Fred R. Harris

What Fred Harris meant to me - Dick Mason - Rio Rancho, NM I was 22 when JFK was assassinated. Being Irish Catholic from the Boston area, that was like a member of the family being killed. That was followed by the assassinations of Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy (I was involved in his campaign as a volunteer). Then came the defeat of George McGovern in 1972. I was pretty much disillusioned with the political process. Then I read Fred Harris´s "The New Populism" and...

Prof. Harris was a brilliant teacher and an excellent human being. It was like learning from a great, ancient scholar with humor, voice and demeanor of Foghorn Leghorn...I loved every minute of it! His contributions to the world were undeniable and he will be missed. Mahalo Sir

Fred Harris was truly an inspiration to me. He was my very favorite professor at UNM. His classes were always full, so I registered as early as possible to get in. I never ever missed a day of class. He taught me so much. I will never forget him.

Fred was my colleague at UNM and brought good sense and good humor to a political science department that often needed both. It was a privilege to be his friend and colleague.

Fred Harris changed my family's life forever (and for the better). Some of my best memories growing up (in both OKC and McLean, VA) involved the Harris family. He was an amazing, brilliant man with a kind heart and a great sense of humor, and he led with the best interests of the people of Oklahoma as his priority.