Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1991                   TAG: 9104170469
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BELOVED FATHER, MORRIS TOOK IN FOSTER YOUTH TOO

One day, another father might wake up with a tragedy on his doorstep. I hope the police don't play judge, jury and executioner in front of his children for them to witness and carry for the rest of their lives a painful and unnecessary death.

Leonard was a very devoted husband who could be depended on and was well-loved. His family was not big enough as long as there was a child without a home. So he opened his. He loved and cared for his foster children as much as he did his own. He was the only father they really knew.

He read stories to his children every night and went to school when they needed him. When he wasn't at work, he was with his children.

He was also a very hard worker, loved by all his employees. He cared for each of them. He took time out to hear all their problems or concerns. Now at the time of his death, we are faced with all the ugliness the public is trying to make him out to be.

Yes, we of the minority group have every right to say he died in vain. We will go as far as to say that there is no justice for a black man, and we will continue to say it as long as there is a Leonard Morris who will never make it to court to tell his side of the story. VIVIAN J. MORRIS ROANOKE