"Charlie was Amigo Numero Uno, having participated in the first survey trip to Honduras with Guy Bevil in 1964, when the program was just a concept," Steve Cook explains. "Guy [Bevil]’s vision was to recruit possibly 20 young people to provide immunizations. With Guy’s inspiration and Charlie’s infectious enthusiasm, we ended up with well over 200 volunteers, and accepted them all. Thus, Amigos as we know it was born."
Bill Arnold adds, "When I first met him he was painting stripes in the parking lot! He had a natural empathy with people in rural Central America – his grin was his business card. His Spanish was fairly terrible but he communicated beautifully. People just knew that he liked them – and they reciprocated. 
When our jeep stalled out one night in a swollen river, we waded to shore in search of a plan. Charlie spotted a cantina on the crest of the hill and wandered up. I wondered if he would make it out. But before long he had a noisy crew following their new best friend down to dislodge the jeep.
He and I both had a terrible sense of direction and the Texaco maps weren’t much help. We were trying to get to an aldea, but the gravel road turned into ruts and then to nothing. We had to hook the winch to trees to pull ourselves out of the mud several times. When we finally arrived it turned out we were in the wrong place – in a village no motor vehicle had ever reached. The villagers greeted us in stunned silence – until Charlie broke the ice with a Texas-sized, “Hola, Amigos.”
At the end of one summer I stayed at Charlie’s home for a few days. His Dad, Ed Morris, a Founding Trustee of Amigos, took us to dinner at Hebert’s, the best steak house in Houston at the time. The rich food did us in. In the middle of the night Charlie chuckled, 'Ten weeks in Honduras and we never got sick. Two days in Houston and we’ve got turista. Go figure'."
Steve Cook reminisces, "Charlie defined and authenticated the word Amigo. We will miss him, but he joins other great founding Amigos across the true Rio Grande, likely catching up with Guy and planning other adventures."
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Charlie's Obituary
Charles Arving Morris was born November 30, 1946 to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Morris of Houston, Texas. He was raised in Houston, graduated from Baylor University, and attended Baylor Law School. Charlie worked for the Insurance Company of North America in Houston. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque to work for Southwest Insurance Agency as a marine and aviation underwriter, but he also worked with river-rafting companies, veterinarians, doctors, and lawyers. He became friends with many of the pilots and balloonists he insured; outside the office, he enjoyed aviation shows and the Balloon Fiesta. Charlie was a member of several insurance and pilots associations and served as a board member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
Perhaps Charlie’s greatest source of happiness and pride was his involvement in the Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) program. Charlie has been referred to as the “first Amigo” and was one of the original participants through River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston. He toured Honduras with founder Guy Bevil on a survey trip in 1964, drove down to Honduras in the truck caravans of ‘65 and ‘66, and worked in villages and as a route leader. Later, in Albuquerque, he supported the local AMIGOS chapter. Today, AMIGOS is an international, non-profit organization that empowers high school and college students to develop leadership skills and increase multi-cultural understanding through training and community service in Latin America. 
Charlie is survived by his brother Edwin Morris of Indianapolis, former wives Sarah Morris of Albuquerque and Cherie Rohn of Fort Myers, Florida, children Jonathan Morris of Albuquerque, and Meredith Morris, along with son-in-law Robert Fry and granddaughter Stella Mae Fry, of Castro Valley, California. He will be remembered by extended family, and a wealth of friends, and celebrated by the AMIGOS organization for his unique spirit.
May Charlie (Carlitos, Papa Carlitos) and his beloved dog, Faun, who preceded him, rest peacefully.
Memorial Service to be held Saturday, November 17th, 2012 at 1.00 PM., at Blake Road Baptist Church, 1704 Blake Road SW, Albuquerque, NM 87505
A Memorial Reunion will be held in Charlie's honor on Saturday, October 19, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM. Exact location TBA.
To share stories and pictures, please visit www.imorial.com/carlitosmorris/
