Paul F. Morrison passed away Nov. 30, 2017 at the age of 100 following a life of service and dedication to Drake University and its students. Morrison's legacy at Drake stretched more than a century as his parents, Marion and Leonta, met at Drake in 1902. Paul followed his parents to Drake, enrolling in 1935 and graduated in 1939 with a degree in journalism. Morrison served in the Army in the Pacific during World War II, ascending to the rank of sergeant. Upon his return from the war, he worked briefly for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids before being hired in 1945 as Drake's first full-time director of the news bureau. He served as sports information director and athletics business manager during his career, from which he retired in 1986.
The day following his retirement, he returned to work as a full-time volunteer for the athletics department and continued to faithfully serve Drake and its student-athletes until his passing. He served as the Drake Athletics historian, amassing an incredible archive of material dating to Drake's earliest years and chronicling its modern successes. Those archival materials, historically kept in the Fieldhouse, have been transferred to the Drake University Archives this year for improved preservation and many items are now available for the public to see on the second floor of Cowles Library.
Paul witnessed the majority of the 69 meetings on the gridiron between Drake and Iowa State as a student, journalist, sports information director, historian and most of all, faithful supporter of the Bulldogs. In 1937 Paul, then a junior and sports editor of the Times Delphic, documented the Bulldogs' homecoming victory over Iowa State.
On the anniversary of his passing and on the eve of the 70th meeting between the Bulldogs and Cyclones, here are Paul's published writings from that win in 1937.
FROM THE PRESSBOX
By Paul Morrison
Never in the history of the two schools, has Drake defeated Iowa State as roundly as it did in the Homecoming game Saturday.
In the 39 years of competition between the two institutions Drake has held the Cyclones scoreless on only three previous occasions. The Bulldogs performed the task once in 1900, again in 1909 and the third time they whitewashed the Cyclones was in 1929 when Drake had one of its outstanding elevens.
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It was too bad that Wimpy Setrakian couldn't have scored a touchdown in the final few minutes of the game. He made one nice play that seemed that he would snag that pass and score with only seconds to play but an Iowa State player tipped the ball out of his reach.
Wimpy has put in three hard years on the varsity and has provided many a thrill for the crowds with his fine playing.
Incidentally, Setrakian won a malted milk from Editor Pat Stribling on the Iowa State game. It seems that he bet he wouldn't play three minutes. He was in the contest for 2 minutes and 54 seconds.
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There were few flaws in the playing of the Bulldogs Saturday. Everything they did they seemed to do to the best of their ability. Their plays functioned smoothly, blocking was good and the line play was excellent. The line clearly outplayed the Iowa State line, which was rated one of the best in the Middlewest.
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Don't take Grinnell too lightly, The Pioneers are coming along at a good pace now and may surprise the Bulldogs Friday night. Coach Guy Lookabaugh's men trounced Washburn 13-0 in their last game and the Pioneer offensive is improving with each contest. It was only two years ago that Grinnell almost nipped the Bulldogs with a late rally that netted two touchdowns.
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RANDOM RUMBLINGS…
Iowa State's Lischer and Drake's HAnks look almost alike ... Freddy Smith never competed in track before he came to Drake ... Look out for Tulsa and its Golden Hurricane Nov. 6 ... The Bulldogs may go deep sea fishing with Coach Green off the Florida coast on their Miami trip ... Charley Lyon played a whale of a game against Iowa State.
BULLDOGS THRASH IOWA STATE IN HOMECOMING CONTEST 30-0
First Victory Over Rivals Since 1931; Pioneers Next
Conquering Iowa State for the first time since 1931, Drake's Bulldogs celebrated homecoming Saturday trouncing the Cyclones 30-0 before a crowd of approximately 12,000 persons.
The traditional battle was a rest period from Missouri Valley conference competition, for the locals meet Grinnell's Pioneers at Drake Stadium Saturday.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the initial period. The First marker came after six minutes of play when Pug Manders shot a 7-yd. Pass to Bud Suter to the Cyclones one-foot line with the Drake fullback smashing over on the next play.
Manders Snags Pass
An 18-yd. Pass, Suter to Phil Manders, had put the Blue and White on pay dirt on the Staters' 13-yd. Line. Four minutes later Suter set the stage for the second counter on a 32-yd. Gallop to the Cyclones 14-yd marker. Bobby Underwood squirmed his way through tackles to score.
After a sustained Bulldog march was halted midway in the second quarter on the Iowa State 18-yd' line, Joe Lisek picked up Hugh Vickerstaff's fumble ten yards from the Cyclone goalline. On a pair of tries at center Pug Manders scored from the 6-yd. stripe.
Bad Pass Scores
Drake added two more points in the third period when a bad pass from the Ames center rolled over the Cyclone goalline and outside in the end zone to count a safety for the locals. The Blue and White scored their final marker later in the last quarter when Pug Manders tossed a short 6-yd. Pass into the end zone to Thell Fisher. The Bulldogs threatened seriously in the last 45 seconds of play when Wimpy Setrakian intercepted Medin's pass and returned it to the losers' 5-yd marker. But the Staters' line held.
1937 BULLDOGS
