Courtesy Elida Schools

(10-2-26) Elida High School welcomed 1975 Elida graduate Dr. Dennis Morris on Thursday to speak with the students in the brand new “Officiating & Sportsmanship” class.

Dr. Morris is a basketball and football official, and member of the OHSAA Officials’ Hall of Fame and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and he began officiating at games even when he was still a student at Elida, working with Elida Coaches Jim Daly and Athletic Director Dick Prince. He has been a Big Ten conference official for many years and participates in numerous Bowl Games.

There is a shortage of officials in Ohio and across the country and this class helps interested students learn the skills needed in this semester-online course provided from the OHSAA.

Dr. Morris says the course can help students learn some of the important skills needed to officiate including interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.

According to Social Studies teacher Mr. Stephen Fersh the students get “hands on” experience assisting officiating at Elida sports. There are currently 11 students enrolled in the first semester of the class.

You can hear more from Dr. Morris in the story from Your Hometown Stations-

Dr. Morris will be officiating at the Purdue/Illinois game on Saturday on the Big Ten network.

About Dr. Morris (AI GROK assisted)

Dr. Dennis “Denny” Morris is a 1975 graduate of Elida High School (near Lima, Ohio), a longtime sports official, and a recent inductee into the Elida Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2025-26).

He participated in football, basketball, and baseball at Elida. After high school he earned a degree from Bowling Green State University (1979) and graduated from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (1985). He specialized in foot and ankle surgery and later served as Chief Medical Officer / Vice President of Medical Affairs at Lima Memorial Health System before retiring. He lives in Galena, Ohio.

Officiating career

Morris began officiating while still in high school (around age 18) and has continued for nearly 50 years:

• High school (OHSAA): Football and basketball official since 1975. Officiated OHSAA state championships (football in 1995 and 1997; boys basketball finals three times). Served as OHSAA Basketball Rules Interpreter since 2005 and Director of Officiating Development for basketball since 2010.

• College: Mid-American Conference (MAC) football official/back judge (roughly 1997–2001/2002); Big Ten Conference back judge since 2002 (approaching his 25th season). He has worked 24+ postseason bowl games, including the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Cotton bowls.

Honors

• OHSAA Officials’ Hall of Fame (2009)

• Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame (2021)

• Elida Athletic Hall of Fame (2025-26)

• OHSAA Circle of Champions (2026 class; honored at a state basketball final)

He has also spoken to Elida students about officiating careers and sportsmanship and has supported the school’s Fieldhouse renovation.