Biography of A L Harris Sr, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 19 Nov 2008
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It was 18 years ago that A. L. Harris Sr. started a small tobacco, candy and
notions business, which is now one of the most successful wholesale grocery and
feed businesses in Eastern Arkansas. The Merchants Specialty Co., Inc., with its
15 employees, 3 outside salesmen, and 9 trucks is an important business in
Forrest City. Mr. Harris is President; A. L. Harris, Jr., Vice President; Mrs.
A. L. Harris, Sr., Treasurer; and Mrs. Dorothy Mitchell, Secretary. In 1941, he
bought the Hodges Coal Co. from Mrs. Samuel Hodges, and operated it under the
Harris Coal Company. Mr. Harris moved here in 1906 from Advance, Missouri. He
was born in Richlieu, Ky. the son of J. W. and Mary Elizabeth (Boucher) Harris.
He attended Crowley's Ridge Institute in Forrest City. For 15 years he was plant
superintendent of the old Arkansas Trim Co. here, and then from 1932 to 1935
owned and operated the Harris Grocery & Market. In 1936 he joined with Mr.
Huckabee in starting the Merchants Specialty Co. During World War I, he served
from June, 1917, to August 1919, in the U. S. Navy with 16 months overseas duty
on the USS Oklahoma, which during World War II was sunkby the Japs at Pearl
Harbor. On June 20, 1920, he married Miss Pauline Harrell, daughter of F. W. and
Lillie (Morris) Harrell of Hunter, Arkansas, and to that union has been born a
son and a daughter. They have five grandchildren. He is also director of the
Forrest City Savings & Loan Assoc. of Forrest City, a trustee of the First
Baptist Church and has been a VP of the Rotary Club, and a member of the St.
Francis County Election Commission. He is a charter member of the King-Beazley
American Legion Post, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and has served as
Master of the local Masonic lodge, with a 32nd degree and also a Shriner.
PROBABLY Aubrey Lee.


SOURCE:
HISTORY of ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1954 - Robert W. Chowning

Copyright, with Permission: Weston McCollum Lewey, Publisher
-Times Herald Publishing-Forrest City, Arkansas