Amos Morrison

Morrison was born in Gering, Nebraska, in 1908, and grew up in Scottsbluff, graduating from Scottsbluff High School.^[1][2] He graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with his bachelor's degree in 1929,^[2] and briefly moved to Grand Lake, Colorado, where he was a co-owner of the Grand Lake Light Company.^[2] He returned to Nebraska in 1942, and maintained a farm in Mitchell.^[2]

In 1950, Morrison ran for the state legislature from the 42nd district, which was based in Scotts Bluff County, challenging incumbent State Senator Otto Prohs for re-election.^[3] In the primary election, Morrison narrowly placed third, receiving 31 percent of the vote to Prohs's 33 percent and farmer Carl Thomas's 36 percent.^[4]

Morrison challenged Prohs again in 1952, and was joined in the primary election by former Congressman Terry Carpenter.^[5] Carpenter placed first in the primary election by a wide margin, receiving 48 percent of the vote to Morrison's 27 percent and Prohs's 25 percent.^[6][7] Carpenter and Morrison advanced to the general election,^[8] where Carpenter defeated Morrison, 54–46 percent.^[6]

Carpenter opted to run for the U.S. Senate in 1954 rather than seek re-election,^[9] and Morrison ran to succeed him.^[10] In the primary election, Morrison faced Scottsbluff Mayor Clark Williams and farmer H. V. Anderson.^[11][12] Morrison placed first, winning 39 percent of the vote to Williams's 32 percent and Anderson's 29 percent.^[13] He advanced to the general election with Williams,^[14] and defeated him with 56 percent of the vote.^[13][15]

Morrison ran for re-election in 1956,^[16] and was challenged for re-election by Carpenter.^[17] Carpenter narrowly placed first in the primary election, receiving 53 percent of the vote to Morrison's 47 percent.^[18] He defeated Morrison by a wide margin in the general election, winning 59–41 percent.^[18][19]