GET TO KNOW THE FOUNDER

All about the history of John W. Morrison

John W. Morrison founded Morrison Ceramics (now Blackjack Clay Inc.) in 1971 and has served as the company's Chief Executive Officer since the company's incorporation in February of 1994. 
Morrison was born and raised in Henderson County and had three sons. His oldest Michael graduated with his Mechanical Engineering degree from Tyler. Dan, his middle son graduated from University of Texas - Austin with his Chemical Engineering degree. Tim, his youngest, graduated from Texas Tech, also with a Chemical Engineering degree. His greatest joys are his grandchildren. Just ask him!
Over the last 30 years Morrison has  worked with all of the local brick  companies, such as Arvin Johnson of Athens Brick to locate and prove up clay deposits for brick production. Morrison started his clay processing business in the mid 1980's by financing and providing technical support to several start-up stoneware potteries in  Marshall, Texas. Not least among these was Robert Casey, who built and founded Casey Pottery. He later sold Casey Pottery to Steve Carlisle and Carlisle founded Home and Garden Party. Morrison continued to work closely with David McMinn, plant Manager of Casey Pottery to supply clay and technical advice.
In high school and college , Morrison worked for Athens Pottery in Athens, Texas and later went on to work for Acme Brick where his job was to explore and test the clay. He later went on to own what is now Blackjack Clay Inc., where he explored, drilled, and logged much of Henderson County and adjoining counties, selling clay to Southern Clay of Gonzales, Texas and other existing potters and potteries. Working closely with Henry Christian, forming a life-long friendship, and his son Bill Christian, owners of Southern Clay.
During 1979 John Morrison worked with Marazzi Ceramic Spa of Italy to locate a viable clay source in Texas. Marazzi was considering many locations within the United States to build a tile plant. They finally decided on a location just east of downtown Dallas and built American Marazzi Tile (formerly Marazzi USA). They operated for the first six years of production using the red clay source by Morrison in De Leon, Texas just outside of Comanche. Morrison has worked with several of the local tile companies over the years as they have researched and explored local crude clay options for their production. Within the last 5 years, Morrison has consulted and advised Silver Corina with Dal-Tile of Dallas and most recently the geological team from Interceramic Tile's parent company based in  Mexico where they explored local options for their plant in Garland.
He continues to advise and teach employees the business of clay leasing as well as show how soil can be used for great things in Texas and in the world.