Remembering Marques “The Dancing Cowboy” Morrison

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The corner of Stockdale Highway and California Avenue has felt a bit less lively in the past month. But on Sept. 15, it was reawakened.

And shone with a light only one man could bring.

“My brother is a shining light,” said brother Danny Morrison. “Not only in our family, but to this community.”

That light, of course, belongs to Marques Morrison. Perhaps more well known as the “Dancing Cowboy”. Morrison was tragically struck by a train during the early morning hours of June 30.

He’s left the busy intersection feeling a little empty since his passing.

Family and friends gathered to honor him on Saturday. Not just to remember, but to celebrate.

And of course, dance, just like he would.

His nickname, Priest, is appropriate as Danny says this corner is where Marques preached his good word.

“Some people saw this corner as being remedial work…I tell people this isn’t remedial work,” said Danny. “This is my brother’s pulpit for 15 years. I’m going to see him as the pastor of our family.”

A pastor to the community as well, with reach far beyond the confines of relatives.

“He was basically the only father figure that I ever had,” said Shiro Serrano, an artist and model, who knew the cowboy for more than half her life and would hang out with him on his corner.

Serrano called him “Uncle Priest” and says he helped give her a head start when she needed it most.

“He called me firecracker because I would get in a lot of fights, I was a crazy little kid,” said Serrano. “He goes ‘Hey firecracker, what are you doing?’, next couple days, I only had about $30 towards my funds to get into art camp and he ended up paying the whole thing.”

Danny says that Marques touched the hearts of any who drove by the intersection. More than 60,000 cars a day, for 15 years.

“I told my family and I tell a lot of people that I come into contact with, that my brother was not normal, he was an angel on Earth,” said Danny. “I think that God sends angels to come down here and he wants to use his sheep. My brother was a sheep that was shepherding a whole lot of people in this community, to bring positive light to this community.”

With a new “Adopt-A-Street” sign, dedicated in Marques’ name, to be erected at the intersection, that light will shine on this corner…the cowboy’s corner…forever.

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