7 minute read
Q&A
RANDALL MORRIS
BY MARGUERITE CLEVELAND
Former Seattle Seahawk Randall “Too Hot” Morris made Seattle his home after his career in the NFL. He established his own company Morris Janitorial Services, LLC and continues to raise money to support local charities through the Randall Morris Foundation for Youth and Families.
Q. Your son Trey is following in your footsteps playing football as starting quarterback at Rainier Beach High School. What is it like for you being a football dad versus down on the field playing?
A. I am so proud of Trey. Since he was born, he was made to play football and play the quarterback position. I’ve coached him since he was 7 years old to play that position. The days of playing football for me are long gone. I receive so much joy watching my son execute the things that we have practiced over and over again. I love the fact that he comes to me for guidance and understanding. It gives me joy to know that I have played at the highest level and that my son has the confidence in me to steer him in the right direction.
Q. The Randall Morris Foundation has raised and donated an impressive more than a half million dollars since its inception to mostly Pacific Northwest charities. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected fundraising for the foundation, and how do you move forward and adjust at this time with all the uncertainty?
A. COVID-19 has affected our fundraising efforts in many ways. We are scheduled to host our 14th annual auction/gala in September. Our auction/gala is where we make the majority of our money for charities. It will be extremely difficult for us to go forward with our festivities because of the social distancing dilemma and people being afraid of contracting the virus. We will have to think outside of the box on fundraising this year. We are looking forward to doing a virtual auction online to try to raise money for charities. People and organizations are depending on us to be there for them, and I do not want to disappoint them.
As the founder of our foundation, I must be sensitive and a voice of reason. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our supporters. We send our best wishes to all individuals and communities who have been affected by this horrific virus. We would like to thank all of our supporters during this challenging time.
Q. Like many former Seahawks players, you have continued to make the Seattle area your home. What was it about this area and community that made you decide to make it home?
A. I love Seattle! It’s beautiful! When the sun is out, there’s not a nicer place to be than here. Have I gotten used to the rain yet? No, but it’s still my home. The reason I made Seattle my home is that I knew one day I would get married and have a family. What better place to raise a family than Seattle, Washington? I laid my roots down here and have been able to spread my wings as well as my family, opportunity wise.
Q. You grew up in the 1960s in Alabama before schools were integrated. The first high school football game between a black and a white school did not take place until 1968. What impact did sports have on creating opportunities for you and other black students in the rural south?
A. I was born in Anniston, Alabama, but moved to Long Beach, California, at the age of 5. My mother felt that we would have a better chance of succeeding in California. I come from a family of nine siblings; six boys and three girls. Three of my older siblings were left behind with my father. One of my brothers who also played professional football would tell me stories about the lynchings, burning and shootings that they saw daily in Anniston.
He also told me that if you were a good athlete it felt like you got a pass or a get-out-of-jail card because you were excelling in sports and making them look good. It is the same way in today’s society. Nothing has changed. The Jim Crow laws were alive and in effect. My mother would always tell us two things: “As a black man you have to be twice as good to be equal,” and “Those who were last shall be first.” She said that it may not be in our lifetime, but it is going to happen.
Q. Small businesses have been so impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a business owner, how has your business been affected, particularly in relation to your employees?
A. This COVID-19 is no joke. I am a small business. I have 11 employees, and ever since this pandemic started, we have been on hold. I have lost contracts and employees because of no work. I am hoping that this will pass very soon. As far as my employees are concerned, many had to get other jobs because I could not compensate them. It’s a tough time right now. “Tough times don’t last but tough people do.”
G O I N G O N VACATION? How to decide on what to pack
BY OLIVIA HARRELL @OLIVIAMICHELLE.H
Vacation is always a great time filled with relaxing, fun activities, and making memories. We dread coming home and the ultimate task of unpacking, but even before the trip begins, sometimes packing can also be a bit of a hassle. What do I pack? Should I pack light or take options? I’m no expert, but here are some suggestions I have found helpful planning for vacation.
Have options. Let me be the first to tell you, I have no advice on packing light. My suitcases are always at the 50-pound limit, and there’s no way I could ever pack in just a carryon. I like having my options. When traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I have found that having options has been the best choice. The weather here can be in the 70s during the afternoons and in the low 50s at night. So generally, I will pack an outfit with jeans/pants and shorts/skirt, so the bottom is interchangeable with the top and can be worn depending on the weather. I also always pack a lightweight jacket or cardigan that is neutral in color so it will match the rest of the items I have packed.
Watch the weather. I hate waiting until the last minute to pack, but with how frequently the weather changes, you’ll want to keep checking. First off, I usually google our destination and the month we are going to see the average temperatures in years past. This will give you a good idea of what it will be like, but things can always change. I also add the destination to my weather app on my iPhone so that I can keep checking our destination up until the day before
we leave. This way, if something does change, you still have time to switch out items if you need to.
Plan for activities. What kind of things do you have on your itinerary? This will give you a great idea for outfits or specific clothing items you’ll need. If you’re kayaking, you’ll want to remember your water shoes and water-resistant clothing. If you’re heading to the beach, then swimsuits, cover-ups and maxi dresses are a great idea. Don’t forget any gadgets or specialty items you may need to pack also.
Pack the packing cubes. Packing cubes are one of the best inventions since electricity. OK, maybe not that awesome, but they are pretty great to pack in. They save space but also offer a bit of organization. Keep your daily outfits and sleepwear separated, plus extra jackets/ cardigans if you need them. Packing cubes also help tremendously if you have kids. Pack all of their clothes in a packing cube so their clothing is organized and ready for them to put on. This also prevents them from throwing the contents of your suitcase on the floor searching for their clothes.
We recently visited Seabrook, Washington, and had a fantastic getaway. The vacation rentals have all of the amenities you need on vacation, and the town offers lots of activities in addition to visiting the beach. Special thanks to Seabrook Cottage Rentals for accommodating us. Read full details on our stay, things to do in Seabrook and more at OliviaiMichelleH.com.
