Saturday, September 30, 2023
My deepest sympathies to Allen’s family. Allen was a good friend and an amazing individual. He will be missed by many. He was a deep and careful thinker who processed massive amounts of information and synthesized it into actionable steps as good as anyone I’ve ever seen. He loved the citrus industry and worked selflessly to improve it, even at great cost to himself. However, beyond his business skill, support of the citrus industry he loved, and devotion to friends and family, the most memorable impact to my life from Allen was his example of living out the Golden Rule, that is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Time and time again, Allen set aside the opportunity to improve himself or his position at the expense of someone else. He would go out of his way to explain to the party on the other side of a business deal the benefits and negatives of their position because he always wanted full disclosure. He would always ensure that all the facts of a situation were well known by everyone, even when full transparency was not in his best interests – he never wanted anyone to feel deceived. He often would pass along valuable information to others and step aside so they could pursue the benefits from that insight, even when he could have easily pursued an angle for his own benefit in the arrangement. Many times, I saw him take an active role in educating or developing a younger person where he saw a need. His good-hearted approach always focused on what was best for the other person. He mentored me and others in an active and participative role, imparting his vast range of life experiences to the benefit of others. I don’t think I have ever known someone with a more consistent life application of the Golden Rule. It was an honor to be inspired by his example and to have known him. The world needs many more folks like Allen Morris. His example challenged me to be different, and I know he impacted many, many more. He will be greatly missed.
