Denny Morris, DPM

Birthdate: October 1, 1957
Birthplace: Lima, Ohio
High School: Elida HS (1975)
Colleges: Bowling Green State University (1979)
Year Inducted: 2021

Dr. Denny Morris enters the Hall of Fame after a distinguished career as a basketball official. A native of Lima, Ohio, Dr. Morris graduated from Elida High School, Bowling Green and the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. He’s been involved with the Ohio High School Athletic Association since 1975 and has officiated the boys basketball state finals three times (2002, ’05 and ’07). He’s served as an OHSAA Basketball Rules Interpreter since 2005 and has been the Director of Officiating Development for Basketball since 2010. 

Dr. Morris’ love of athletics and ensuring fairness in them has been on display since he began officiating and working in different capacities with the OHSAA right out of high school. He has been an instructor at numerous OHSAA basketball officiating clinics as well as the Official’s First Conference in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In 2009, he was inducted into the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. 

Similar to his basketball officiating experience, Dr. Morris has been a high school football referee for more than four decades. He also has served as back judge for Big Ten football games since 2002. Prior to that, he was a Mid-American Conference football official from 1997-2001. 

Along with serving on several committees and as an instructor at a plethora of clinics over the years, Dr. Morris has logged many years of service in an administrative capacity. In addition to his time as a rules interpreter and director of development, he was the Putnam County League Officials Basketball Assigner from 2002-2017 and also has been a go-to as an officials observer for OHSAA boys basketball tournaments. 

Dr. Morris lives in his hometown of Lima and continues to make an impact there. He is the Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs for the Lima Memorial Health System.