Today, the flags of the United States and the City of Piedmont flay at half staff to commemorate the life of John Morrison.
John was a central figure in Piedmont for many years, serving as Principal of Piedmont Middle School, Recreation Supervisor, member of the 4th of July Parade Committee, horseless carriage enthusiast, among countless other roles in the community.
I first met John when I started at Piedmont Middle School as a 6th grader. This meeting grew into a friendship which lasted many years. I remember John’s caring smile, his giving spirit, and his focus on education. His devotion to Piedmont Middle School students was never more evident when, shortly after the death of beloved Recreation Supervisor, middle school sports director, and father Buzz Redford, he stepped to Buzz’s position at the Recreation Department in to keep the PMS sports program going.
One of my best memories of John was when, as I high schooler, several of my friends and I came up with the idea of reviving the “Feet Meet”, a 5K footrace which had run through Piedmont in the late 1980’s and benefitted Piedmont Middle School. I went to John’s office to ask if he knew anything about the race. He said yes, pulled a binder of materials from his enormous roll top desk, and handed them to me. This was the race book and told us almost everything we needed to know about organizing and operating the race. We worked with the community and the City to make the race happen again, successfully operating the race for three years and raising thousands of dollars for the schools in Piedmont. After our incarnation, the race went fallow for a few years and then became the Piedmont Turkey Trot.
This was one example of the thousands of ways John supported students and his community over his life. He will be greatly missed.
Cruesbreck Flags 