculator in 1967. Another of Ron’s cherished memories is working with Jack Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit.

Ron later became a vice president at Thorsen Tool Co. He recently retired as the president and chief executive officer of his own company, Lyons Manufacturing Inc. Lyons manufactures high quality concrete repair and restoration materials.

Ron has enjoyed a successful career thanks to his time at the University of Arkansas and his hard work and dedication, and he wants to instill that drive in students by supporting them through scholarships. The Morris Scholarships include the Ron and Betty Morris Scholarships, the Jack and Jessie Morris Scholarship, the Lee and Wilma Douglas Scholarship, the Ron and Betty Morris AAIE Endowed Scholarship, the Guie Morris Honors Scholarship and the Ben Gray Scholarship.

Ron is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. He and his wife, Betty have two children, Ron and Robert, and six grandchildren.