Faces of Hall County: Fenton Morris

Meet Fenton Morris! Fenton is the City of Jefferson Parks and Recreation director. He holds a B.S. with a major in Outdoor Education from Georgia College & State University and a M.S. with a major in Health & Physical Education from Pittsburg State University. He has been involved in the parks & recreation profession for more than 20 years.

Fenton’s hobbies include watching professional and college sporting events, working out, playing golf, and gathering with friends and family.

We want to thank Fenton for spending time with us and telling us more about his life and love of Jackson County.

Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “Back when I was in college I was going to major in business and then it moved to accounting and then criminal justice and then it got to the point where I just didn’t know what I wanted to be; to be honest with you. Then one day I was playing intramural sports at Georgia College, and I played all of them, and then I thought to myself, someone has to put this together this isn’t something that just pops up out of the ground and it happens. So, I did a little research behind it and found out that there is an actual degree in parks and recreation, tourism, and cultural affairs. I reached out to the local parks and recreation department and whom I had known the director very well because I did some volunteer coaching for him. He gave me the whole spill on what this profession was and at that point I realized exactly what I needed to do.”

Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “The first movie I remember seeing in a theater I think was ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’”

Q: Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
A: “It was Betty Block. She was a college professor at Georgia College, and we had a great relationship inside the classroom and out of the classroom…she was most inspirational to get me to the degree I needed. She actually hosted my wedding!”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: “Fiji, it looks so beautiful and I probably never would be able to go because of the price but cost wasn’t an issue that’s where I would go.”

Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Jackson County and why?
A: “I don’t get out much but for me it would be the Braselton Brewing Company. I’ve been out there a few times and it’s absolutely gorgeous they have a lot to offer and a great atmosphere and then just driving through to get to that business is a pleasant easy drive. The business reminds me of my college years.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Going back to my mother’s home country, she was Korean, and spreading her ashes.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you have met over the years in Jackson County?
A: “The most interesting person I have met is definitely Andy ‘Tic’ Mize. He knows everyone and has been here forever, he works for the Recreation Department and does a wonderful job. He bleeds Royal and Red and knows everything that goes on in Jackson County.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Jackson County?
A: “I”ll have to say Beef O Brady’s, the only reason I saw that is because of the atmosphere, Steve the owner and the staff–it’s just a great place to let loose and not let the troubles of the day follow you.”

Q: What are your three favorite bands?
A: “I really listen to it all but I guess I’ll go back to my college days and growing up, I had the most fun listening to Incubus, Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam.”

Jill Venable-Abernathy with the Abernathy Cochran Groupwould love your Faces nominations.

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