| photography by Alex Lepe |
Fort Worth banker and civic leader, Carolann Morris, began her banking career when she was 18 years old. Morris worked her way through the ranks over the last 32 years, currently the vice president at Inwood National Bank's downtown Fort Worth location. When the bank's CEO flew her home for an emergency trip to Florida to be with her ill mother, Morris knew Inwood was not just a job, but a home. "I've found the place I was meant to be," she says.
Born a preacher's daughter in Hollywood, Fla., Morris moved to Texas at age 19 and has called it home ever since. Morris says her growing up years were not perfect. She feels proud that she was able to overcome the life she grew up in and become the person and mother she is today. "It is a life choice," she says.
Morris is the mother of two children, Samantha and Scotty, and a devoted grandmother to two boys, Jackson, and Nicolas. There's little doubt that her family is her world. Not a day goes by that she does not Facetime with her grandchildren. Samantha is an elementary school teacher in Midlothian, and her husband, Jack, is a firefighter, paramedic, and SWAT medic in Grand Prairie. Scotty works as a defense contractor at Triumph in Fort Worth. He will marry, March 17.
Throughout her years in Fort Worth, Morris has dedicated time to numerous organizations. "As far as my oldest grandson is concerned, this is "Grandma's Fort Worth,"" Morris says.
She is passionate about the National Kidney Foundation because her son had a kidney transplant at the age of 16. He first became sick from E. coli at age 2 and spent five months at Cook Children's Hospital in PICU. "The hospital costs and medications he has to take for the remainder of his life are astronomical," Morris says. "The National Kidney Foundation helps those who are less fortunate with those costs."
Morris volunteers for Bras for a Cause, which held its 7th annual event in October last year and raised more than $200,000 to help fight breast cancer. Morris served as co-chair for Girl Scouts Desserts First. Other volunteer efforts include Hope Center for Autism Advisory Board, Women Steering Business, and Children's Charities of Fort Worth, where she holds an executive director position. The organization revitalized the 27th Annual Fort Worth Margarita Ball, which took place on Nov. 21 last year. "It was a big success and quite the buzz about town," Morris says. "We doubled the attendance from last year and were able to hand out nearly 2,000 toys to our 12 Fort Worth charities as well as purchase uniforms for two."
Children's Charities of Fort Worth supports Alliance for Children, Samaritan House, Child Protective Services (Tarrant County), Moslah Shriners, The Parenting Center, Union Gospel Mission Central, Hope Center for Autism, ACH Children and Family Services, Northside Inter-Church Agency, S.A.V.E, and Wish With Wings.
Plans for the 2016 Margarita Ball are underway.
"Everything I do has to have some purpose," Morris says. "I do not just do something to be a part of Fort Worth or to get myself out there. Sometimes, I think I've taken on more than I can chew, but then I stop and realize the purpose behind it."
Morris was selected for the 2016 Leadership Fort Worth Class. Fort Worth is blessed with great leadership, Morris says. "I think Mayor Betsy Price is a phenomenal leader, and I hold her in high regard," she says. "She is down to earth and open and talks to everybody. I think the type of person she is and her leadership, is the reason the people in Fort Worth are so open to helping everybody. It is a trickle-down, whether it is your boss or your mayor."
Morris filled her empty nest by adopting an adorable long-haired Chihuahua named Bella. "She always greets me with a wagging tail and love when I walk through the door," she says.
Morris says she is fortunate to have a wonderful family and support group of friends. She also has a wonderful man in her life, she adds.
Her mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, so she travels home to Florida as often as her schedule allows in hopes her mother remembers her when she walks through the door.
One of her favorite views is when she is driving back. "As I come over the bridge and see the Fort Worth skyline, I know I am home."