James R Morrison

James R. Morrison, a man whose life was defined by adventure, song, and an unapologetic love of family, history, and the occasional dangerously ill-advised decision, passed away on Sunday November 3rd, 2024 at the tender age of 92. Whether exploring space, restoring history, or singing cowboy tunes, Jim lived a life full of color and laughter.

Born in Detroit in 1932, Jim’s early years were a whirlwind of moves. His family settled in Riverside and Greenwich, Connecticut, where he spent his youth on a 14-acre farm, but it was his time spent on his sister’s cattle ranch in Arizona during World War II that left a lasting impression. There, Jim developed a fondness for ranch life—except for one thing: the actual farming part (more on this in a moment).

Upon graduating high school, he and a couple of friends hitchhiked to Norfolk Virginia where they briefly spent time scraping paint off Navy tugboats. Not finding that very appealing, they tried something completely different: joining the Ringling Brothers Circus! As a roustabout, they spent several weeks traveling around the country, experiencing a world of spectacle and absurdity that would become a lifelong source of stories. Finding themselves in Milwaukee, he hit the road again with his friends, this time with $60 between them to buy a canoe and they then paddled down the Wisconsin River heading for the Mississippi River and the promise of a better future. But after running out of food in Davenport Iowa (some 200 miles downstream), they eventually sold the canoe and hitchhiked back home to Connecticut —another adventure added to the list.

Jim’s next adventure took him to Michigan State University (MSU), where he (very) briefly tried out for the MSU Football Team and studied Animal Husbandry with grand dreams of raising cattle and going back to a ranch … but the reality of working with chickens (not cows, mind you) quickly made him rethink his career plans. As Jim put it, “If I wanted to spend my life surrounded by creatures who weren’t interested in what I had to say, I would’ve just stayed in Connecticut.”

After that, Jim moved on to the U.S. Air Force, where he trained as an F-86 and F-100 fighter pilot during the Korean War. The war ended before he could put his skills to use, of which he said “At the time I felt gipped…later I realized I was lucky”. He then attended UC Berkeley on the GI Bill where he earned a Bachelors in Political Science, and then to Columbia University for a Masters in International Affairs, where he also met the love of his life Susan M. Paige. 

After moving to Washington DC, Jim worked several decades with NASA in space policy and international relations, including a three-year stint as the U.S. Representative to the European Space Agency stationed in Paris. He helped many Apollo astronauts on publicity tours around Europe, and hosted John Young & Bob Crippen the first crew of the Space Shuttle. His role in shaping U.S. space exploration during the Cold War was pivotal, and he later served as chair of the U.S. delegation to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. After retiring from NASA, he moved on to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Space Policy recommendations for then President George H.W. Bush, working with esteemed experts such as Carl Sagan.

Jim then shifted gears and became a passionate historic preservationist, establishing the Hancock’s Resolution Foundation and dedicating years to restoring the historic site in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. His efforts earned him several prestigious awards, including the National DAR’s (Daughters of the American Revolution) Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation. For more than 20 years, Jim put his heart and hard work (including blood, sweat and tears) into preserving this wonderful piece of Anne Arundel County heritage. It was so well done that eventually the Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks department took over the management of this historic farmhouse. In addition, Jim led the Gibson Island Historical Society for many years, and spent countless hours looking for archeological clues to the history of the island. 

But it wasn’t all about space and history. Jim had a deep love for all types of music (show tunes, cowboy ballads, folk songs and more) and could often be found breaking into tune at the drop of a hat—his baritone voice filling the room with familiar tunes.

Jim’s life was one of endless curiosity, from the stars above to the history beneath our feet, and from singing cowboy songs to narrowly avoiding death coming down a mountain in a Volvo. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years (Susan) their three sons (Hugh, Andrew, Ted), a daughter-in-law (Kristina) and three grandsons of whom he is EXTREMELY proud (Aidan, Nicholas, Anthony), who continue to carry on his legacy of adventure, laughter, and a few questionable decisions along the way.

Jim’s spirit of joy and adventure—whether in a spacecraft, an historic site, or on a mountain road—will live on in those who loved him, and in every story that starts with, “You won’t believe what happened to me…”

A memorial service will be held at St. Christopher’s By The Sea church on Gibson Island Sunday November 17, 2024 starting at 11:30 am.