Stewart Morris Sr. Passes Away at 104

March 19, 2024

Stewart Morris Sr., who helped grow Stewart Title into what it is today, passed away March 11 at the age of 104.

Morris’ extended family started Stewart Title in 1893. At the age of 10, he started working as an office boy sweeping floors, running errands and tending to other tasks for $5 a week. Morris went on to become president and co-CEO of the company, now known as Stewart Information International.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1943. The same year, he graduated from the U.S. Navy Midshipman’s school at Columbia University and served in the Pacific during World War II.

Morris and his brother, Carloss Morris, were thrust into leadership when their father, William Carloss Morris, and two other top company leaders all passed away in 1950. Carloss Morris handled the legal and underwriting side, while Morris led the affiliated title office operations. At the time, Stewart Title only had eight offices and a few agents in Texas. Morris’ leadership helped grow the company to all 50 states and 13 foreign countries with offices and agents in over 9,000 locations.

In 2018, Stewart Title commemorated Morris’ 80 years of service to the company. David Stutts, who was senior vice president and chief risk officer for Stewart at the time, said, “Dr. Morris can be described through these four words: faith, passion, zest and generosity. He exemplifies these values every day as he touches lives here at Stewart and around the world.”

Morris was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Joella Mitchell Morris, in 2013. The couple had three children, including Stewart Morris Jr., who served on ALTA’s Board of Governors.

Morris, one of Houston Baptist University’s Founding Fathers, twice chairman and currently a member of the Board of Trustees of HBU, and his wife were instrumental in the establishment of the university, which opened its doors in 1963. Involved in his community for more than 50 years, Morris served as Advisory Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Director of the Harris County Heritage Society, Galveston Historical Foundation and the Oldham Little Church Foundation, Senior Chairman at Southern National Bank, Chairman of the Carriage Museum of America and Honoree Life Trustee of the Carriage Association of America. In 1995, Morris was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

  • A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. CDT, April 6, in the Worship Center of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston.
  • For those unable to attend the service, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting the online memorial at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the “Services” section. 
  • Click here to read Morris' obituary.


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].