Donald Morris

For over a decade Morris pondered the nature of opportunity reflecting on why some people seem particularly adept at recognizing opportunities while others appear oblivious. Morris’s reflections were not initially aimed at writing a book but rather at coming to his own understanding of opportunity. As he explored the topic and its implications he came to realize the scope of the research needed and the dimensions of the task. In 2003-4 he took a sabbatical from his teaching position at Eastern New Mexico University to tackle the project.

Particulars:

Born: 10/​13/​1945 Chicago
Education: Ph.D. Philosophy -- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Dissertation: Dewey and the Behavioristic Context of Ethics; Adviser S. Morris Eames.
M.A. Philosophy -- DePaul University
M.S. Taxation -- DePaul University
B.A Philosophy -- California State University at Los Angeles -- Mentor: Prof. John Hospers

Occupation: Associate Professor of Accounting
Employer: University of Illinois at Springfield
Career: 18 years as practicing CPA, 8 years as instructor of philosophy, 13 years professor of accounting

1986 candidate for Controller of Illinois (Libertarian Party)-- resounding loss to Roland Burris.

1986-1997 owner-manager Donald Morris CPA PC
Listed in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who Among American Teachers
Certifications: Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certifed Fraud Examiner

Family:
Natural children: Keith A. Morris and Sarah K. Morris
Step children: Allison P. Silveira, Kyle A. Silveira (mother Sue K. Morris 1950-2001), Austin K. Stoll
Wife: Myong-Ae Kim
Brother: James J. Morris
Sister: Marisa Karasz
Parents: Donald C. Morris (deceased) and Kathleen Lautner Morris (deceased)
Famous Uncle: John Lautner, Architect (deceased)

Sports:
Chicago White Sox fan
Chicago Marathon - 4 trials - best time 3 hours 25 minutes

Favorite authors: Dostoyevsky and Kurt Vonnegut
Philosophical influences: Socrates, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Kant, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Dewey, Santayana and Wittgenstein

Favorite memories:
Teaching ethics to the inmates at Marion Federal Penatentiary (ILL); watching a professional baseball game in South Korea; viewing Raphiel's School at Athens at the Vatican Museum, Rome; winning $16,000 on a $2 trifecta box at Ruodoso Downs, New Mexico; seeing Mark Buehrle's perfect game in person; touring Brittany, France.

Articles published:

"Children and the AMT: Saved by the Kiddie Tax," The CPA Journal, Nov. 2010.

"Tax Penalties and Deterrence: Determining Effectiveness and Taxpayer Perception," The CPA Journal, Sept. 2010.

"Assessing Professional Tax Advice and the Sophistication of the Taxpayer," The Tax Adviser, December 2009.

“Tainted Money and Charity: Do 501(c)(3)s Have a Right to Refuse a Gift?,” Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, (2008, vol. 38, no. 4).

“501c)(3) Money Laundering Deterrents Off Target,” The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law, (2008, vol. 10, no. 4).

“Defining a Gambling Transaction: Know When to Hold ‘em, Know When to Fold ‘em,” Journal of Legal Tax Research (2007, vol. 5) (American Accounting Association).

“Education-Friendly States: The Tuition Deduction,” State Tax Notes (invited article), (2007, vol. 45, no. 2).

“Establishing Basis for Gambling Losses,” The Tax Advisor (American Institute of CPAs), (June 2007).

“Do Gambling-Friendly States Have Something Up Their Sleeves? The Unlucky 11,” Journal of State Taxation, (2007, vol. 25, no. 4).

“Anti-Socially Conscious Sectors: A Benchmark for Socially Conscious Investing” The Journal of Investing with David Hemley, (2005, vol. 14, no. 3)

“A New Tool for Strategy Analysis: The Opportunity Model” Journal of Business Strategy, (2005, vol. 26, no. 3). Reprinted in Crafting and Executing Strategy, McGraw-Hill/​Irwin (15th edition).

“Defining a Moral Problem in Business Ethics” Journal of Business Ethics, (2004, 49:347-357)

“Business Ethics Assessment Criteria: Business v. Philosophy—Survey Results” Business Ethics Quarterly, (2001, vol. 11 no. 4)

“An Argument for Deducting Unpaid Child Support” Tax Notes, (2000, vol. 88, no. 4).

“Nonprofit Compliance Low for Public Disclosure” The Exempt Organization Tax Review, (2000, vol. 29, no. 3).