William Ashley Morrill, age 88, died on July 25, 2018 at his home in Pennswood Village, Newtown, PA, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Bronxville, New York, to now deceased Katharine Anderson Morrill and Ashley Baker Morrill, M.D., (both offspring of Methodist Bishops), Mr. Morrill was a product of the Bronxville School (K-12).  He graduated in 1952 from Wesleyan University, majoring in government, and went on to get his Masters in Public Administration in 1953 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. 

He is also pre-deceased by his brother, Richard Baker Morrill, and his former wife, Lois Birrell Morrill.  He is survived by his wife, Nancy Porter Morrill, and four daughters:  Margaret K. Morrill Gates of Madrid, NY (Cedric); Carolyn R. Cummins of Sabael, NY (Joseph); Elizabeth Darcie Corbin of Bloomington, MN (Roger); and Janet Robin Forsell of Clifton Park, NY (Jeffrey); seven grandchildren (Daniel Gates, Molly Baker (Justin), Kim Gates, Kate Cummins, Cody Cummins, Mindy Corbin, and Kurt Forsell); two great-grandchildren (Callie Cummins and Cash Baker); and his sister-in-law JoAnn Morrill of Minneapolis and her son and daughters and their children.

In 1953 Mr. Morrill began his over sixty year career in public service in successive posts in the Directorate of Manpower and Organization, H.Q., United States Air Force, where his work included devising and directing an experiment in alternative manpower approaches to staffing Arctic electronic facilities, where he traveled extensively.

From 1962-1971 he served in several roles ending as Deputy Director for Programs, National Security Programs Division at the Bureau of the Budget (now Office of Management and Budget).  His work included analysis of nuclear energy programs with particular concentration on power reactors and the production and control of nuclear weapons.  As Deputy Director, Mr. Morrill oversaw the national resources and environment, science, transportation, energy, and business functional areas.  He represented OMB on the Rostow Task Force on National Telecommunications Policy, and was chief of analytic work done by OMB on military subjects for the National Security Council.  As Assistant Director Mr. Morrill led the review of all environmental regulations, drafted the Agricultural Support Act of 1972, and helped lead the effort to open the Highway Trust Fund for mass transit.

In the early 1970s Mr. Morrill’s objection to the Vietnam War led him to leave Federal service for a year as Deputy County Executive of Fairfax County, Virginia.  Mr. Morrill returned to the Federal government as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services) from 1973-1977, responsible for the management and oversight of research and evaluation activities throughout the Department.  In his work at HEW, he was the principal architect of and legislative negotiator for the Department and Administration of the Title XX social services program. He directed work on the preparation, negotiation, and implementation of legislation involving welfare reform, national health insurance, and elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education.

In 1977 Mr. Morrill was recruited to join the team responsible for creating the new U.S. Department of Energy.  At the end of that year, he began a 23 year relationship with the Mathematica Companies in Princeton, New Jersey, first as Senior Fellow, Sr. VP, and then President of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.; VP and General Manager, Consulting and Research at Martin Marietta Data Systems; and CEO, Chairman, and Sr. Fellow of Mathtech, Inc.  

In 2000 Mr. Morrill joined ICF International in Fairfax, VA as a Senior Fellow, retiring in 2013. During these later consulting years, Mr. Morrill assisted the U.S. Department of Education in a wide range of analytic and research efforts involving in part the Regional Education Laboratories, the National Assessment of Education Progress, Education Statistical Services Institute, What Works Clearinghouse, Title III, the National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board, and the National Center for Education Statistics.   In the heath field, Mr. Morrill developed performance measures for public health programs as a member of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, annually reviewed an anthology of the work of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and directed a 5 yr. evaluation of that foundation’s School-Based Adolescent Health Care Program. He also co-chaired a national panel financed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which completed a report on “Administrative Solutions in Health Reform”.    With respect to human services, Mr. Morrill directed the operation of the National Center for Service Integration, a clearinghouse and technical assistance function for states and communities.

Over the years Mr. Morrill authored and co-authored several professional reports, chapters and publications; he received many honors and awards throughout his career, including Lifetime National Associate of the National Academy of Sciences.  In 2013 he published his memoir: “A Journey through Governance - A Public Servant’s Experience under Six Presidents”, edited by John C. Long.

Mr. Morrill was a Fellow and Vice Chair of the Board of the National Academy of Public Administration; a Trustee of The Council for Excellence in Government; a founding President and member of the Editorial Board of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management; Chair and Member, Child Development Research and Public Policy Standing Committee as well as member of several other committees of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences; Member of the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Comprehensive Community Initiatives for Children and Families; Chairman of the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission; and served on several visiting boards to university public policy programs. In Bucks County, PA, Mr. Morrill served as a Board member of Planned Parenthood and the Moyer Scholarship Foundation; co-founder of the Bucks County Food and Wine Festival; Partner of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition; and was active at Pennswood Village. 

Bill Morrill was a true Renaissance man: wine enthusiast, accomplished cook, self-taught guitar player, author of illustrated travel journals, splendid writer, aspiring tennis player, wise gardener, prolific artist in colored pencils, impressive poet, aficionado of folk and bluegrass music, singer of all Methodist hymns by number, consummate workaholic, and preserver of family treasures and stories.

Bill's Memorial Service will take place 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in Penn Hall at Pennswood Village, 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown, PA 18940.  The service will be followed by a luncheon.  Please see below for accomodations that are near by to Pennswood Village.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a financial contribution to The Wesleyan Fund, 318 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459; The Maxwell School, 44 University Place, Syracuse, NY 13210; National Academy of Public Administration, 1600 K Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006; Planned Parenthood Keystone, P. O. Box 813, Trexlertown, PA 18087; The Fellowship Fund, Pennswood Village, 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown, PA 18940; or a progressive charity of your choice. 

Places to stay near Pennswood Village ( call 215-968-9110 for limited guest rooms), 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown, PA 18940

       Homewood Suites by Hilton Newtown, 110 Pheasant Run, Newtown, PA 18940

       215-860 5080  www.newtown.homewoodsuites.com

       Newtown Hampton Inn & Suites, 1000 Stony Hill Road, Yardley PA 19067

       215-860-1700 www.hampton-inn.com/hi/newtown

       Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, 400 Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne, PA 19047

       215-547-4100       sheratonbuckscounty.com 

       Bridgetown Mill House Restaurant and Inn, 760 Newtown-Langhorne Rd., Langhorne, PA 19047

       215-752-8996   www.bridgetownmillhouse.com

       The Inn at Bowman’s Hill, 518 Lurgan Road, New Hope, PA 18938

       215-860-8090  theinnatbowmanshill.com 

        Logan Inn, 10 West Ferry Street, New Hope, PA 18938

        215-862-2300  loganinn.com

        Wedgewood Inn, 111 West Bridge St., New Hope, PA 18938

        215-862-2570 wedgewoodinn.com 

        Doylestown Inn, 18 West State Street, Doylestown, PA 18938

        215-345-6610  hatterydoylestown.com

        Court Yard by Marriott Phila. Langhorne, 5 Cabot Boulevard East, Langhorne, PA 19047

        215-945-7980