Robert Ball Morton was born on
October 26, 1912 in Webb City, Missouri to Frank Percy and Grace (Ball) Morton.
Upon graduating from Wichita High School in 1930, Morton attended the University
of Kansas from 1930 to 1935. In 1935, Morton was admitted to the bar and entered
into general practice. Morton
joined the Wichita law firm of Kidwell, Darrah, Ball & Morton
and later the firm of Aley, Morton,
Darrah and Mellor. During that period, he was appointed special water counsel
by the city commission to represent Wichita in the litigation to obtain the
water rights to the Equus beds west of Wichita and the bond issue funding
for the Cheney Reservoir which assured the city of a reliable water supply.
He also represented the City of Wichita in the Wichita Municipal Airport litigation
with The U.S. Department of Defense who wanted to take the airport. The successful
settlement of this case resulted in construction of the current Mid Continent
Airport.
Upon
the outbreak of World War II, Morton
joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the South Pacific
for three years. He was engaged in the battles on Cape Gloucester, Peleliu,
Guadalcanal and Okinawa. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions on
Okinawa. Morton
retired from the Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Morton
was appointed 18th Judicial District Judge from 1950-1951 and served as special
legal counsel to the City of Wichita from 1955 to 1962.
In
1953, Morton was appointed to the University of Wichita Board of Regents and
served on the board until 1964. During his tenure, Morton was instrumental
in the integration of the University of Wichita, a municipal university, into
the Kansas state system in 1964.
In
1962, he was appointed Judge of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court where he served
until his retirement in 1986. In 1975 and 1976, he was President of the National
Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. During his tenure on the bench he participated
in a ten year effort to rewrite a revision to the Bankruptcy Code which was
approved by Congress in 1978. Following his retirement from the court, he
joined the Wichita law firm of Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock and Kennedy as
"of counsel."
Morton
married Dorothy B. Compton on July 25, 1942, and they had one son, Robert
C. Morton.
Morton
enjoyed hunting, fishing, water skiing, paddle tennis and golf. He was a member
of the Wichita Country Club, joining in 1938.
Morton died June 25, 2005, at the
age of 92.
Source: Wichita Eagle
|
Series
1 -- University of Wichita and Wichita State University documentation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
1.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Box
1
|
FF1
|
Clippings
W.U. Contains correspondence and newspaper clippings, 1961-62,
regarding the entrance of the University of Wichita (WU) into the Kansas
state system.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF2
|
Integration
of WU to State System 1961. Contains correspondence, reports, newspaper
articles and personal notes concerning the entrance of WU into the Kansas
state system. Also included in the files are the following: December 1960
copy of AAUP Bulletin; brochure entitled "The Place and the Price
of Excellence," by Jacques Barzun; Report entitled "Comprehensive Educational
Survey of Kansas"; Report entitled "Message of Governor John Anderson,
Jr. to the Kansas Legislature," January 1961; and report concerning the
enrollment statistics for the first semester 1961-62.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF3
|
Summary
of Legislative Effort August 2, 1962. Contains a report and brochure
entitled "An Act of Faith" regarding the effort to incorporate the WU
into the Kansas state system. Also included in this file is WU's financial
report for 1961-62 fiscal year.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF4
|
University
of Wichita. Contains reports, correspondence, memos and newspaper
articles from 1963-65 regarding issues involving WU and entry to the state
system. Also included in this file are the following: Copies of the Board
of Regents minutes for July 1, 1963, July 17, 1963, Oct. 7, 1963, Nov.
4, 1963 and April 6, 1964; Copies of the University of Wichita Financial
reports from the office of the Treasurer for Feb. 1964, Jan. 1964, Sept.
1963, Oct. 1963, Dec. 1963, Nov. 1963, Aug. 1963, June 1963, and May 1963;
Copy of a Declaration of Trust between the Sedgwick's Triumph Over Polio
Committee and the Fourth National Bank and Trust Company of Wichita.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF5
|
University
of Wichita Integration 1962. Reports, correspondence and memos
concerning the WU's entrance into the Kansas state system and other university
business and activities. Also included in this file is an unlabeled notebook
containing numerous newspaper articles concerning the integration of WU
into the Kansas state system.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF6
|
Wichita
State University. Contains correspondence and clippings (1964-1970)
concerning Wichita State University's (WSU) entrance into the state system.
