Passing of Dr. Jack Harris '44

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of Dr. Jack Harris, Southwestern alumnus and professor emeritus, on April 17. There will be a memorial visitation at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to noon . Please keep Jack's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

We also invite you to attend the Homecoming Worship Service Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 in the Lois Perkins Chapel. During this service, we read the names of alumni whom we have lost in the past year. Jack will be remembered during this portion of the service.


Jack Harris, Class of 1944 and Professor Emeritus

On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Jack Thomas Harris of Georgetown passed away peacefully at home with his family at his side. He was 88 years old.

Jack Harris was born on Sept. 1, 1923 in Georgetown to Fannie Brady Harris and Sam Blackwell Harris. He was the third of four brothers and grew up in Georgetown in the family home on Ash Street. He attended Southwestern University and then The University of Texas at Austin until he was drafted into service for WWII. He was stationed in New Jersey, Wyoming and Minnesota. While in Minnesota, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Far Eastern Area Studies and trained as a translator with the Military Intelligence Service. During this time, he learned the Japanese language and that experience sparked in him a lifelong interest in history, travel and foreign cultures. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures in the US Army, including the time he fainted during training and fell off a telephone pole because he had skipped breakfast.

After an honorable discharge from the US Army, he moved to New York City, where he attended The New School for Social Research and worked as a set designer, copy editor, and commercial artist. During his time working in the New York theater community, he became acquainted with such laudable actors as Rod Steiger, Bea Arthur, Harry Belafonte, Tony Curtis, and Bela Lugosi. Years later, Jack ran into Mr. Steiger in Los Angeles. Mr. Steiger commented, “You sure got grey” and Jack responded, “You sure got fat.”

After leaving New York, he lived in San Antonio and Austin, where he met his future wife, Norma Dunlap. He continued as a commercial artist working for E.M. Scarbrough & Sons, Goodfriend’s Department Store, and Joske’s. In 1961, Jack and Norma were united in marriage in the chapel of the United Methodist Church at 24th Street and Guadalupe with family and friends in attendance. In 1967, after teaching and building a family, he earned his PhD in Literature from UT with a thesis titled The factory hand in the English novel: 1840-1855, and he and his family spent the next two years in Ohio while he taught at The University of Toledo.

In 1969, he returned to Georgetown with his wife and three children: Brian, Stephen and Angela, where he was a tenured Associate Professor at Southwestern University. There, he taught English Literature, foreign literature in translation, film appreciation and other requirements of the curriculum until his retirement in 1990. Following retirement, he continued to learn and teach and especially enjoyed teaching at Senior University, Georgetown.

All his life he enjoyed listening to and playing music, reading and traveling. The British Isles, Mexico, Japan, India, China, Thailand, Greece, Italy, France and Spain were all beloved destinations. Throughout his life he enjoyed art and art history, and he authored several articles on Pre-Raphaelite painting that were published. He was a talented potter, gardener, and collector of folk art from around the world. He was curious until the end, still learning about the Harris Family genealogy and doing research online, all the while keep up with old friends and making new ones.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother, James B. Harris of Shreveport, LA. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Norma Dunlap Harris; son Brian Harris and his wife Michelle Gee Harris and children Colin and Elizabeth of Dearborn, MI; son Stephen Harris and his wife Bridget Patke Harris and their children George and Poppy of Austin; and daughter Angela Harris and her husband Perry Duke of Austin. He is also survived by his brother Sam E. Harris and wife Mildred of Georgetown, and Charles B. Harris and his wife Clarolyn of Ft. Worth. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends survive with the funny stories and fond memories Jack always inspired.

A memorial visitation will be held at the Gabriels Funeral Chapel at 393 North IH-35 in Georgetown on Saturday, April 21 from 10 am until noon.

The family encourages contributions to Scott & White Hospice, 5353 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78633, who have been a tremendous support during the last few weeks of his life. We wish to thank his nurse, Melissa Smith for her kindness during his last days.