On Saturday, January 4, 2020, the Indiana State Festival Association, honored Plymouth’s own, Don Morrison with “The Kirk Works Memorial ISFA Hall of Fame Award”. Don is the 2nd recipient of this award. Kirk Works for whom the award was named was awarded the 1st award posthumously on Saturday, January 5, 2019. Works of Vevay, Indiana passed away March 7, 2018 after battling cancer since 2010.
Kirk graduated from Switzerland County Jr/Sr High School as Salutatorian of his senior class in 1982. He furthered he education graduating from the University of Evansville in 1987, with a double major in computer information systems and business administration. When he returned to his home of Vevay, Indiana in 1991 he worked for North American Stainless. In 1994 he went to work for Gallatin Steel until he was physically unable to continue in 2017.
Kirk’s true calling was giving back to his community, that he so loved. He was a member of the Lions Club and served as their President , was President of the Swiss Wine Festival, and a member of the board of the Indiana State Festival Association, serving as President 2009-2010. He was treasurer of the Switzerland County Republican Party, serving also as a precinct chairman. He was a founding member of Switzerland County Community Foundation and was a 5 year member of the Vevay town council.
Kirk received several awards in his lifetime. He was presented the Josephine Hauck award for his significant contributions to Indiana Festivals. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship for his service with the Lions Club and he was a torch bearer for the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration. The Sagamore of the Wabash was presented to him by Representative Randy Frye on behalf of Governor Eric Holcomb for his years of service to the community of Vevay and Switzerland County Indiana.
Don Morrison was born in Kingsbury, Indiana on August 30, 1939. At a young age he lost his father, his mother being a single parent moved the family to Culver, Indiana where she had friends.
Don graduated from Culver High School, in 1956 and started working for a big corporation in South Bend, Indiana. He married his wife Eileen in 1964 and together they had two children. This year they will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary. They have five grandchildren that he spends as much time with as possible.
Don has been very active in his community of Plymouth. 2019 marked 24 years of elected service on the County Council. He has served as Treasurer for several clubs and organizations over the years including the Plymouth Lions Club, the Adams Street Kids, his church and 10 years for the Marshall County Blueberry Festival.
Don has been part of the pageant community for as long as he can remember. He started working with the Miss Plymouth Pageant by helping contestants gather the information they needed to compete for over 25 years. Because of his valuable experience he was ask to work with the Blueberry Festival at the very first festival in 1967, chairing the 1st Miss Blueberry Pageant, which was held on Friday night at the festival. In 1992 the pageant was moved to June, making Miss Blueberry a valuable asset in promoting the upcoming Labor Day Festival. After giving up his position with the Miss Plymouth Pageant, he continued to work with the Miss Indiana and Miss America Pageants, having the pleasure of helping and working with 14 contestants that became Miss America. Don has also been asked to be a judge for over a hundred of pageants from the “Cutest Baby” to neighboring states like Illinois, Ohio and Michigan for their state pageants.
In 2018 Don was honored by the Blueberry Festival Board of Directors by being named the Grand Parade Marshal for the 52nd Annual Blueberry Festival Labor Day Parade for all of his hard work and dedication to the festival.
Don received The Kirk Works ISFA Hall of Fame Award at the Indiana State Festival Association Convention which was held in Indianapolis, January 3-5, 2020. The Marshall County Blueberry Festival is very proud to have Don chosen as the recipient of this award.
Story submitted by the Marshall County Blueberry Festival Committee.
