Morris Shirt sCollection

Morris Alpine Shirts was born April 11, 1922 in Escalante, Utah to Morris and LoNeta Hall Shirts. He attended Escalante High School, Dixie College, before receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Brigham Young University. In 1952 he received an Ed.D. from Indiana University.

While they were attending Brigham Young University in 1943, he met Dorothy Maxine Baird and was then called to duty in the Air Force, where he became a radio operator on B-29s. After the war, he and Maxine were married on October 27, 1945 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They both then continued their education at BYU, after which he taught math and science at North Sanpete High School and was audio visual director for the school district.

In 1952, he was hired by BYU to teach in the audio visual department and was later principal of Brigham Young High School. From 1957 to 1959, he was an advisor to the National Teachers College in Teheran, Iran. He came to Southern Utah University (then CSU) in 1959, where he was head of the Audio Visual Department, department chair and later Dean of the College of Education. He was instrumental in obtaining approval to change CSU to a four-year college. He retired in 1983.

An avid historian and writer, he lectured to local and visiting groups. He co-authored the books "Silver, Sinners and Saints", and "Trial Furnace: The Story of the Iron Mission". He was also on the committee to place the new monument near the Mountain Meadows Massacre the site.

During his life Morris spent time volunteering with the youth and his church. Including coaching baseball, Boys Scouts, later receiving the Silver Beaver Award, and was Vice-President of the Utah National Parks Council.

Morris passed away at the age of 74 on January 7, 1997, at his home in Cedar City, Utah.