Elmer Beseler Harris
Encyclopedia
Elmer Beseler Harris is an American businessman and political strategist.
Born in Chilton County, Alabama
to Alton and Lera Mae (Mitchell) Harris. After getting a B.S.
degree
in engineering
from Auburn University
in 1962, he began a 25 year career with the USAF and the ANG. After completing Air Force Flight School in 1964, he returned to Auburn to get both his M.S.
in engineering (1968) and his M.B.A. (1970). He also attended the Air Command and Staff College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
in 1970 and the Air War College
in 1985. He is a retired USAF Command Pilot and Brigadier General in the Alabama Air National Guard. Harris serves as Honorary Consul General of Japan. Harris was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2007 as well as the Alabama Engineering Hall Of Fame in 1996.
Harris created the Alabama Power Foundation and funded it at $150 million, the largest foundation in Alabama. He also created the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a group of businesses working together with state governments to win major economic development projects, such as attracting and winning the first Mercedes plant located outside of Germany, followed by winning the Honda plant in Lincoln, Alabama and the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama; thus creating a major automobile industry in Alabama.
After starting out as a co-op student in engineering with the utility
Alabama Power Company, he rose to become its top executive in 1989. He was appointed adjutant general
in 2001. The former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alabama Power, was rumored to be a candidate for the Alabama Governor
, election
for 2006. He did not accept offers from both parties to run in that contest. He has received 6 honorary doctoral degrees from Auburn University, University of Alabama Birmingham, Troy University
, Faulkner University
, Jacksonville University
, and Huntingdon College
. Harris retired from Alabama Power in 2002 with 44 years of outstanding service to Alabama's largest corporation.
Harris has served on numerous civic and business boards of directors including Alabama Power Company
, Southern Company
, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Mercedes Benz US International, AmSouth Bancorporation
, Samford University
, Air University Foundation, Auburn University Foundation, Meyer Foundation, United Way, Heart Association, Business Council of Alabama, National Association of Manufacturers, etc.
Since retirement from Alabama Power, Harris continues to work on needed Alabama education, constitutional, and tax reform. He continues his work as Honorary Consul General of Japan and remains active in various international activities. In addition, he remains very active in business, serving as Chairman or CEO of several financial and real estate LLCs.
Born in Chilton County, Alabama
Chilton County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.1% White*9.7% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.2% Two or more races*7.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
to Alton and Lera Mae (Mitchell) Harris. After getting a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in 1962, he began a 25 year career with the USAF and the ANG. After completing Air Force Flight School in 1964, he returned to Auburn to get both his M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in engineering (1968) and his M.B.A. (1970). He also attended the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
in 1970 and the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
in 1985. He is a retired USAF Command Pilot and Brigadier General in the Alabama Air National Guard. Harris serves as Honorary Consul General of Japan. Harris was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2007 as well as the Alabama Engineering Hall Of Fame in 1996.
Harris created the Alabama Power Foundation and funded it at $150 million, the largest foundation in Alabama. He also created the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a group of businesses working together with state governments to win major economic development projects, such as attracting and winning the first Mercedes plant located outside of Germany, followed by winning the Honda plant in Lincoln, Alabama and the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama; thus creating a major automobile industry in Alabama.
After starting out as a co-op student in engineering with the utility
Utility
In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service....
Alabama Power Company, he rose to become its top executive in 1989. He was appointed adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
in 2001. The former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alabama Power, was rumored to be a candidate for the Alabama Governor
Alabama gubernatorial election, 2006
The Alabama gubernatorial election of 2006 occurred on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Bob Riley defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley.-Republican Party:*Bob Riley, incumbent Governor of Alabama...
, election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
for 2006. He did not accept offers from both parties to run in that contest. He has received 6 honorary doctoral degrees from Auburn University, University of Alabama Birmingham, Troy University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
, Faulkner University
Faulkner University
Faulkner University is a private Christian university, located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and affiliated with the Church of Christ. The University was founded in 1942 as Montgomery Bible School. In 1953 the school's name was changed to Alabama Christian College . In 1965, the college was moved to...
, Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
, and Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College, founded in 1854, is a coeducational liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Related to the United Methodist Church, the college's central hallmarks are faith, wisdom, and service. The college is known for providing a solid academic experience based on good...
. Harris retired from Alabama Power in 2002 with 44 years of outstanding service to Alabama's largest corporation.
Harris has served on numerous civic and business boards of directors including Alabama Power Company
Alabama Power Company
Alabama Power Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a company in the southern United States that provides electricity service to 1.3 million homes, businesses, and industries in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. It is one of four U.S...
, Southern Company
Southern Company
Southern Company is a public utility holding company of primarily electric utilities in the southern United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with executive offices also located in Birmingham, Alabama. The company is currently the 16th largest utility company in the world and the...
, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Mercedes Benz US International, AmSouth Bancorporation
AmSouth Bancorporation
AmSouth Bancorporation was a banking company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and operated for its final year in existence as a bank holding company of Regions Financial Corporation after a merger between the two banks. AmSouth was previously known as First National Bank of Birmingham, which...
, Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
, Air University Foundation, Auburn University Foundation, Meyer Foundation, United Way, Heart Association, Business Council of Alabama, National Association of Manufacturers, etc.
Since retirement from Alabama Power, Harris continues to work on needed Alabama education, constitutional, and tax reform. He continues his work as Honorary Consul General of Japan and remains active in various international activities. In addition, he remains very active in business, serving as Chairman or CEO of several financial and real estate LLCs.