Dick Morrow

Dick Morrow was born and raised in Fresno, California. He grew up always very active in sports – in school, in the YMCA and in city leagues. Outside of school during junior and senior high school, he held various jobs; in a pharmacy, grocery store, picking figs, grapes and peaches, in a factory making boxes for fruit, in a bakery, in a cabinet-making mill, etc. He entered Cal Poly on scholarship as a transfer from Menlo J.C., and played baseball, third base (hot corner) for Coach Bob Mott. Summers, he played for the San Luis Blues, and other teams, and worked for the San Luis Recreation Department. In September of 1952, Dick was drafted to serve in the army in the Second (Indianhead) Division, 72nd Tank Battalion in Korea, and was honorably discharged in June of 1954. He then returned to Cal Poly to finish his B.A. and play again with the Cal Poly baseball team. He continued his education in graduate school and was appointed assistant baseball coach for Coach Howie O’Daniels. Besides the scholarship help, Dick worked many campus jobs at Cal Poly: swept classrooms, collect garbage early mornings, took care of the gym and football field. Etc. but also earned his Master’s Degree and his Administrative and Counseling Credentials at Cal Poly. Dick started teaching and coaching at San Luis Junior High, and soon transferred to San Luis High School, teaching and coaching varsity basketball and baseball. He later changed to full-time counseling and stopped coaching. In 1962 Dick married Nancy Bradley, who was teaching in Long Beach, and they first lived in SLO, then settled in Pismo Beach. On a sabbatical, he went into a doctoral program at Michigan State, where he also really enjoyed taking in many of the Big Ten sports. Back at S.L.O. high school he continued counseling, retiring in 1987. In Pismo Beach, he first served on the volunteer homeowners association, then the Planning Commission for a year, then was elected to the City Council and Mayor. Later, Dick started volunteer office work for Coach Ritch Price, and started helping with the broadcasts of Cal Poly baseball games, mostly doing the “color” work, until 2010, when he developed a sleeping disorder. Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Nancy, his cat (Jimmer), brother Bruce, two sister-n-law (Ann Davitt and Harriet Friday); many close nieces and nephews; Dr. Hilty; Jeri, Vicki, and Kevin; Dave, Rosa and Margie(Caregivers) and by many, many good friends and relatives. Dick was a compassionate and caring guy, he loved kids, was a great counselor, mentor, coach, friend and confident, a hard worker, and adored his wife. He loved chocolate, and his cat, Jimmer. He always had a bright smile on his face. In Lieu of flowers Remembrances may be made in Dick's name to: “The Cal Poly Baseball Building Fund” Cal Poly Athletics 1 Grand Ave San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0388

Dick Morrow

October 18, 1928 - April 4, 2016