SAN DIEGO (ABP) — Henry Morris, best known for his work challenging the credibility of the naturalistic and evolutionary theories of origins, died Feb. 25 at 87 after a brief illness.
Both friends and critics considered Morris the person most responsible for the rise of the modern creation-science movement. The author and educator founded the Institute for Creation Research, a graduate school and research organization created to address science and the study of origins from a creationist point of view.
Morris grew up in Texas as a religiously indifferent youth but became a Christian after graduation from Rice University in 1939. After earning his masters and doctorate degrees in hydraulics and hydraulic engineering, respectively, he authored more than 60 books in the fields of science and theology, including The Genesis Flood, The Bible and Modern Science, The Genesis Record, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, The Long War Against God, and The Defender's Bible.
Morris co-founded and served as president of the Christian Heritage College (now San Diego Christian College) along with Tim LaHaye, and he founded the Transnational Association of Christian Schools and Colleges, an international academic accrediting agency. Morris served on the faculties of three major universities, most notably as the head of the department of civil engineering at Virginia Polytechnic University in Blacksburg, Va., for 13 years. His graduate textbook, Applied Hydraulics in Engineering, is still in use.
Morris is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Louise; sons Henry Morris III and John Morris; and daughters Kathleen Bruce, Mary Smith and Rebecca Barber. A third son, Andrew Morris, died in 1989.
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