YAKIMA — Former U.S. Rep. Sidney “Sid” Morrison, a central Washington farmer and Republican whose career spanned the state Legislature, six terms in Congress and leadership of the state Department of Transportation, died Tuesday at age 93. Mainstream Republicans of Washington, the moderate GOP organization he once chaired, announced his passing and described him as a guiding force within the group for more than a decade.
Morrison was born May 13, 1933, in Yakima and raised on the family’s fruit farm near Zillah. He graduated from Toppenish High School, attended Yakima Valley College and earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in 1954. After two years in the Army, he returned to the Yakima Valley and joined the family business, Morrison Fruit Co., which grew and packed apples, cherries and other fruit. He remained closely tied to agriculture throughout his public life and later served in industry roles that included the Washington State Apple Commission.
He entered the Legislature in 1967, representing the 15th District in the state House until 1974 and then in the state Senate until 1980. In 1980 he won election to Congress from Washington’s 4th District, defeating a longtime Democratic incumbent as part of that year’s Republican wave. He served six terms, from 1981 to 1993, focusing on agriculture, energy, water, forestry and public lands issues. Colleagues and later tributes noted his willingness to work across party lines. Among the projects associated with his congressional service were efforts that contributed to the creation of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and wilderness areas along the Cascades.
After leaving Congress, Morrison returned to state government in 1993 as secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation, a post he held until 2001 under Democratic governors Mike Lowry and Gary Locke. In that role he oversaw major projects that included progress on the completion of Interstate 90 across the state, work on the Mount St. Helens Memorial Highway and the construction of new ferries for Puget Sound. He also remained active on energy issues, later serving for many years on the executive board of Energy Northwest, and was a trustee of Central Washington University.
Within Mainstream Republicans of Washington he played a prominent leadership role. He chaired the organization from 2004 to 2010 and served as co-chair from 2010 to 2014. Under his leadership the group expanded its influence and strengthened ties with Republican caucuses in the state House and Senate.
Current MRW Chair Peter Condyles said Morrison “embodied what it means to be a Mainstream Republican, and his influence within our organization will be felt for decades to come.”
Condyles also described him as a link to an earlier period of state Republican leadership that included figures such as Gov. Dan Evans, Slade Gorton and Joel Pritchard. After Morrison retired from the MRW board in 2024, the organization passed a resolution honoring him as “a friend, advisor, cheerleader, and supporter for Mainstream GOP board members over the years.”
Morrison was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Marcella, and by a daughter, Mary Anne Barr. He is survived by a son, Wally, and daughters Linda and Doris, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family has said he died peacefully surrounded by relatives; no public memorial services are planned.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sid Morrison Agricultural Education Fund.
Author: Mario Lotmore