Also included in this file is correspondence, legal documents and clippings
concerning the Colorado-Derby building and other university activities.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF7
|
Wichita
University. Contains correspondence, reports, financial statements
and clippings regarding a variety of issues about WU, 1960-1962.
|
|
Box
1
|
FF8
|
Wichita
U. entrance into state system #1. Contains 1962-64 correspondence,
memos, reports, legislation and clippings concerning WU entrance into
the Kansas state system. Also included in this files is a copy of the
bylaws for the Citizens for a State University in Southern Kansas, Inc.,
copies of Kansas Senate Bill No. 151 and No. 139 and a report entitled
"Eurich Report and the University of Wichita."
|
|
Box
1
|
FF9
|
Wichita
U. entrance into state system #2. Contains 1962-63 correspondence,
memos, reports, legislation, financial statements and clippings concerning
WU's effort to enter the Kansas state system and other university activities.
Also included in this file is the following: 1962-63 University of
Wichita Graduate School
Bulletin; a report entitled "Kansas: Plans for the Next Generation;
and a report entitled "Some Factors in the Founding of State Colleges
and Universities in Kansas: An Historical Survey."
|
|
Box
1
|
FF10
|
Contains
1961-63 reports, correspondence and publications concerning WU integration
into the Kansas state system. Also included in this file is the following
publications: Autumn 1961, Stanford Today; Kansas magazine;
and the "University of Wichita Bulletin Biennial Catalogue, 1961-1963."
|
|
Box
1
|
FF11
|
Contains
1961-63 reports, correspondence, memos and clippings regarding the integration
of WU into the Kansas state system. Also included in this file is an June
3, 1961 article from the Saturday Review, entitled "Renaissance in the
Southwest," concerning graduate educations and a report entitled "Problems
of Duplication in Higher Education."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
1.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Box
2
|
FF1
|
Municipal
University Fund. Contains reports on WU funding and a financial
statements and supplementary information for the university for year ended
June 30, 1961.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF2
|
REM
- W.U. Application for Tax Exemption. Contains 1960-62 correspondence
and legal documents concerning the university's application for relief
from a tax grievance.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF3
|
Tax
Assessment - W.S.U. Contains correspondence, memos, reports, financial
statements, legal documents and clippings concerning activities of Wichita
State University (WSU) and a 1964 tax assessment and effort to obtain
a tax exempt status for the university.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF4
|
University
of Wichita Financial Statements and Reports 1962-64. Contains a
1962-63 Budget Report and financial statements and supplementary information
for year ended June 30, 1962.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF5
|
WU
Budget 1964 #1. Contains correspondence, minutes, reports, financial
statements and legislation concerning the operation and funding of WU.
Also included in this file is a 1963 report, entitled "University of Wichita
Campus," concerning the development of the university's campus and buildings.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF6
|
WU
Budget 1964 #2. Contains correspondence, reports, financial statements
and legislation concerning the operation and funding of WU. Also included
in this file is a feasibility study for an Educational Administration
Center at WSU.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF7
|
WU
Budget 1964 #3. Contains correspondence, reports, financial statements
and clippings concerning the operation and funding of WU. Also included
in this file is the summer 1963 issue of the AAUP Bulletin and
a 1963-64 Budget Report for WU.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF8
|
WU
Budget 1961. Contains 1958-1961 correspondence, reports and financial
statements concerning the operation and funding of WU.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF9
|
WU
Financial Statement 1958-59. Contains 1958-1960 financial statements
and correspondence concerning the operation and funding of WU. Also included
in this file is a brochure for Washburn University Law School Graduates
of 1959.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF10
|
WU
- Funding Accounts. Contains 1964 correspondence, reports, clippings,
minutes and financial statements concerning the operation and funding
of WU. Also included in this file is a copy of the bylaws for Wichita
State University Physical Education Corporation, Inc.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF11
|
WU
- Improvement Revenue Bonds 1962-64. Contains correspondence, including
correspondence from Wichita University President Harry F. Corbin, concerning
the operation and funding of WU. Also included in this file is a 1961
Annual Report for the New York Life Insurance Company and a Directory
of Graduates of the College of Business Administration and Industry for
WU.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF12
|
WU
Investment of Idle Funds. 1958-59 Correspondence and reports concerning
the financial management and investments of WU.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF13
|
WU
Joint Revenue Tax Committee Sales Tax Bill. Contains 1960-61 reports,
correspondence and legislation for Wichita University Joint Revenue Tax
Committee and its attempt to provide funding for the university through
a revenue sales tax.
