Born in Toronto in 1928, Sid Morris developed into an outstanding athlete and excelled in track, basketball, football, billiards, softball and hardball. While a youngster, Sid actually signed with the Philadelphia Phillies to pitch in Class D baseball, but eventually a series of injuries kept Sid in Toronto and Canada. Sid was an outstanding pitcher in both fastball and hardball and in 1946, he was recruited by Toronto Maple Leaf great “Red” Horner to pitch for Rogers Fuels and Sid was also invited to join their bowling league.
Earlier, Sid set pins at Towne Bowl which was situated on the north side of Queen St. above Peoples Credit Jewellers. As well as bowling with the Rogers team in the Industrial Major league, Sid joined a social league at Danforth Broadview and, in addition, was introduced to the Crosstown Majors league at Ace Bowl, which, at the time, was owned by former Argo Football player, Moe Charney.
As well as developing his bowling skills, Sid was also sharpening his accounting skills and, in 1957, began a forty-four year career in the investment business. From this base, Sid has sponsored more than 150 teams and individuals. However, in a major contribution, Sid was commissioned by the late Robert Secord of the Provincial Government in the late 1960’s to establish the first Ontario Sports Centre on Jarvis St. and also registered the individual amateur sports who would become residents. Along with Al Ballingal, Sid put together the Ontario Sports Lottery to finance this new system of amateur sport.
Sid, in turn, contacted the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress, who became a major outlet for the lottery tickets. Thousands of tickets were sold and the funds collected were used to eliminate earlier deficits and this effort labeled 5 Pin Bowling as one of Ontario’s leading amateur sports.
This recognition was instrumental in the OBC applying for and receiving government grants, a process which began in 1975. According to O5PBA Managing Consultant, Bert Garside, “without the original lottery funding, it is conceivable that the O5PBA would not exist today.”
While Sid considers this process his greatest contribution to five pin bowling, Sid has also excelled as a Bowling Columnist, Association Executive, and Coach, in addition grabbed the bowling limelight in 1960. At the height of his “on lane” career, Sid averaged over 280 for 20 games and defeated Hall of Famer, Billy Hoult, to represent Toronto at O’Connor Bowl in the Sportsman’s Masters Championships. Also, at the same time, Sid was a member of the Toronto City Major league and was a member of the executive in 1960-61. In this role, Sid was strongly influenced by fellow board members and Hall of Famers Red McQuaker, Perc Cutting, Fred Pechaluk as, in Sid’s opinion, this trio personified what leadership entails.
Sid took this inspiration to the Toronto Association and eventually was President of that zone. He has continued to work with the York Simcoe zone and currently handles our Publicity . In addition, Sid was a board member for the Master Bowlers’ Association and served as their Treasurer for six years.
Sid firmly believes in promoting his chosen sport and, over the years, has contributed many articles to Bowlerama Times, the Scarborough Mirror, the Ontario Bowling News, the Era Banner in Newmarket and the Ontario Bowler. For his efforts, Sid has been a finalist in the publicity category at the O5PBA convention for several years and a winner in 1995 and 1999.
Over and above these contributions, Sid fully realizes that sponsorship was required for bowling to prosper. With the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association, Sid has contributed High Game Awards and also sponsored five annual trophies which will be used to record the tradition of the Ontario championships for years to come. With the Master Bowlers’ Association, Sid, has sponsored whole tournaments, individual participation and the entire seniors program. In addition, Sid also sponsors in the Young Adult Bowlers’ Association, the Youth Bowling Council and the Bowlerama chain. At the local level, Sid has sponsored the top prize of our Awards Board since it began in 1995. As well, in league play, more than 200 teams have carried the SLM name on their shirts. This sponsorship effort was recognized Provincially in 1991 by the Ontario government as part of their corporate recognition of the Ontario Sports Awards Program. Of the thirty one sponsors recognized, Sid was selected to thank the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation on everyone’s behalf.
Sid is celebrating fifty-eight years in league play. He has coached numerous O5PBA championship teams, plus the National Masters, seven times. In addition, Sid and his partner captured an Ontario Doubles Seniors title. Both Sid and his wife Sheila show no signs of retiring. Their son Shawn and his wife Sydella have two children, Tyler and Connor, and their daughter Katrina and husband Doug also have two children, Sierra and Heather.
For all these accomplishments, Sid was inducted into the Builders division of the Ontario 5 Hall of Fame in 1994. Tonight it is our pleasure to induct Sid into the Builders division of the York Simcoe Hall of Fame.