Obituary of T. H. Harris, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

Copied and Submitted by: Kathy LeMay Kelly, P.O. Box 219, Trout, La. 71371

From The Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal; Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.  
Microfilm at the LaSalle Parish Library located in Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.

Many Thanks to The Times - Signal and to the LaSalle Parish Library for 
allowing the following to be added to the Archives.





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Date: February 26, 1942

Headline: T. H. HARRIS, 72 SUCCUMBS AFTER 4 DAYS ILLNESS

Sud Headline: LaSalle Parish Schools Pay Tribute To Former Educator

LaSalle parish schools were dismissed at noon Wednesday, in tribute to T. H.
Harris, 72-year-old Louisiana Educator who succumbed to influenza late Tuesday
afternoon at Our Lady of the Lake Sanitarium in Shreveport.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the rabenhorst funeral home
with internment at Roselawn Memorial Park.

As elected state superintendent of education for eight consecutive terms
Harris had guided formation of education politics in Louisiana's public
schools and colleges from 1908 until 1940, when he failed in seeking election
to a ninth term. He was succeeded by John E. Coxe.

He had sponsored higher teacher standard, teacher tenure and retirement, and
during the trying political days which marked his career, constantly sought
additional funds he considered necessary for public education.

Harris is credited largely with raising Louisiana education standards from
near the lowest in the nation to among the highest. Under his guidance the era
of the one room school house ended and the large, well-equipped consolidated
schools with transportation, books, and other supplies provided from the
public treasury, began an from the public treasury, began and flourished.

Surviving the educator are a daughter, Mrs. E. M. Baskin, principal of the
Baton Rouge Junior high school, and two grandchildren, Thomas Harris Jackson,
now in the U.S. Navy and Betty Baskin.

Also surviving are a brother, Aussie Harris, Goldonna and two sisters, Mrs.
Rettie Harris, Goldonna and Mrs. Annie Ledbetter, Cheneyville.