Sid Morrison was born on May 13, 1933 in Yakima, Washington. He attended Toppenish High School, Yakima Valley College, and Washington State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree (B.S., Horticulture, 1954). He served in the U.S. Army (1954-1956). Following his military service, he became president of Morrison Fruit Company in Zillah, Washington (1956-1980).
Morrison's political career included both state and federal offices. He served as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives (1967-1974) and State Senate (1974-1981). Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980, he represented the 4th District (Central and South Western Washington) for twelve years (1981-1992), in the 97th through 102nd Congresses. In Congress, his committee service included the Agricultural Committee; Science, Space and Technology Committee; and the Select Committee on Hunger. Morrison helped develop the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and contributed to several major transportation projects in Washington State, including State Route 504 access to the Mount St. Helens National Monument, and improvements to State Route 14 and U.S. 395 from Tri-Cities to Ritzville. Morrison further helped authorize and fund the construction of the Interstate 205 bridge, which opened in 1982 between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. He ran unsuccessfully for Washington State Governor in 1992, and in 1993 became Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
From the guide to the Sid Morrison Papers, 1980-1992, (Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)
