Alumni of the Year

Jack BS '43 and Jo Willa BS '42 Morton

Awarded to an outstanding alumnus or alumna whose service and loyalty to the University, community involvement and personal accomplishments merit the honor.

Jack and Jo Willa Morton met as students at Texas Wesleyan. A Deka sorority formal was their first date. They were both active in student life and
academics. Jo Willa was a member of Deka, was named “Sophomore Favorite” by her peers, and worked in the school cafeteria. Jack also was actively involved in student life on campus, participating in the Sakkara fraternity, and maintained his academic focus while taking the Civil Pilot’s Training courses, one of the first college training detachments in the area.

His pilot training at Wesleyan helped him achieve a successful career in
aviation, which began with his performance in the Army Air Corps in 1943
where he learned to fly several types of airplanes such as the P-63, P-51,
P-47, B-25, B-24 and more. While in the Army, Jack was selected among
the elite to attend the British Flying School in Oklahoma. After serving
his country, he was worked for Braniff Airlines as a pilot, flying commercial
airplanes for 35 years.

Throughout the years, the Mortons have been generous to their alma mater. In 2004 they donated $1 million for the Jack and Jo Willa Morton Scholarship Endowment for Christian Ministries. $35,000 went to renovating Polytechnic United Methodist Church. The scholarships are for students in good academic standing who are in financial need and plan a career in Christian ministry.

The Mortons have long been active members of the community. Jack was twice chairman of the board of deacons at their Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. Jo Willa has been involved with everything from tennis to working with the Meals on Wheels Association of America to the Shepherd’s Center in Dallas.

Jack and Jo Willa live in Dallas and have three children, William, Kevin and Jean, and two granddaughters.