Paul Lawrence Morris

Paul L. Morris – positive, friendly, and thoughtful to the end – passed away on July 27, 2026. A natural leader, Paul enhanced many lives with his energy, integrity, vision, leadership, and encouragement and he will be greatly missed by his family and many friends and business associates.

Paul was born November 21, 1941, in Greenwood, WV. He attended school in Charleston, WV, and received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1964 while participating in a five-year education and training program with Hope Natural Gas Company. He married the love of his life, Carol “Dee” DeNyse, on June 15, 1964, in Lawrenceburg, IN, and promptly went to work for the Columbia Gas System Service Corporation in Columbus, OH. Impressed by his engineering and management abilities, Columbia promoted Paul in 1970 to its corporate headquarters in Wilmington, DE, where Paul interacted with numerous federal agencies, the company board of directors, and its executive committee. By 1973, Paul had been instrumental in helping Columbia grow its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business with the Cove Point LNG facility near Annapolis, MD, and in 1976 he was promoted to VP of Exploration and Production and transferred to Houston where he guided projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas, and the Williston Basin.

Paul was an oil and gas executive of the first class. He and Dee moved to Midland, TX in 1981 when he became President and CEO of Banner Energy, overseeing exploration and production staff and projects in Denver, Houston, and Midland.

He joined Wagner & Brown, Ltd. in 1988 as Manager of Oil and Gas and in 1994 he became President and CEO, guiding the company’s E&P, pipeline, real estate, and manufacturing enterprises. In 2013, Paul left Wagner & Brown, and he and a partner launched Elk River Resources where he served as part owner, Chairman, and CEO until 2019.

Paul treasured his family. With Dee by his side for every step, he was father to three beautiful daughters and grandfather to six busy and adored grandchildren. Paul was an active sportsman who loved being outdoors. An expert hunter who traveled the world and who also excelled at golf and fishing. He loved hosting family and friends at their homes in Midland and Alto, NM, where fond memories were made of magical Christmases and carefree summers. He also took great joy in acquiring, caring for, and improving two West Texas ranches, where many memories were made hunting, fishing and enjoying his famous Big Daddy breakfast around the campfire. He lived life fully and enjoyed helping others do the same.

A true community servant who brought his management skill and engineering acumen to every task, Paul served on the Midland College Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2024; he served a combined 31 years on Board of Trustees and Board of Governors of Midland Memorial Hospital, and he was an active member on the Advisory Boards of the Rea Charitable Trust and Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust. Paul joined the Board of Directors of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in 2000, served as President in 2003 and 2004 and chaired the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for six years. He served as President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the Petroleum Club of Midland. As a tribute to his sister’s fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Paul worked with the Midland MS Society in creating an annual fundraising event – the Dinner of Champions – to honor deserving community leaders and to support MS research. Paul chaired the event from 2001 to 2008, raising more than $3 million for the cause for which he cared so much.

Paul leaves behind his loving wife, Carol (Dee); daughters Tamara (Tammy) Morris of Midland, Amy Atnipp and husband Marc of The Woodlands, and Paige Worley and husband David of Midland; and grandchildren Jake and Brett Worley, Channing and Ashton Atnipp, and Townsend and Taryn Beachum.

The family will celebrate Paul’s life at a private service arranged by Ellis Funeral Home. Memorial gifts honoring Paul may be provided to Midland Memorial Hospital, Midland College, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Paul lived life fully and he enjoyed helping others do the same.