Hall of Fame Inductee: Charles R. Morrison, Sr.
Submitted by Gail Stock
“Good trouble,” words US Congressman John Lewis used to describe his actions in the civil rights struggle are inscribed on the plaque to Charles Morrison, Sr., at the Westfield Memorial Pool Complex. And trouble Mr. Morrison did, so much so he was admonished by Westfield’s mayor at the time who sent him a telegram to quit his disruptive behavior.
In the 1960’s, Mr. Morrison led marches in Westfield for civil rights, sometimes partnering with members of Temple Emanu-El. He urged the Westfield Board of Education to close schools to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. Westfield was one of the first towns in Union County to do so.
Mr. Morrison felt compelled to march with Dr. King in “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in August, 1963. This rally led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Mr. Morrison mobilized his community to create the Westfield Civic Improvement Association. Under his leadership, the town governance abandoned plans to use a large field behind N. Scotch Plains Avenue as a town dump and municipal equipment area. Instead, Westfield Memorial Pool Complex was created where town families enjoy recreational activities.
Charles Randolph Morrison, Sr., was born in North Carolina on October 26, 1920. He had two sisters. The family moved to Flint Michigan where his mother’s family lived and he was raised on a farm there during the Great Depression. With coming of WWII, he enlisted in the US Army and attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in the segregated US Army.
The family joined St. Luke AME Zion Church in which Mr. Morrison served as chair of the trustee board and Sunday school superintendent. He served also on the Westfield Assistance Board. Professionally, Mr. Morrison worked at Esso in Linden and Union Carbide in Bound Brook as a research technician. Recognizing his leadership qualities, he was requested to join Human Resources. As an Employee Resources Lead, he helped open doors for other Blacks long before the push for inclusion and diversity in employment.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison eventually relocated to Florida in 1995 to enjoy a warmer climate. This time, a different mayor telegraphed Mr. Morrison thanking him for his meaningful work in the community. Both James and Jacquelynne were present in Florida to help as their parents aged.
The Westfield Historical Society is honored to induct Charles Morrison, Sr., into its Hall of Fame.
The Westfield Hall of Fame is a Committee of The Westfield Historical Society which has named nine inductees for the 2022 Hall of Fame Class. In addition to Charles Morrison, Sr., inductees include: Clara “Chic” Bolger, Allen Chin, Samuel Downer Sr., Ralph Jones, James & Melba Nixon, Nancy Priest, Theodore K. Schlosberg, and Mabel L. Sturgis with Helen French Welch. The Hall of Fame Committee has a long list of qualified candidates submitted by the public for its consideration in future inductions.
The 13 members of the 2022 Hall of Fame selection committee are planning the induction ceremony for Friday, October 7, 2022. Historical Society members and the public at large are encouraged to submit profiles of persons believed to be strong candidates for the Westfield Hall of Fame to the Westfield Historical Society, P. O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ 07091.
