MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 16, 2013
Title
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners extending sympathy and condolences to the family of Commissioner James C. Harris, Sr.
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WHEREAS, James C. Harris was born on August 23, 1933 in Apex, North Carolina to Ernest and Cassie Harris, the youngest in a family of three boys and two girls; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris met his beloved wife, Nellie when the two attended Apex Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, feeling the call to serve his country, Mr. Harris left Berry O'Kelly High School to join the United States Marine Corps; and
WHEREAS, after proudly completing his service, Mr. Harris returned home to marry Nellie and the two moved to Chicago, where Mr. Harris worked for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as a bus driver for thirteen years; and
WHEREAS, in 1957, James moved his family, now complete with son James, Jr., to Phoenix, Illinois, where he had his first and only home built; and
WHEREAS, after leaving the CTA in 1967, Mr. Harris worked for three years for the Met Life Insurance Company before joining Old Rose Distributing Company, where he worked until 1987; and
WHEREAS, once again feeling the call to serve, Mr. Harris did so proudly as Mayor of Phoenix for ten years; and
WHEREAS, continuing his career in public service, James worked as Assistant Manager of Vehicle Services for the Illinois Secretary of State and later moved to the Cook County Department of Health, where he served as the Assistant Operating Officer; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris was elected Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in 1998, serving until his retirement in 2006; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris took pride in the fiscal responsibility of the District to its taxpayers, and in his years as Commissioner served as Chairman of the Committee on Municipalities, Chairman of the Committee on Flood Control, Drainage and Storm Flow, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Affirmative Action and Vice Chairman of the Committee on State Legislation and Rules; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris continued his devotion to public service as a member of the Board of PACE Bus, the Illinois Municipal League, Co-Chair of the South Suburban Forum to Promote Racial Harmony, Co-Organizer and member of the Illinois Black Elected Officials, member of the Illinois Conference of Black Mayors, a member of the Harvey Area CEDA Advisory Council, and Chairman of the South Suburban Inter-Governmental Agency; and
WHEREAS, James was also a member of the NAACP and Operation Push for many years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris was known as a brilliant political strategist, widely admired and trusted for his strategic and campaigning skills; and
WHEREAS, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago James C. Harris was called to eternal rest too soon; and
WHEREAS, James was reunited with his three brothers, who preceded him in death; and
WHEREAS, James is survived by his beloved wife, Nellie; their dear son, James, Jr.; his two sisters; his five cherished grandchildren; his four precious great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the citizens of Cook County remain grateful for the many contributions James C. Harris made to the quality of life in Cook County and honor his lifetime of dedicated public service; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of James C. Harris; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the family of James C. Harris.
Dated: May 162, 2013
Approved: KATHLEEN THERESE MEANY, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice-President; MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MICHAEL A. ALVAREZ; FRANK AVILA; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; PATRICK D. THOMPSON, Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel