Biographies: J. R. Harrison, 1976, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: June 9, 1996 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Railroad Man Retires, Plans A New Career

Retirement may be rocking chair time for some folks, but J. R. Harrison of
Winnfield has more ambitious ideas.

After nearly 40 years working for the railroad, Harrison, at the early
retirement age of 60, has tentative plans to return to college and launch a
new career, probably civil engineering or public relations.

That is, after he has taken a vacation.

Harrison retired from his job in the transportation department of the L and A-
Kansas City Southern Railroad June 1.

After working in Alexandria, then in Baton Rouge, he came to Winnfield in 1939
as cashier, and has been Winnfield station agent since 1958, when he succeeded
Leary Rickerson upon his retirement.

Harrison has seen the railroads in their hey day, when both passenger and
freight trains, first with steam locomotives and later with diesel engines,
rolled through Winnfield.  He has watched the transportation revolution with
rail passenger service a victim of modern highways and airplanes.

He still feels there is an important role for the railroads in the freight
business.  This will depend on continued modernization, some merging, good
management, and hopefully, fair treatment by the government, which in the past
has favored trucks and airlines over the railroads in handing out subsidies.

"I have enjoyed my job," Harrison said this week, "but I'm also looking
forward to the change that retirement brings.  At last I plan to do whatever I
want to."

For the present he and his wife, the former Beatrice Kelley, will continue to
live in Winnfield at their home at 505 Elliott, but eventually they plan to
move to their 135 acre farm in Shelby County, Texas, near Tenaha.

"I don't plan to do much farming, just live out in the country," Harrison
said.

Harrison has been a member of the Winnfield Rotary Club for about 17 years and
is a past president.  The family is affiliated with the First Presbyterian
Chuch here.

The Harrisons have one son, George, who is married and is a geologist from
Exxon in New Orleans.