PLAYER #111 - FRANK MORRIS (1945-49)

There are many famous last names and brother acts in Argo history: Stukus, Karrys, Smylie and Levantis, to name a few. You could add Morris to that list.

Elwyn Morris played as an Argo halfback in 1940 and 1941, and also played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he won a Stanley Cup. However, it was his brother Frank who made the family mark in the CFL, playing with the Argos from 1945-49.

His coach at the time was also a Morris, A.B. "Teddy" Morris, and while no direct relation to Frank, the two share some space in the CFL Hall-of-Fame in Hamilton. The coach was inducted in 1964, while his lineman was inducted in 1983.

"Teddy was a super guy and a great motivator," said Frank. "I loved the guy. He was innovative. He was the first guy I ever saw to come up with the split line. We'd use the split or we'd close down. We'd cross the people up."

Frank Morris helped cross people up in such a way in his Argo stay that he was voted one of the offensive guards of the Modern Era Argo all-star team (1945-73), even though the majority of his career was spent out west with the Edmonton Eskimos. He won a total of six Grey Cups, three each with the Argos (1945-47) and Eskimos (1954-56). "But (the Argos) beat us (Edmonton) in the 1952 Grey Cup game," said Morris. "That's the one I wanted to win more than any other, and that's the one we lost."

Morris was part of a mass exodus of Argo talent after the 1949 season, some of whom were protesting the dismissal of coach Teddy Morris, while others were lured west by higher wages.

"I was selling beer for Labatt's at the time, and my wife was mad at me because I was up to 274 pounds - I think I drank my quota at the time," recalled Morris to Gord Walker. "I was making a call at the Town Tavern one day, and when I walked in, (Annis) Stukus was there with Doug Pyzer and Don Durno and three or four other people I didn't know. I bought them a round and as Stuke was talking about guys going out to Edmonton, I said, 'How about me', and Stuke said, 'Any time you're ready'."

Morris was ready, and dished it out on the line anytime the moment arose. However, he wasn't prepared when he first got started in football with the HMCS Navy team in Toronto in 1942.

"As (RCAF Hurricanes linebacker Pooch Taylor) came across, he gave me a shot right on the jaw, and I had a big lump on one side of my jaw," said Morris. "I went back to the huddle moaning and groaning to Steve Levantis, who was playing tackle beside me. Next time we punt, Taylor did the same thing - he belted me on the jaw. Again, I'm moaning to Steve Levantis and Steve says, 'If you don't belt him back, he'll keep punching you until you quit. Give him a shot!' So next time Pooch came through, I throw a punch and hit him. I'm not sure where, because I don't think I'm even looking. I'm waiting for the world to come to an end, but Pooch just looks at me, gives me a little pat and says, 'Okay kid, let's play football."

Morris did play for the better part of the next two decades, and was involved in football after that as an executive with the Eskimos, where he won another seven Grey Cups.