Louis
Morony
Class of 1990
Background:
Louis R. Morony was born February 22, 1900, in St. Louis,
Missouri. He attended Iowa Wesleyan College and Iowa State
University, and studied law in the office of the Chief Justice
of the Michigan Supreme Court, leading to his admission to
the Michigan State Bar in 1927.
Professional
Experience:
During his state government service in Michigan from 1922
to 1936, Mr. Morony was appointed Assistant Attorney General
and director of the Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles.
After a year as consultant to the National Safety Council
on motor vehicle and traffic law, he became the first executive
director of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
(AAMVA), serving from 1938 to 1941. He established the Association's
headquarters in Washington, D.C. During his years in Michigan
and with AAMVA, Mr. Morony promoted professionalism in the
agencies and among public officials who administered motor
vehicle and traffic laws, helping to raise their work to "cabinet-level"
in state government.
During
World War II, Mr. Morony was on special assignment from the
Automobile Manufacturers Association to the U.S. War Department
as consultant to the National Highway Traffic Advisory Committee.
He joined the staff of the Automotive Safety Foundation (ASF)
in 1946, where he developed that organization's program on
laws and legislation and directed its Laws Division until
his retirement in 1966.
Career
Highlights:
In a career spanning three decades of leadership in automotive
transportation, Mr. Morony pioneered policies and practices
that anticipated and helped prepare for the spectacular growth
of highways and vehicle use during the 1950s and 60s. In his
papers and speeches throughout the nation, he roused governmental,
professional and academic leaders to the need to modernize
highway law, motor vehicle administration, and traffic safety.
Some
of the highlights of these productive years include:
