Morton Harris

Morton A. Harris passed away August 3, 2015, in Atlanta, GA.

Morton was a native of Columbus and was educated in local public schools. He graduated from Columbus High School where he ran track including a personal best 10.2 second 100-yard dash. He was also a member of the CHS 880 relay team, which set a state high school record.

Morton earned a B.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Emory University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. While at Emory, he ran varsity track, was an officer of the Inter-fraternity Council, an officer of the Emory Debate Team, president of his social fraternity, and Editor of Emory's literary magazine, The Phoenix. At Harvard Law School, he served as Managing Editor and later Editor of the Harvard Law Yearbook.

Morton was a partner in the law firm of Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis & Rothschild, LLP and practiced law in Columbus for over 50 years specializing in tax, business, employee benefits, estate and trust law. He received numerous honors and awards throughout his career. Some of the most notable were Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel, Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (2001), Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the Southeast, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, The Best Lawyers in America, Georgia Super Lawyer, and Who's Who in the World.

Morton was active in various civic and professional organizations in Columbus, and at the state and national levels such as Columbus Jaycees (President 1965-66), Muscogee County School Board , Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus (President 1968), Columbus Estate Planning Council, Georgia Federal Tax Conference (Trustee), Harvard Law School Association of Georgia (President 1977-79), Delegate to the President's White House Conference on Small Business, American Bar Association Section of Taxation (Officer and Council Member 1989-96), and the Small Business Council of America (President 1980-86). A specialist in the fields of business law, tax and estate planning he frequently wrote, published, lectured and chaired programs for professional groups throughout the country.

An active participant in community affairs, Morton served as a Trustee of the City of Columbus Pension Board, was President and Board Member of the Institute for the Study of American Cultures, and was Trustee of Columbus State University Foundation. He also served on the Board of Directors for several businesses and charitable organizations. He was a past president and founding member of the Columbus High School Alumni Association. Morton was a member of Temple Israel and served as President. He continued to support programs of the Muscogee County School System, especially the HIP (Health Improvement Program), which he pioneered as a member of the School Board.

Mr. Harris' main charitable and civic interests encompass a wide variety of areas in Columbus that help improve and nurture our community. His most recent philanthropic endeavor was the Morton A. and Judye S. Harris Scholarship Endowment Fund at Columbus State University.