Los Angeles County
Biographies
DR. WAYLAND A. MORRISON
In tracing the record of lives conspicuous for definite achievement the most interesting feature of the study is to find the key to their success. The more critically exact this study becomes, the more convincingly certain it is that key is the man himself. Usually, the men who accomplish most do it against the very obstacles before which other men succumb. They gain not more through special gifts than through rallying the full forces of mind and body into the service of their purpose. Dr. Wayland A. Morrison, of Los Angeles, has illustrated in a very marked degree the power of concentrating the resources the entire man and lifting them onto the plane of high achievement; of supplementing splendid natural endowments by close application, marked tenacity of purpose and impregnable integrity. His efforts have extended into various fields of activity and in each he has demonstrated his resourcefulness and constructive energy. In a preliminary way it may be stated that he is today numbered among the prominent surgeons of Southern California as well as one of the outstanding leaders in the financial development of Los Angeles. Dr. Morrison is a native son of California, born at Los Angeles, January 15, 1888, son of Dr. Norman Holt Morrison and Maria (Cobb) Morrison. His parents were both natives of Missouri and were married at Marmeton, Kansas, on January 12, 1878. To the union were born two children, Lela Morrison Rice, and the subject of this review.
September 9, 1853 Dr. Norman Holt Morrison was born at Dallas City, Missouri, the son of John Holt and Emeline Morrison. He began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. C. B. Bates, in Santa Barbara, California, with whom he studied three years. He then went to Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from the Kansas City Medical College. It was at McPherson, Kansas he entered upon his first practice, where he continued for three years. In 1887 he returned to Los Angeles, his first visit being ten years before. His knowledge of medical science plus his magnetic personality enabled him in a short time to become one of the leading men in his profession. In 1889 he was appointed police surgeon and reappointed the following year. For twenty-five years he was chief surgeon of the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Company. In 1912 he founded the Santa Fe Hospital and became chief surgeon for the Santa Fe Railway, both important positions, which he held until his death July 3, 1921.
It was due to the guiding spirit of Dr. Wayland A. Morrison that the Wilshire Medical building was built in 1932 at the cost of about a million dollars. The building consists of fourteen floors devoted to men of the medical field and is owned by the County Medical Holding Corporation, of which Dr. Morrison is president. During the World war Dr. Morrison served as a member of the A. E. F. with the rank of major in the Medical Corps. He is at present a lieutenant commander in the U. S. Navy Reserve, Medical Corps.
His membership includes American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Western Surgical Association, Pacific Coast Surgeon Association, Medical Society of State of California, Association Railway Chief Surgeons, Los Angeles County Medical Association, Los Angeles Clinical and Pathological Society, Sons of American Revolution, Mason, Shriner, republican.
His club memberships include University, California, Los Angeles Country, Santa Monica Beach, Westport Beach, Turf and Wilshire Country.
Mrs. Morrison is the daughter of Lee Allen and Catherine (Coffin) Phillips, one of the leading families of Southern California.
Transcribed
By: Michele Y. Larsen on November 24, 2012.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 518-520,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Michele
Y. Larsen.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES