Morris Family Recognition

The Elida Fieldhouse was constructed and first used for high school athletic events in 1973 – becoming the pre-eminent place to play basketball games and volleyball tournament games in northwest Ohio with over 3,000 events taking place and approximately 2,300,000 spectators. Since that time, little has been done to remodel the fieldhouse, with the exception of a new wood floor and lower-level bleachers in 2005, and new exterior stairs in 2016.

The remodeling includes updates to all of the locker rooms and restrooms, new paint throughout, a new sound system, air conditioning to be installed next summer, and an addition that includes an official’s locker room, an extra tournament locker room, a cheerleading room, concession storage, and new concession area that will provide for relief of congestion upon entry into the field house. The Morris donation of $500,000 helped kick start the renovation project in a major way. 

 The late Eugene Morris was a 1951 Elida graduate and served in the US Army before working for the U.S. Postal Service;  his wife Helen VanDemark Morris is a 1946 Elida graduate and former 3rd grade teacher for 31 years at Elida before retiring in 1987; Dr. Denny Morris is a member of the 1975 graduating class from Elida, has been a high school basketball and football official for more than 40 years, has been a Big Ten football official for 21 years, was named Elida High School Distinguished Alumni in 2018, and will be retiring from his position as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Lima Memorial Hospital in April; and his sister Beth Morris Patton, is a 1979 valedictorian and graduate from Elida, living in Worthington Ohio and holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at Yenkin-Majestic Corporation and serves on the Board of “I Am Boundless.”

Beth’s husband Steve Patton, daughter and son in law Meredith and Michael TenBrink and granddaughter Sloan joined the recognition at the Fieldhouse on Friday, December 16, 2022 at the boys basketballl game to help kick-off the brand new concession area.

Thank you for your generosity and dedication to Elida schools!