Our Rich History

Walter Morris came to Wichita in the winter of 1888 as a 28-year-old from Ohio. That same year, he opened a real estate office, Walter Morris and Company Real Estate Agents, in an upstairs room on East Douglas. His first deal was the purchase of 2.5 acres of country land near Hillside and Douglas.

Walter married Adda King, and they had four children: Clara, William, Harriett and Luella. Their son, William, worked alongside his father developing, maintaining and selling commercial and residential real estate in Wichita. With the addition of William, the firm became Walter Morris & Son Real Estate, LLC. In 1910, Walter purchased the Campbell Castle and lived there with his family until his death in 1951 at the age of 91. In his honor, the Walter Morris trophy cup is still presented each year to an outstanding broker in Wichita.

As the oldest real estate firm in Wichita, Walter Morris Companies is known for contributing significantly to the development of the city, establishing many neighborhoods, commercial buildings and shopping centers. In addition to William, various descendants have operated the firm over the decades, including Mary Boyd (daughter), Carolyn Beckett (daughter), Eloise McMurty (daughter), Michael Boyd (grandson), Thomas (grandson), David (great-grandson), Andrew (great-grandson) and Katherine (great-granddaughter).