GLENVILLE, W.Va. — I. L. “Ike” Morris, a longtime West Virginia businessman, philanthropist and community leader whose investments and generosity helped shape Glenville and surrounding communities, died Monday, October 19, 2026. He was 88.
Morris spent more than six decades building businesses, creating jobs and supporting educational, athletic and community initiatives throughout West Virginia. He incorporated Waco Oil & Gas Co. in 1975, building it into a successful independent oil and gas operation. At the time of his death, businesses associated with Morris employed more than 160 people in central West Virginia.
Born November 21, 1937, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, Morris moved to West Virginia in 1962 after beginning his career in the oil and gas industry working alongside his father in southern Illinois. He started out servicing oil rigs before establishing Waco Oil & Gas, which grew alongside West Virginia’s energy industry. His business interests eventually expanded to include land and mineral holdings, timber, real estate and other ventures.
Morris also developed a longstanding business partnership and friendship with fellow West Virginia businessman Mike Ross. The two worked together on numerous ventures, including LandAPlenty, Rossco LLC and Mike & Ike Oil Co., while partnering on property acquisitions and other investments.
Their relationship was marked by a shared work ethic, a sense of humor and a commitment to giving back to their communities. In a profile of the two businessmen, Morris joked that he and Ross first met when Ross was hitchhiking. Ross played along, saying Morris had picked him up. Morris later revealed the real story: He had purchased a compressor from Ross but had not yet paid for it, prompting Ross to follow him to Glenville.
Over the years, the two friends continued to work together, invest in property and support charitable causes. Their contributions helped fund the Waco Center at Glenville State University, a $25 million facility featuring athletic and educational spaces. Both men also supported other institutions of higher education and community initiatives across the state.
Morris and his wife of 62 years, Sue, became particularly influential supporters of Glenville State University. Their contributions helped develop and improve Morris Stadium, the Waco Center and the Morris Family Health and Wellness Center, among other campus projects. The family also established an annual $500,000 matching grant to support academic merit scholarships through the Glenville State University Foundation’s Day of Giving.
In 2009, Morris donated the former Kinney Shoe Building to the university for use as a Criminal Justice Training Center. He also provided land for the construction of two elementary schools in Gilmer County and donated family land for the federal correctional institution in Gilmer County, an effort undertaken alongside former U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Duck Run Bridge was named in recognition of his service and dedication.
Morris established the Morris Foundation Inc. to help provide resources for future community initiatives. The foundation also operates the Sue Morris Sports Complex, a baseball and softball facility serving the Glenville area.
His philanthropy extended beyond Glenville State University to local schools, charitable organizations, community projects and individuals in need. Morris was known for quietly helping others, often without seeking public recognition. He also regularly picked up the breakfast tab for customers at the Cornerstone Cafe in Glenville, a tradition that reflected his enjoyment of supporting the community he called home.
Morris received numerous honors during his lifetime, including the 1994 West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year award, Gilmer Countian of the Year, the Rotary Service Above Self Award and an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Glenville State University in 2007. He was inducted into the Glenville State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 and the university’s Business Hall of Fame in 2022. He also received the State Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and was inducted into the State Journal’s Business Hall of Fame in 2026.
He served on the boards of United Bank, Alliance Petroleum Corp. and the West Virginia Oil and Gas Commission and was a past president of the Glenville Golf Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Glenville, the Gilmer County Farm Bureau, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Despite his many business accomplishments, Morris often emphasized the importance of giving back to the state that had provided him with opportunities. He was frequently heard saying, “I might not have been born in West Virginia, but I got here as fast as I could.”
Morris was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin Leo and Agnes LaRue Morris; three siblings, Sally Bernstein, Betty Ramey and Bill Ramey; and a grandson, Lucas Daniel DeMarino.
He is survived by his wife, Sue; son Douglas S. Morris of Glenville; daughter Shelly Smith and her husband, Greg, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; grandchildren Ian Lee Morris, Jordan Leigh Morris and Hannah Sue DeMarino; and great-grandchildren Ariana, Mia, Maggie and Marlee Morris, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may attend a visitation from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at the Waco Center, 921 Mineral Road, in Glenville. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Ellyson Mortuary Inc. is assisting the family with arrangements.
