John W. Morris
flag in one hand, the University of Maryland flag in the other, and took with me Dr. Mark
Smith from the University of Maryland's construction engineering and management course.
The three-week program went well and was underwritten for the following year. The next year
the Corps provided Colonel Steve West, district engineer in Omaha, to fill my spot. The idea
was that from then on the Corps of Engineers would become the prime mover in teaching
engineering management to the Chinese. My belief was if we could get that done, even though
the Americans may not get the construction contracts, the American management system
would be adopted, out of which would come many benefits for the American construction
industry and U.S. suppliers.
I didn't have enough power to keep it going. I just couldn't drive the thing hard enough. The
Corps supported it the first
the University of Maryland and the Corps together-but,
as I say, I didn't have enough clout to keep it going. It's too bad because it had taken a
yeoman's effort to get started.
Were there classes in English or did you have a translator?
I had to use a translator. That was a major weakness.
In retirement you've been, as we talked about last time, very involved with the University of
Maryland. What about other academic institutions that you've been involved with?
My experience in construction management led to my being invited by quite a few universities
in the United States and abroad to lecture on management and leadership in the engineering
and construction field. I felt there was value in passing on to future engineers and managers
important lessons that I had learned.
Now, besides the University of Maryland and the lecturing business, I also was asked and
accepted a position on the board of advisors to the dean of engineering and mathematics at the
University of Vermont. I have no affiliation with Vermont, but I know some people who do
and they recommended me. I was accepted. I am happy that I did so. I've been working with
them for about four years now.
The other area of academic activity
been the Association of Graduates at the Military
Academy. While the Association of Graduates is not involved directly in academics, it is very
much involved with all the activities at the Military Academy. Since that was my alma mater,
I was delighted with the election to the board of trustees of the Association of Graduates and
have been on that board for almost nine years. My term expires in the summer of 1998.
The Association of Graduates takes considerable effort-I am the chairman of a couple of
committees, I've served on several others. I try to stay active because I think it's important that
graduates of the Military Academy maintain a voice in the affairs at West Point, particularly
those where the superintendent needs to hear from the alumni. The Association of Graduates
does not function like an alumni group of most universities; however, it does have somewhat
the same interests.
The Military Academy, a federal organization, is regulated by law and the military
department; therefore, there are some distinct limits on the Association of Graduates.
Nevertheless, the association does keep in contact with the students and cadets and has
provided me with an opportunity to lecture to the cadets on management and on engineering,
specific engineering problems. That became another facet in my association with academia,
but if my background and experience are of value in the educational field, then I'm most
anxious to offer it.
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