There's No Place Like Home
/Texarkana native Josh Morriss continues to serve his community by contributing to downtown
By Phoebe Warren
Diana and Josh Morriss. Photo by shane darby.
There are generally two different perspectives on what a hometown means. Some view their hometown as merely a starting point, a place they are born and will grow until they are ready to travel outwards and experience new cultures. Others view their hometown as a project of love, to which they commit to serve. Proud Texarkanan Josh Morriss has worked to improve his hometown all his life.
When Josh’s maternal grandfather, Judge Isaac Newton Williams, was elected as a justice of the civil appeals court, the family moved to Texarkana. It was there that Josh’s mother, Martha, met Josh Jr., and the rest is history. Josh III was born October 16th, 1950. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business at Southern Methodist University before going on to obtain his law degree at The University of Texas.
Josh practiced law privately in Texarkana, Texas, for 26 years before continuing his grandfather’s legacy when he was appointed to the court of appeals in 2002. “I loved the work and the people,” Josh enthused. “For my entire adult life practicing law, there were time pressures, but on the court, the mindset was the enjoyable, ‘Let’s think about it and get it right.’ What a joy. I also found that I was built to judge cases at the appellate level, rather than to argue cases as a lawyer.” Josh retired from court in December of 2022.
“It’s been a joy to serve people and to be something of a catalyst to help downtown Texarkana [come] back to life.”
Josh hasn’t only contributed to the Texarkana community through his judicial career. The slow decay of downtown Texarkana weighed heavily on him. He and his wife, Diana, thought about how they could improve the area, convinced that the beautification of downtown was something that God was calling them to do. They took a leap of faith and bought real estate downtown in 2009. “[The buildings] were nothing but a liability,” Josh remembered. “Dead, dangerous, ugly. In the process of collapsing. It was a challenge and a financial sinkhole.”
The process of renovating these buildings proved to be expensive and challenging, but Josh also recalls the feeling of satisfaction involved with this labor of love. Over the course of two years, he and Diana transformed the ground floor of the side-by-side buildings into Silvermoon on Broad, an events space and children’s theater. “There were few event spaces [in Texarkana], and this place just wanted to be one,” Josh said.
The transformed space was unveiled in September 2011 with the presentation of “Texarkana! The Musical,” written by Josh Morriss himself, with music by Dr. Brian Billings of Texas A&M University–Texarkana. Silvermoon has been life-changing for the Morrisses. “It’s been a joy to serve people and to be something of a catalyst to help downtown Texarkana [come] back to life,” Josh expressed. “And it is definitely on its way back!”
The upper floors of the Broad Street property are still being renovated, but the end is in sight. The Morriss couple plans to reside on the third floor once the transformation is complete.
Even in the midst of maintaining the event venue downtown and overseeing renovations, Josh finds time to volunteer at Fellowship Bible Church and with the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club. His three daughters, Meredith, Susannah, and Marjorie, work together to run the children’s theater, and Josh helps his daughters’ efforts by constructing some of their set pieces. Last year, Josh was on the TXK 150 committee, which was responsible for planning and carrying out tremendous sesquicentennial celebrations throughout 2023. Among the events were the unearthing of a time capsule, the burial of a new one, a gala ball, the debut of a light sculpture at the downtown courthouse and post office, and a grand finale concert and multimedia experience at the Perot Theatre.
It takes all types of individuals to make the world go ‘round, but there is a special spot for those who believe their hometown can always grow and improve with a little time and care. Texarkana is fortunate indeed to have Josh Morriss, who continues to show pride in his beloved hometown.