|
|
Box
2
|
FF14
|
WU
State Aid. Contains 1960-62 correspondence, notes, reports, legislation
and financial statements concerning the operation and funding of WU.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
1.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Box
3
|
FF1
|
Board
of Regents 1954/Development Plan Proposals. Contains correspondence,
minutes and reports submitted by the faculty concerning the 1954 Development
Plans at Wichita University.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF2
|
Colorado
Derby Bldg. (Wichita University). Contains 1963-64 correspondence,
a prospectus and memorandum concerning the taxation of the Colorado-Derby
Building and WU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF3
|
Corporate
Tax Facts and Fees. Contains 1962 publications and booklets concerning
corporate law and taxation. Also included is a 1962 letter to Harry F.
Corbin, University President, letter concerning the WU football program.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF4
|
Final
Report on the National Defense Language Institute. Contains 1963
report conducted at the University of Wichita.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF5
|
Handbook
- Gifts and Bequests - University of Wichita, Wichita Kansas. 1958
Report.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF6
|
Morton
- Various Correspondence 1960-63. Correspondence concerning WU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF7
|
Summary
of Engineering Education at the University of Wichita 1960-61.
Contains correspondence and reports concerning the Kansas Farm Bureau,
the College of Education and the College of Engineering.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF8
|
RBM
- W.U. Steering Committee 1962. Contains correspondence, reports
and publications concerning the University of Wichita Steering Committee
and other university issues.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF9
|
RBM
- W.U. Time Sheets. Contains 1960 time records with a description
of the legal work that Judge Morton did for the university.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF10
|
University
of Wichita. Contains a 1961 preliminary report concerning graduate
and professional degrees, a history of the graduate school and a report
on the nature of the student body.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF11
|
University
of Wichita - 1962-63. Contains correspondence, minutes of the Board
of Regents meetings, financial statements and reports concerning the operation
of WU. Included in this file is correspondence from Olive Ann Beech and
Wichita University President Harry F. Corbin.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF12
|
University
- W.S.U. Information. Contains 1959-63 correspondence, reports
and publications concerning the operations of WU. Also included in this
file are the following: a 1960-61 Student and Faculty Directory; 1959
Annual Report from the Institute for College and University administrators;
and a report from Evansville College entitled "A Report of an Investigation
by the American Association of University Professors."
|
|
Box
3
|
FF13
|
Ways
and Means - Wichita University. Contains 1961-63 correspondence,
Board of Regents minutes, Ways and Means Committee minutes, reports, clippings,
memos and financial statements concerning the operations and funding of
WU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF14
|
Wichita
State University 1967. Correspondence and legal documents concerning
a legal matter between Aetna Life Insurance Company and WSU. Also contains
an undated list of the State of Kansas Board of Regents.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF15
|
Wichita
State University 1968. Correspondence and clippings concerning
the passage of Kansas Senate Bill 151 and other university activities.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF16
|
Wichita
State University. 1969 Correspondence concerning activities at
WSU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF17
|
Wichita
University No. 3. 1964 Correspondence, committee minutes and financial
statements concerning the operations and funding of WU. Included in the
correspondence are letters from University President Emory Lindquist.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF18
|
Wichita
University Personnel Classification. Contains a 1963 position allocations
list for WSU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF19
|
WU
- Correspondence (Misc.) 1960-63. Contains correspondence, reports,
financial statements, legal documents and clippings concerning the operations
of the university.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF20
|
WU
Education Building. Contains 1963-64 correspondence, reports, minutes,
financial statements, publications and personal notes concerning the Corbin
Education Center and other university matters.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF21
|
WU
Legislative Program (1960). Correspondence concerning the operations
of the university.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF22
|
WU
Minutes (Board of Regents) (Committee) 1959-61. Minutes for the
University of Wichita Board of Regents.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF23
|
WU
Minutes - Paul V. Smith Chairman. Various University of Wichita
Board of Regents committee minutes and a report on the Harvey D. Grace
Memorial Chapel Fund.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF24
|
WU
- Research and Development Material 1959-61. Contains publications,
financial statements, reports and correspondence concerning the operations
of WU. Also included in this file is a 1959 publication entitled "A Master
Plan Study," concerning the future development of the university.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF25
|
WU
Retirement Plan 1958-59. Contains copies of the WU's retirement
plan for the years 1958 and 1959.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF26
|
WU
- State Aid - University of Southern Kansas. Contains 1959-1961
correspondence, reports, publications a legislation concerning the operations
of WU and its entrance into the Kansas state system.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF27
|
WU
- Tuition, salaries, enrollment degrees 1959-61. Contains correspondence
and reports concerning the operations of WU.
