Mark L. Morris, Jr., DVM, Ph.D., pioneer of the ZuPreem line of diets, passed away unexpectedly January 14, 2007, at his home in Topeka, Kansas. Morris, who was 72, is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Bette M. Morris, one daughter, two sons — including the current owner and president of ZuPreem, David Morris — and five grandchildren.
During his lifetime, Morris, a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, researched and developed more than 150 products. A co-author of the original Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Morris published widely on animal nutrition and lectured on the topic at U.S. and foreign colleges of veterinary medicine.
He also served as trustee and vice president of scientific activities for the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization funding animal health studies, which was founded by his parents.
David Morris credited his father with, “greatly expanding the body of knowledge about animal nutrition and providing innovative, quality diets for the health of all animals.”