Lee Morrison Papers

Dr. Lonnie Leotus “Lee” Morrison (1926-2015) was a professor, coach, and administrator at Madison College starting in 1954 until she retired in 1989. She graduated from Georgia State College for Women in 1948 with a B.S. in Education. She then went on to get her M.A. from George Peabody College for Teachers in 1951. After acquiring the position at Madison College, she received her doctorate at Indiana University in 1964. In 1967, she became the Coordinator of Women’s Sports for Madison College. From 1972 until her retirement in 1989 she served as the Associate Director of Athletics for James Madison University. Dr. Morrison dedicated her professional career to promoting equality in collegiate sports. After the passage of Title IX, an educational amendment that banned sex discrimination in any program receiving federal aid, she was still involved in many organizations that fought to end sex discrimination in school athletics. She was a member of the Virginia Association for Girls and Women in Sport and a founding board member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), for which she later served as president. She worked on numerous committees at the state, regional, and national level for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. She also served on President Ronald Carrier's Think Tank on Women's Issues at JMU. Throughout her career she won many awards for her dedication. After retirement, she helped establish the Morrison-Bruce Center for the Promotion of Physical Activity for Girls and Women on the JMU campus. The Morrison-Bruce Center is named in honor of Dr. Morrison and Dr. Patricia Bruce, professor of physical and health education at JMU from 1961-1989. Morrison and Bruce were colleagues, friends, and long-time companions.