Laird Morris
 Morris passes back from a scrum during the 1912 match against Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Laird Monterey Morris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | October 9, 1889 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | August 19, 1954 (aged 64) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | San Francisco, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7.5 in (1.71 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Laird Monterey "Monte" Morris (October 9, 1889 – August 19, 1954) was an American rugby union player who played at scrum-half for the United States men's national team in its first capped match in 1912.
Biography
[edit]Morris was born on October 9, 1889, in California.[2] He was the son of Henry Bishop Morris and Mary Kathryn Morris (born Baker).[3]
Morris attended the University of California, where in 1910 he earned a place on the varsity rugby team.[4] In 1911, Morris was late to return to the university,[5] but eventually did so and rejoined the rugby team.[6] During the 1912 season, Morris saw his playing time reduced as the coaching staff attempted to develop other players to play his position,[7] although he remained the best player at that position on the university team.[8] At the end of the 1912 season, on November 16, 1912, Morris played for the United States team at scrum-half in its first capped match—a 12–8 loss to Australia.[9] Morris served as the team's captain for this match.[10]
In 1913, Morris did not return to the University of California rugby team.[11] Over the course of his collegiate rugby career, Morris was described as "one of the grittiest halves that ever trailed a scrum,"[11] and as a member of "one of the most brilliant [back field] combinations ever seen on the Coast."[12] As a member of the class of 1913, Morris was a member of the Winged Helmet and Golden Bear honor societies at the University of California.[13][14] Morris died on August 19, 1954, in San Francisco, California.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Men Who Will Compose Blue and Gold Varsity Team on Sunday". The San Francisco Call. Vol. CVIII, no. 162. November 9, 1910. p. 10. Retrieved November 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Laird Morris". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ "Laird Monterey Morris". The Rugby History Society. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Elliot (November 7, 1910). "California Camp is Confident of Victory". The San Francisco Chronicle. Vol. XCVII, no. 116. p. 10. Retrieved November 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rugby Absentees Cause of Much Worry". The San Francisco Call. Vol. CX, no. 90. Berkeley, California. August 28, 1911. p. 11. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morris Returns to Berkeley Job". The San Francisco Call. Vol. CX, no. 91. Berkeley, California. August 29, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Erskine, Douglas (September 26, 1912). "Games with Clubmen Give Line on Material". The San Francisco Examiner. Vol. XCVII, no. 88. p. 11. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "California Rugby Fifteen to Meet Barbs To-Day". The San Francisco Examiner. Vol. XCVII, no. 111. October 19, 1912. p. 13. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Australia Tour - Berkeley, 16 November 1912". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ 1914 Blue & Gold, p. 145. "California was represented on the team by five players, one of whom, "Monte" Morris, the veteran half-back, was captain."
- ^ a b BOBS. (August 24, 1913). "California Must Depend on New Rugby Material". The San Francisco Chronicle. Vol. CIII, no. 40. p. 61. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ BOBS. (December 14, 1917). "California Loses Popular Manager". The San Francisco Chronicle. Vol. CXI, no. 152. p. 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The 1913 Blue & Gold of the University of California: Being a Record of the College Year Published by the Junior Class in the Year 1912. University of California, Berkeley. 1912. p. 429.
- ^ 1914 Blue & Gold, pp. 322–323.
Notes
[edit]- The 1914 Blue & Gold of the University of California: Published by the Junior Class in the Year 1913. Vol. 40. University of California, Berkeley. 1913. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
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