Richard Harris

Richard Harris died Sunday, December 18, 2011 while a patient at the University of Texas’, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. At the time of his death he was surrounded by his wife Heidi, and daughters Marne French and Kathryn Harris and his son-in-law Jake French. Richard suffered from Acute Myeloid Leukemia for the past year and had moved to Houston to be near M. D. Anderson for cancer treatment.

Richard, a native of Hamilton, Alabama, was born in Russellville, Alabama; attended school in Hamilton, graduating from Hamilton High School. In 1972 he received his B.S. Degree in Chemistry from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina where he received his commission in the US Air Force. His active duty service was spent at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota where he was a Launch Officer for the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program assigned to the Strategic Air Command’s 44th Strategic Missile Wing. Following his release from active duty, he entered the Air Force Reserves as an Intelligence Officer assigned to the Air Force Intelligence Reserve program participating on a regular basis until his retirement.

Upon returning to civilian life, he attended Jeff State Jr. College and received an A.A.S. degree in Financial Management in 1978. He continued his education at the University of Alabama receiving a M.S. in Mineral Engineering in 1981. Following his service as a phosphates mining engineer in central Florida he returned to the University of Alabama for graduate work in Environmental Engineering. In 1991 he received a Masters in Environmental Engineering and pursued considerable further post-graduate studies in Environmental Engineering.

After leaving the University of Alabama, he began a Civil Service career working both for the U. S. Air Force at Eglin AFB, Florida and Maxwell AFB, Alabama and the Federal Aviation Administration in Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama.

In addition to his Civil Service career, Richard was president of Harris Environmental, Inc., an environmental consulting and training firm. In his capacity as a trainer, he also served as an Adjunct Professor for several on-line colleges and universities providing environmental engineering related courses

Richard was a member of the Masonic orders and the Shriners as well as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE).

He is survived by his wife, Heidi K. Harris; two daughters, Marjorie H. French and Kathryn F. Harris, both of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; one step-son, Dylan S. Newell of Magnolia, Ohio, one son-in-law, Jake D. French of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and two brothers, William M. Harris, III of Roxboro, North Carolina, and Michael F. Harris of Lorton, Virginia. An avid pet lover, he also leaves one dog and several cats.

Graveside funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 28th, at 2:00PM in the Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville. The family will receive friends at the May and Smith Funeral Home from 10:30AM until 11:30AM preceding the service on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605. Donations may also be made to the First Christian Church, 166 East Church Street, Sandersville, GA 31082. (This church was founded by Thomas Marcus Harris, Richard's Great-Great Grandfather.)

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.
www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com