Morris Newton Abrams

Background

Abrams was born in Winnfield, the seat of Winn Parish in north Louisiana, a son of William Charles Abrams (1889–1945) and the former Cora Bell Sowers (1892–1963).

Education

He was educated in the public schools in rural Sikes in Winn Parish. He thereafter received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Career

On February 1, 1941, Abrams married the former Minnie Louise DeLee (1919–2001) of Clinton in East Feliciana Parish, one of the Louisiana Florida Parishes. Their children are Carolyn Sue Reece (born 1942), Marcia Diane Cox (born 1951), Doris Celeste Hay (born 1952), and Candice Louise Thibodeaux (born 1957). He soon moved to Winnfield High School, since Winnfield Senior High School, where he was a faculty member from 1940-1944.

He left teaching temporarily to serve in the Third Armored Division of the United States Army in World World War World War II He reached the rank of master sergeant.

The division had been activated in 1941 at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, Louisiana. From 1950-1955, he was an associate professor of agricultural education at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University in College Station, Texas.

In 1955, Abrams returned to Winnfield to serve a year as the Winn Parish school superintendent. Then, from 1956–1960, he was professor of vocational agricultural education at his alma mater, Louisiana State University. He was from 1960-1962 the director of the Louisiana State University School of Vocational Education.

In 1962, Abrams relocated to Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in Central Louisiana, to become dean of the Louisiana State University at Alexandria two-year campus, his final position, which ended with his death.

Much later, Louisiana State University-A in 2002 became a four-year institution. Morris Abrams Hall at Louisiana State University-A is named in his honor. There is also a Morris North. Abrams Scholarship available to full-time students who are dependents of Louisiana State University-A faculty or staff

Achievements

• Abrams received various awards in his field of educational specialization.

Membership

He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Zeta, and Alpha Tau Alpha.

Connections

friendship:

Friendship High