Ike Morris, businessman in the oil and gas industry, philanthropist and athletics booster, has died.
“Ike Morris made the Mountain State his home, and few people have done more to give back to the state they love,” said Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
“He came to West Virginia with little more than determination and a willingness to work hard, built a remarkable business, and spent the rest of his life helping others find the same opportunities he had been given.”
Morris is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Sue; two children, Doug and Shelly; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Daughter Shelly Morris Smith, announced his death this morning on social media.
“While our hearts are saddened, we are grateful for the love, memories and time we were blessed to share with him,” Smith wrote, noting that funeral arrangements are not yet complete.
Born in Oklahoma and raised in Illinois, Morris relocated to Glenville, West Virginia, in 1962 during a regional oil and gas boom.
He founded Waco Oil & Gas Co. after moving to the state in the early 1960s. Over the decades, his business empire expanded beyond energy into real estate, retail, and various other commercial ventures to support hundreds of local jobs.
“Ike Morris was a giant in West Virginia’s natural gas and oil industry, a respected businessman, and a passionate advocate for our state. His entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and unwavering commitment to West Virginia helped shape an industry that continues to create jobs, strengthen communities, and drive our state’s economy,” said Rebecca McPhail, president of the Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia.
“Ike understood the importance of standing together as an industry. His longtime involvement with IOGA and GO-WV reflected that commitment, and his influence will be felt for generations. We are grateful for his many contributions and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Morris this year was named to West Virginia University’s business school hall of fame while also having the football facility at Glenville State University dedicated as the Ike and Sue Morris Stadium.
Secretary of State Kris Warner today praised Morris for “completing a life full of entrepreneurship, invention, innovation, and philanthropy unlike any other. Everyone who knew Ike knew he lived in and loved Glenville, WV.
“From his very early days in the oil and natural gas business, Ike always remembered to give back to his hometown and to Gilmer County. As his business interests grew, so did his charitable giving. Significant contributions from Ike and Sue Morris can also be found all over West Virginia including West Virginia University, Marshall University, and WV Wesleyan College.”
State Treasurer Larry Pack said Morris “embodied the Mountaineer Spirit. He started with just the shirt on his back, but through determination and grit, built a thriving business empire that employed thousands of West Virginians
“Ike’s passion for and impact on the Mountain State did not stop there. He and his family understood the importance of giving back to those in need. Through benevolence and generous giving, his family supported thousands of projects across the state and invested particularly in the Glenville community. His loss will be felt throughout West Virginia.”
Pack recalled, “There is one lesson that he taught me that I will never forget. Ike said to never turn away someone in need. I have tried to keep that message at the forefront of my career and hope others will do the same.”
Starting his career with an old pickup truck and a single well-service rig, Morris built a reputation for work ethic and reliability that enabled him to secure early business financing
In 1975, he incorporated Waco Oil & Gas, growing the company into one of the state’s top independent energy producers. Over the decades, his business footprint expanded into real estate, timber, coal mining, and commercial ventures, including Waco Foods LLC, which operates local Foodland grocery stores in Glenville, Grantsville and Craigsville.
Morris maintained a long-standing business partnership with fellow West Virginia energy leader Mike Ross, collaborating across numerous joint ventures and companies, including We-R-Farmers, Landaplenty, and Rossco LLC.
Morris’s leadership earned him numerous accolades, including being named the 1994 West Virginia Oil & Gas Man of the Year, induction into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame and The State Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for West Virginia,” said U.S. Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va.
“Ike Morris was a force in our oil and gas industry, an unbelievable businessman, and a man who loved Glenville State University and his Pioneers. He touched so many lives through his work, his generosity, and his friendship. West Virginia is a better place because of Ike, and we will miss him more than words can say.
Beyond commercial success, Ike and Sue Morris dedicated much of their lives to community support and regional education through the Morris Foundation.
A steadfast supporter of Glenville State University, the Morris family funded major capital developments across campus, including the Waco Center Arena, the Sue Morris Sports Complex, the Ike and Sue Morris Stadium, and annual matching scholarship grants for the university’s Day of Giving.
“Ike needs to be remembered as a great West Virginian,” said Charlie Burd, retired president of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia. “He embodies what what you should strive to be, and I am so proud to have known him.”