Robert David Guerry Morris, Sr.

2003 Effingham County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Guerry Morris was born in Berryville, Ga. near Clyo.  His family moved to Savannah when he was still a baby. During his years of growing up, he would go to Effingham to hunt and fish.

After attending schools in Savannah, he worked for electrical supply businesses for several years.  In 1945 he joined the Army and served in Germany during World War II.  After being discharged in 1949, he returned to Savannah and opened his own business, Morris Electric Supply.  He was very active in the business district in Savannah.  He was a member of Georgia Chapter 3, Royal Arch Masons, Clinton Lodge, The Exchange Club of Savannah, and the Quarterback Club.  He was listed in “Outstanding Citizens of Georgia.”

In the early fifties, he returned to Effingham County and built his home in Guyton.  Effingham always held a place in his heart.  Sports were a very important part of his life, especially baseball.  For several years he sponsored several little league ball teams. He believed that to teach a child how to play a sport helped to build good character.  He also believed it taught team work and how to lose with dignity as well as to win with pride.

His big love and pride was the men’s team he sponsored and managed, the Pineora Men’s Team. He worked hard to get the Pineora Ball Field established and lighted for night games.  He loved the sport and he loved the men that played for him.  His house on the week-ends was a home for ball players. If they played double headers, a lot of players stayed with him overnight.  I think Mrs. Morris made and served 300 pounds of potato salad and 400 pounds of fried chicken.  He loved this time in his life.  He lived for the week-ends and the game.

One of the “Big Games” was when Pineora played in Savannah against Savannah Steel.  Art Hobbins was the manager of Savannah Steel.  Believe me there was not love lost between the managers when the game started that night.  This game was played at Grayson Stadium in the Oglethorpe League.  Pineora won the game that night with Bubba Harrelson pitching.  I think this was about 1964.  There was a picture in the Savannah Morning News of Mr. Morris, Mr. Hobbins and the umpire Carl Hendricks in the dugout during an hour rain delay.

Others that played for Pineora were Adrian Pevey, Charlie Toshach, Edward Nease, Warnell Butler, Porter Seckinger, Gene Kelly, Bootsie Lindsey, Tony Saxon, Alton Davis, Thad Butler, and Alfred Pevey.  There were many more that enjoyed playing the game on the Pineora Team.

Mr. Morris died in 1979.  He loved his Lord, his family, and the game of baseball.