In his classroom on the first floor of Harlan County High School, social studies teacher Steven Morris impacted the lives of many teenagers from all parts of the county he had called home most of his life.

HCHS seniors Chris Brown and Nikki Creech were among those students impacted by Morris, and they were determined to do something to honor their former teacher, who died earlier this year after a battle with cancer.

Morris Hall was dedicated Friday at the school in honor of Morris. Students and district officials were on hand for the ceremony, along with Morris’ wife, Tabitha; his son, Brayden; and his parents, Charlie and Joyce, along with friend Brandon Robinson, of WYMT.

Members of the HCHS Student Council took part in the ceremony, along with Brown and Creech, who wrote a letter to the Harlan County Board of Education promoting the idea. The board approved naming the Hall in honor of Morris, and board chairman Gary Farmer and Superintendent Brent Roark were in attendance Friday.

Science teacher Anna Carruba, whose room was across the hall from Morris during the first 11 years of HCHS, talked about the relationship Morris shared with other teachers and students. HCHS Principal Edna Burkhart was emotional as she talked about Morris and what he meant to the school.

Steve Daniel, also a teacher at HCHS, spoke at the ceremony, along with Brown and Shalora Neely, both students at HCHS.

“I’m thankful for Christoper Brown and Nikki Creech for all the hard work they put into the Morris Hall dedication. The letter they wrote to the school board requesting this was one of the most beautiful letters I’ve ever read,” said Tabitha Morris in a Facebook post. “You’ll never know how much this means to Bray, myself and our family. Steve is so loved and missed very much.”