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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name= Dan Wesley "Blade" Morrish
|name= Dan Wesley "Blade" Morrish
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Senator for<br> District 25 (Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes)
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Senator for District 25 (Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes)
|term_start=January 14, 2008
|term_start=January 14, 2008
|term_end=January 13, 2020
|term_end=January 13, 2020
|preceded=Gerald Theunissen
|preceded=Gerald J. Theunissen
|succeeded=Mark Abraham
|succeeded=[[Mark Abraham]]
|office2=Louisiana State Representative for<br> District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes)
|office2=Louisiana State Representative for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes)
|term_start2=1996
|term_start2=1996
|term_end2=January 14, 2008
|term_end2=January 14, 2008
|preceded2=Gerald Theunissen
|preceded2=Gerald J. Theunissen
|succeeded2=John E. Guinn
|succeeded2=John E. "Johnny" Guinn
|birth_date=October 20, 1950
|birth_date=October 20, 1950
|spouse=Kathleen Vidrine Morrish
|spouse=Kathleen Vidrine Morrish
|children= Erin Morrish Boudreaux
|children=Erin Morrish Boudreaux<br>
Christopher J. Morrish
Christopher J. Morrish
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]], 2005
|party= [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]-turned-[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (2005)
|occupation=[[Business]]man
|occupation=[[Business]]man
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|alma_mater=McNeese State University
|alma_mater=McNeese State University
|footnotes='''Notes''':<br>
|footnotes='''Notes''':<br>
*In his first elections to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the state, Morrish succeeded Gerald J. Theunissen, also a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]] from Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish[[Jennings, Louisiana|Jennings]].
(2) Morrish was formerly considered a [[conservative]] in politics, ranked highly by both the Louisiana Family Forum and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. However his open support for Democratic [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]] in 2019 against the Republican [[Eddie Rispone]], however, has led many to believe that Morrish is a [[Moderate Republican]].
(2) Senator Morrish has been ranked highly by both the Louisiana Family Forum and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
}}
}}
'''Dan Wesley Morrish''', sometimes known as '''Blade Morrish''' (born October 20, 1950), is a [[business]]man who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] departing state senator for District 25, anchored in Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern [[Louisiana]].
'''Dan Wesley Morrish''', known as '''Blade Morrish''' (born October 20, 1950), is a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned=[[Republican Party|Republican]] departing term-limited state senator for District 25, which encompasses Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes in southwestern [[Louisiana]]. He resides in Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish.
==Background==
==Background==
Formerly the owner-operator of Capitol City Hardware & Implement Company in Jennings, Morris was thereafter the business manager of Lake Charles Pilots.<ref name=morrbio>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/biography.asp|title="Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish, District 25"|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 15, 2009}}</ref>
Formerly the owner-operator of Capitol City Hardware & Implement Company in Jennings, Morris was thereafter the business manager of Lake Charles Pilots.<ref name=morrbio>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/biography.asp|title="Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish, District 25"|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 15, 2009}}</ref>
Morrish graduated in 1968 from Jennings High School. He then procured a Bachelor of Science degree in [[agriculture]] from McNeese State University in [[Lake Charles]]. Morrish is a past president of the Greater Jennings [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the Jennings Merchants Credit Bureau. He is active in Jennings Rotary International and a member of Our Lady of Help Christians [[Roman Catholic]] Church. Morrish is married to the former Kathleen Vidrine, originally from Lake Charles. The couple has two children, Erin Morrish Boudreaux and Christopher J. Morrish.<ref name=morrbio/>
Morrish graduated in 1968 from Jennings High School. He then procured a Bachelor of Science degree in [[agriculture]] from McNeese State University in [[Lake Charles]]. Morrish is a past president of the Greater Jennings [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the Jennings Merchants Credit Bureau. He is active in Jennings Rotary International and a member of Our Lady of Help Christians [[Roman Catholic]] Church. Morrish is married to the former Kathleen Vidrine, originally from Lake Charles. The couple has two children, Erin Morrish Boudreaux and Christopher J. Morrish.<ref name=morrbio/>
==Political career==
==Political life==
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref> Shortly after his defeat by Morrish, Pinac switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish won the PSC seat, after the second-place candidate, Democratic state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from the runoff election.<ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the then Democrat Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, who was also a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref><ref>Gil Pinac thereafter switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commissi]. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway of Rapides Parish won the seat after the second-place candidate, then state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from a runoff contest</ref><ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Prior to his state Senate tenure, Morrish was the Democratic state representative for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish would hold for twelve years. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket [[Primary|primaries]] held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/h1880-2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes)|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title="Our Campaigns", Louisiana House race 2005, party switch"|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=December 5, 2019}</ref>
Like Morrish, Theunissen, another Democrat-turned-Republican from Jennings, served first in the House and then the Senate. Theunissen, a banker, was term-limited and ineligible to seek a fourth Senate term in the 2007 primary. Meanwhile, Morrish was succeeded in the House by another Jennings Republican businessman, John E. "Johnny" Guinn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=37|title=Louisiana House of Representatives: John E. Guinn|publisher=louisiana.gov|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Morrish served his last term in the House as a member of the Appropriations Committee as the representative for the since disbanded 7th congressional d.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/H_Misc/Press_Rel/PDF/MorrishElectedAppCmte.pdf|title=Morrish Elected to Appropriations Committee|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> As senator, Morrish served on the Legislative Rural Caucus, Environmental Quality, Insurance, Coastal Restoration & Flood Control, and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committees. He was also vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/assignments.asp|title=Louisiana State Senate: Dan W. "Blade" Morrish|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> In 2008, he supported the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum 89 percent of the time. However, in 2009, Morrish voted with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and against the Family Forum's position<ref>"Chelsea's bill approved by the House," The Baton Rouge Advocate]]''|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref> when he supported a measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Lydia P. Jackson of [[Shreveport]] and signed by then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], which allows restaurant]] to assess cover charges for live entertainment and to serve [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=15196|title=Project VoteSmart: Senator Dan W. 'Blade' Morrish|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish similarly received an 86 percent rating from another conservative [[interest group]], the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.<ref name=vsmart/>
As a Democrat, Morrish endorsed [[George W. Bush]] for [[U.S. President]] in 2000 and 2004. When Bush visited [[Lafayette]], Louisiana, in 2001, he singled out Morrish for his support: " . . . There is one other fellow, a man who stuck his neck out in the course of the campaign. You see, he doesn't happen to have the Republican label by his name. His name is Dan Morrish. He's a Democrat. He put party aside and did what he thought was right for the country. And Dan, I'm honored to have your support. I thank you for your friendship."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=45765|title=George W. Bush: Remarks in Lafayette, Louisiana|date=March 9, 2001|publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Formerly the owner-operator of Capitol City Hardware & Implement Company in Jennings, Morrish later was the business manager of Lake Charles Pilots.<ref name=morrbio>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/biography.asp|title="Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish, District 25"|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 15, 2009}}</ref> He graduated in 1968 from Jennings High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/jeffersondavis/history/jenalum.txt|title=Jefferson Davis Parish Archives|publisher=usgwarchives.org|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> He then procured a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in [[agriculture]] from McNeese State University in [[Lake Charles]]. Morrish is a past president of the Greater Jennings [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the Jennings Merchants Credit Bureau. He is active in Jennings [[Rotary International]]. A member of Our Lady of Help Christians [[Roman Catholic]] Church, Morrish is married to the former Kathleen Vidrine, originally from Lake Charles, and he is the father of a daughter, Erin Morrish Boudreaux, and a son, Christopher J. Morrish.<ref name=morrbio/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrish, Dan "Blade"}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Louisiana State Senators]]
[[Category:Former Democrats]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]
rrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref> Shortly after his defeat by Morrish, Pinac switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish won the PSC seat, after the second-place candidate, Democratic state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from the runoff election.<ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Prior to his state Senate service, Morrish was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish won. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primaries held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title=Our Campaigns: Louisiana House race 2005, party switch|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Prior to his state Senate service, Morrish was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish won. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primaries held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title=Our Campaigns: Louisiana House race 2005, party switch|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>