The Elvis Presley Video News report of August 2025 is available again.
It wraps up all the news from July 2025 and covers subjects like the "Holographic" Elvis show in London, Elvis in Minnesota, the Circle G Foundation, Elvis and Connie Francis, Johnny Cash’s present to Elvis and much more.
Bill Morris Died
Former Shelby County Mayor and Sheriff Bill Morris died. He was 92. Morris was the county's longest-serving mayor. He served as the sheriff of Shelby County from 1964 to 1970, and as the mayor from 1978 to 1994.
Morris was the sheriff when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside the Lorraine Motel. in 1968. He was the one who read James Earl Ray his rights after he was arrested for the shooting.
He nominated Elvis for the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award that was presented by the United States Junior Chamber and was present at the ceremony. Elvis was given this Award at the Ceremony in Memphis on 16th January 1971 – the only Award Elvis ever accepted in person. As a token of their friendship, Elvis gave Bill and his wife, Ann, a "TCB" and "Tender Love and Care" necklace.
Morris noted, “Elvis and I both grew up in the same post-Depression years in north Mississippi. About the same time, we migrated to Memphis. His parents knew my parents before either of us were born. And then, of course, I went into the Army after his graduation. By the time I came back, two, three years later, he had already done big things in the music industry. And then I got to know him from then on. By then I became sheriff.
He stayed here in Memphis as often as he could. We gave him Sheriff’s Department protection, our service, and we got to become close friends. We then found out we both came from the same place. And so it was a natural thing for us to become good friends.” Morris said when he began bonding with Presley in his 20s, the charismatic singer relished his time in his beloved Memphis, far away from Hollywood or even being on the road."
Morris and his wife Ann were frequent guests at Graceland, and their friendship was described as genuine and close. In interviews, Morris always spoke warmly of Elvis, describing him as loyal, protective, and dedicated.
His friendship with Elvis was also mentioned in his autobiography, Bill Morris: A Legendary Life, which tells his remarkable life story. The book offers insight not only into the highs and lows of his career but also into his personal connection with the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
One of Morris’ favorite memories of Presley was the practical jokes he played on Graceland, the refuge he would call home until his death. "Elvis was youthful and playful. We would shoot roman candles at each other and use garbage can lids to defend ourselves. Elvis was also very generous, when he made his first money he gave US$50,000 to the city to distribute to charity. He wrote checks to St. Jude early on and lot of them. I asked that the trauma center at The Med be named in his honor, because I thought it reflected another side of Elvis beyond his talents as a performer.
“I can’t believe even to this day, the power of Elvis Presley’s name is unbelievable worldwide. That says a lot about his music, his personality and the person he was.”
(Source: Emiel Maier / ElvisMatters / Elvis Information Network)