|
|
Box
3
|
FF28
|
WU
- Various. 1960-61 Correspondence, reports, financial statements
and publications concerning the operations of the university. Also included
in this file is a copy of a proposal for a men's residence hall by the
Board of Regents of WU. Also included in this file is a 1961 flier from
the Kansans for the Right to Work organization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
2 -- City of Wichita documentation, 1955-1962
|
|
|
|
|
|
Box
4
|
FF1
|
American
Waterworks Suit. 1962 Correspondence and legal documentation.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF2
|
Booklet.
Contains a 1961 report entitled "Water Supply in the Wichita Metropolitan
Area."
|
|
Box
4
|
FF3
|
Robert
B. Morton - Correspondence 1962. Contains correspondence, reports
and records concerning Morton's work for the City of Wichita on the Cheney
Water project.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF4
|
Presentation
File of Cheney Division Wichita Project (Kansas) Volume I. Contains
reports beginning with July 1955 Reconnaissance Report of the Bureau of
Reclamation and extending through and including the formal Project Report
of the Secretary of the Interior transmitted to Congress on July 6, 1959.
Also included in this file is a February 1957 report from the U.S. Department
of the Interior entitled "Cheney Division Wichita Project: Ninnescah River
Basin, Kansas."
|
|
Box
4
|
FF5
|
Presentation
File of Cheney Division Wichita Project (Kansas) Volume II. Contains
1957-59 reports concerning the legislative action in the United States
Senate pertaining to the water supply project.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF6
|
Presentation
File of Cheney Division Wichita Project (Kansas) Volume III. Contains
1957-59 reports concerning the legislative action in the United States
House of Representatives pertaining to the water supply project.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF7
|
Publications.
Contains a 1961 clipping concerning the Cheney Division water project
for the City of Wichita and a January 1961 copy of the American Bar
Association Journal.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF8
|
W-113
Water Dept. Time Sheets 1962 and Purchase Orders. Contains receipts
and vouchers for Robert B. Morton's services to the Wichita Water Department.
These receipts and vouchers give a detailed description of the cases and
work conducted by Morton.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF9
|
Wichita
- Waterworks. Contains 1962 correspondence, publications, legal
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
3 -- Personal and Business Documentation, 1942-1964
|
|
|
|
|
|
Box
4
|
FF10
|
Agreement.
1958 legal documents concerning the inheritance of Richard Bruce Petrie
and Charles Judson Petrie.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF11
|
Deposits
- Judge Robert B. Morton. Contains personal 1957 financial records
and lease records for oil and gas production.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF12
|
"DUO
- BED" 1962-63. Contains correspondence, legal documents, financial
statements, photographs, drawings and publications concerning the DUO-BED
corporation.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF13
|
RBM
- American Express Corporation (European Trip Data). Contains 1961
correspondence, passport information, publications and a suggested itinerary
for Morton's trip to Europe.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF14
|
RBM
- Frontier County Nebraska Oil Deal. 1961 Correspondence concerning
oil and gas production in Nebraska. Also included in this file is a 1961
annual report for The Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation.
|
|
Box
4
|
FF15
|
Reports
1951-1961. Contains financial statements for Zephyr Ventilated
Awning Company, Inc.
|
|
Box
5
|
FF1
|
Robert
B. Morton. Contains 1960-62 personal correspondence, business correspondence
and business publications. Also included in this file is a copy of Walton's
Delight by George Brennand.
|
|
Box
5
|
FF2
|
Robert
B. Morton - Correspondence 1962. Contains 1961-62 business correspondence,
notes, legal documents and publications. Also included in this file are
the following: April 1962 publication, Kansas Judicial Council Bulletin;
March 1962 publication by the Gerontological Research Foundation; and
copies of 1961 partnership income returns for Murfin Drilling Co. and
the firm of Aley, Morton, and Darrah.
|
|
Box
5
|
FF3
|
Semper
Fidelis Portfolio. Contains 1942-50 correspondence and documentation
concerning Morton's military service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World
War II.
|
|
Box
5
|
FF4
|
Contains
a 1960 memorandum concerning the Cool-Temp Awning and Window Company and
a legal pad with handwritten notes.
|
