Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Raymond C. Morrison
Morrison is noted for being Fort Worth’s first City Forester, beginning Jan. 1926. His most prominent works were an arboretum and a nationally-recognized municipal rose garden in Rock Springs Park, which later became Fort Worth Botanic Garden in 1934. He resigned in Dec. 1938 to form a landscape architecture firm with Eugene Carter. Morrison was named director of Holland’s Southern Institute for Town Service in Jul. 1939 which was initiated as a way to address issues pointed out in the National Emergency Council’s report on the South’s economic conditions. In Mar. 1941, Morrison became Federal Coordinator with the Federal Security Agency’s Office of Coordinator for health, welfare, and related defense activities. In 1947, he focused on his own business ventures including a soil company and turkey ranch. In 1951, he became the southwest regional representative for community services with the U.S. Air Force.
During his term as chairman of the Educational Committee of the American Institute of Park Executives, he co-authored the book Let’s Go to the Park with Myrtle E. Huff. Morrison was also known for his public speaking, photography, magazine and journal articles, and the various community groups he started. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and died of pneumonia on Apr. 12, 1989. His ashes were spread at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Marker is Property of the State of Texas
Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17028.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1926.
Location. 32° 44.085′ N, 97° 21.912′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. Marker is on Rock Springs Road, 0.2 miles south of Old Garden Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker stands on the "garden side" of the gateway structure leading into the Rose Garden in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3220 Rock Springs Road, Fort Worth TX 76107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show (approx. 0.6 miles away); Midnight (approx. 0.7 miles away); Herbert M. Hinckley (approx. 0.8 miles away); Fort Worth Zoological Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Westbrook Estate (approx. 1.1 miles away); Camp Bowie Boulevard (approx. 1.1 miles away); George Herman O'Brien, Jr. (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2016, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 11, 2016, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.