Morrison installed as 12th Fishburne Military School superintendent

His voice cracking at times with emotion, Gary Morrison accepted the challenge of being named the 12th superintendent at Fishburne Military School while issuing a challenge of his own to the Corps of Cadets.

“There is a saying in the U.S. armed forces. You’ve heard it before and most likely again very recently. That saying is ‘leave no man behind.’ My challenge to this remarkable Corps of Cadets is to adopt that saying as your own,” said Morrison, a 1981 Fishburne graduate who also served on the faculty and later as the director of admissions at the school.

Morrison succeeds Col. Roy F. Zinser in the top administrative role at FMS.

A 1985 High Honors graduate of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., Morrison most recently served as senior account manager for Cadence Inc., in Staunton, a premier manufacturer of precision medical devices.

Morrison also has national recognition as a successful motivational speaker, conducting original seminars on the art of expanding opportunities, team-building and leadership, and as an author with his book, “Your Kids-Their Future.”

Morrison has already been engaging in team-building with the FMS Corps of Cadets, which took the unprecedented step of formally presenting the new school leader with the FMS flag at Monday’s installation ceremony.

“I have seen six superintendents take charge of Fishburne … but in no instance have I witnessed a new superintendent form so obvious and instantaneous a bond with the corps as I have seen in these past few weeks,” said Board of Trustees Chairman J. B. Yount III, FMS ’56.

Morrison is eager to get to work toward building upon the foundation of success from Fishburne’s first 133 years.

“If there ever was a time to build, that time is now,” Morrison said. “This faculty and staff, and more importantly, this Corps of Cadets, make up the most sturdy foundation this school has ever seen, and is exactly the foundation that those on the board have long awaited in order to launch us to a new level.”

More at www.Fishburne.org.