SACRAMENTO, CA -- Al Morris founder of United Specialty Wholesalers (USW) passed away in Sacramento, CA, on Sept. 27. Morris was born on Jan. 15, 1935 in Oakland, CA. In 1957 he graduated from San Jose State with a B.S. degree in Industrial Education. From 1957-59 Morris taught Vocational Auto and in 1959 went to work at Aero Jet General as part of the design team of the Titan engine project. In 1964 he started M&M Speed Engineering, an old-fashioned speed shop combined with a then “state of the art” machine shop that built engines for drag racing Champion Gary Ormsby and also did work for Bill Harrah’s Allison aircraft engine-powered “Miss Tahoe” race boat.

In 1968, Morris started USW with 10 jobber accounts and a like number of vendors. USW grew to serve 700 jobber customers with 75 vendors until Morris retired in 2003. His industry accomplishments include his involvement in the development of the initial computer software for the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA). Morris’ involvement with PWA started with his attendance at PWA’s formation meeting in Chicago and he went on to serve three terms on PWA’s Board of Directors. He also worked with industry legends such as Jack Harris, Ben Sigmund and Don Raleigh on the PWA Handbook that is now known as the PWA Book of Recommendations.

His active participation within his community includes two terms as president of his local Rotary Club, four years as trustee of the Rotary Foundation, four years on the Board of Directors of Sacramento’s Better Business Bureau and two years for the Boy Scouts of America’s Golden Empire Council of Northern California.

In honor of Morris’ work on behalf of PWA he was named its Pioneer Award winner in 1998.