1931-2026
Dr. Robert Thomas Morrison, age 95, died February 22, 2026, at Hospice House in Hutchinson.
He was born February 12, 1931, in Caldwell County, Missouri, the son of Robert Paul Morrison and Alice Loretta (Webster) Morrison. He was educated at country schools until high school, when his parents moved to Hamilton, Missouri, so that he and his siblings would have better educational opportunities. In his senior year at Hamilton High School, he was president of the student body, valedictorian, editor of the yearbook, member of an undefeated football team, and winner of the 440-yard dash in the conference track meet, establishing a school record.
At the University of Missouri, he majored in zoology and prepared for dental school, receiving his A.B. degree in 1953. While there he was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
He attended dental school at the University of Kansas City (now University of Missouri—Kansas City), where he was elected to the Psi Omega dental fraternity, which chose him as its outstanding freshmen. In the middle of his junior year, he was accepted into a three-year orthodontic scholarship program, which he completed one and a half years after graduating from dental school. During his last year, he was designated an associate professor and was permitted to act as an instructor. Upon receiving his certificate in orthodontics, he continued teaching until the summer of 1959, when he moved to Hutchinson. He practiced orthodontics in Hutchinson in and Great Bend, Kansas, until his retirement in 2006.
Dr. Morrison was entirely devoted to his profession, his patients, and his practice.
He was a past president of the Hutchinson Dental Study Club, the Central District Dental Society, the Kansas Association of Orthodontists and the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists. Â He was a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the World Federation of Orthodontists, and was a Fellow of both the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.
He served on the Membership Council of the American Association of Orthodontists from 1976 to 1985 and chaired that Council in 1985. He was appointed to the Council on Governmental Affairs of the American Association of Orthodontists in 1991 and he chaired that Council in 1997 and 1998. He chaired the Regents Round Table of the American Association of Orthodontists for ten years beginning in 1998.
In the fall of 1986, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which required a comprehensive surgery and the removal of his lower colon. He felt very fortunate to be able to continue his practices in both Hutchinson and Great Bend for another twenty years before retiring.
He was an active member of the Hutchinson Rotary Club. He taught a Sunday school class at Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was chairman of the Administrative Board.
He married Wanda Irene Stalcup in 1958 and they had three sons: Robert Torrence of Asheville, North Carolina; Reed Thomas of San Pedro, California; and Richard Thane (Rebecca) of Arlington, Virginia. He also leaves three grandsons, Robert Simon Morrison, Maximilian Morrison, and Leopold Morrison; a brother, Ronald Paul Morrison (Louise); and a sister-in-law, Donna Whitehouse. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marlene Hart and by Wanda, his beloved wife of 61 years.
Dr. Morrison is remembered for his love and support of his wife and sons, and for his contributions to the Hutchinson community.
Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 North Main, Hutchinson. Friends may sign his book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Eliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
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