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City hires Tommy Morris as new recreation director
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Times-Journal Staff
Tommy Morris is coming up to bat as
Perry’s new recreation director, according
to Perry City Manager Skip Nalley.
Morris, who has lived in Torrance,
Calif, for several years, will be taking on
the position left vacant when former
director Tom Dominey resigned in
September 1996.
Morris will take up the reins effective
Feb. 18, said Nalley.
He was chosen out of a field of 30
applicants, said the city manager.
“We need someone with Tommy’s
Genesis House supporters raise
funds for homeless men program
Facility has helped
more than 300
during past six years
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Times-Journal Staff
About 200 supporters of the
Genesis House turned out Feb. 1
for an annual fund-raising ban
quet held at the Perry Recreation
Department on Keith Drive.
The Genesis House is a min
istry for homeless men supported
by members of The Greater Word
of Deliverance Church in Perry.
The project has been in opera
tion since 1990.
Pastor Milton Wynn wel
comed those in attendance. “It
bums a place in our hearts when
we recognize the need of people
without homes,” he said.
His son, Troy, recalled how
the ministry began seven years
ago as his father and fellow
church members spent their
Saturdays on the streets minister
ing to those in need.
His father wanted to do some
thing to help those people escape
their plight, said Troy. “So, he
created a bridge called the
Genesis House for men who
wanted to live in a Godly home,”
he added.
Guest speaker Buddy Parrish,
pastor of First Baptist Church in
Graceland, pointed out that sta
tistics show 75,000 people in the
state of Georgia will be homeless
this year.
“Twenty percent of those will
be women and children,” he
said.
“Greater Word of Deliverance
needs to be a model for other
churches,” said the pastor.
Wynn told the group that dur
ing the last seven years about 300
men have come through the
Genesis House.
“If one man comes through
there and changes and goes back
into the streets that one person
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experience to help develop the city’s
recreation department,” said Nalley.
“We’re confident he will be able to assim
ilate input from the community, recreation
commission and city government.
“We also look forward to having him
lead us through a consensus building
effort to determine where the community
wants us to go with recreation,” added
Nalley.
A native of Cordele, Morris lived in
Perry in the mid 19505.
He struck out on his own after graduat
ing from Georgia Southern College in
June of 1961, Morris said during a tele
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Timas-Journal Photo by Emily Johnston*
CELEBRATION The Rev. Milton Wynn (left) joins the
Rev. Buddy Parrish of Graceland in celebrating the suc
cess of the Genesis House in Perry.
you don’t have to worry about him
robbing you,” said Wynn.
Vernon Lane, a young man
who spent time in prison and then
found anew way of life while at
Genesis House, agreed.
“It (Genesis House) is needed
here in Perry,” said Lane.
“I didn’t have' a place to go.
They opened the door for me and
today I am blessed. If Pastor
Wynn had not opened the door, I
would not have made it,” he
added.
Also during the banquet, atten
ders heard music from Valerie
Lee, Lula Wynn* Latecia Wynn,
Lorraine Pickett, Tonya Lyles and
Milton Wynn 111 and laughed
along with comedian J.C. “J-Boy”
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phone interview from his west coast
home.
“My mother, Allie Mae Hadaway, lived
in Perry then,” said Morris. “I went by to
see her then hitchhiked out to Pasadena,
Calif.” f
His trip in California resulted in some
30 years of experience in the recreation
field, he said.
Morris worked as recreation director in
several towns, including Wilmington and
Brentwood Village, Calif.
He served as recreation director of the
City of Los Angeles, California, Parks and
Recreation Department in the mid 60s.
Westbrook.
Members of the church sup
port the Genesis House project.
The home is located on Kathy
Street in Perry and it is the hope
of the congregation that another
place can soon be found for its
location.
“We do want to build anew
home,” said member Kelvin Ross.
“We have outgrown our present
location.”
The church hopes to relocate
the house to a more rural setting,
according to a fund-raising letter
mailed to many Perryans earlier
this year.
Anyone interested in helping
with the Genesis House project
can contact Wynn at 987-4796.
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He later became superintendent of
sports and facilities in 1990.
That job included organization of 400
athletic teams, six gymnasiums and 10
athletic fields, according to Morris.
In June of 1994 he became Director of
Recreation for the City of Garden a,,
Calif., population approximately 56,000.
His staff included 50 department
employees, 15 aquatic staff, 100 sports
officials, 60 instructors and over 200 vol
unteer coaches.
A volunteer sports organization worked
with activities such as coaching and fund
raising. he said.
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Wed. Feb. 5, 1997, Houston Times-Journal
Morris’ last active day on the job with
Garderra. was Jan. 31.
He is retiring from that position.
Morris, who holds a Master of Arts
from California State University,
Northridge, said he hopes to work with the
Perry department in “getting a real good
staff trained to bring a wide variety of
recreational activities for all ages.”
“I’m thrilled to be coming to Perry,”
Morris added.
Morris becomes the third full-time
recreation director for the city. Ben
Hambrick was the first full time director
when he was hired during the early 19905.
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