Morris and Beverly begin spending less and less time at the Pike Road
Baptist Church and eventually join the Unitarian church. The Unitarians
"not only preached 'justice for all', they practiced it." (94) By being
in the Unitarian church, Morris Dees began doing some work for the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He took cases on the side though he was
still a business man. In August 1967, he filed suit on behalf of Gary
Dickney. He was a Vietnam veteran at the Troy State University. Dickney
published an editorial critical of George Wallace and was suspended
for it. Judge Johnson said: "a state cannot force a college student
to forfeit his constitutionally protected right of freedom of expression
as a condition to his attending a state-supported institution." This
was one of the few cases that Morris did for the ACLU. He was very busy
with his business.
Millard Leaves
Millard on the other hand was having problems with the life and with
other things. He and his wife decided it was time to call it quits.
In the mid 1970s, Millard Fuller left. He sold all his possessions and
decided to "to serve god". In short time, Millard founded a non-profit
organization called Habitat for Humanity which provides affordable housing
to the poor. Morris missed Millard's friendship and guidance. But despite
Millard's absence, the business moved forward. They were selling more
cookbooks and profits totaled about 6.5 million in 1967. Also in that
year, Morris Dees was named on of the 10 "Outstanding Young men in America"
by Jaycees.
