Colton High “Fact of the Day” – Oct. 1

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Tom Morrow taught at Colton High School from 1947-1976 as both a Spanish teacher and basketball coach.

Colton High School opened in 1895. It is one of the oldest high schools in the Inland Empire. In this daily feature, we celebrate Colton High’s rich history.

Thelbert Orville Morrow, known to the Colton community as Tom, was a respected coach and teacher at Colton High School.

Morrow came to Colton High by luck when he met longtime principal Donald McIntosh. McIntosh liked Morrow so much he offered him a job coaching the basketball team and teaching Spanish.

Morrow taught at Colton High for 29 years. He was known for his discipline in the classroom and on the court.

He was born on May 14, 1912 in Brice, Missouri. Morrow graduated from from Northern Arizona University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He came to California during World War II and got a job working for Lockheed. During that time, he also worked as a junior high teacher in Sierra Madre.

The 1964-65 “Crimson and Gold” yearbook was dedicated to Morrow, referring to him as a “Man of Decision” and a “Dynamic Force.”

Tom Morrow passed away in 1994 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.