Robert J. Harris
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Harris (October 5, 1930 – July 9, 2005) was a lawyer
, professor
, and mayor
of the city of Ann Arbor in the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
. He was educated at Wesleyan University
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was then a Rhodes Scholar and went on to Yale Law School
, where he was a member of the Law Review
and Order of the Coif
. He served in the U.S. Army
during the Korean War
. He came to Ann Arbor, Michigan
in 1959 as a professor in the University of Michigan Law School
, where he taught full-time from 1959 to 1974.
Harris was elected Mayor of Ann Arbor on the Democratic
ticket on April 7, 1969, defeating Republican
candidate Richard E. Balzhiser. He was re-elected on April 5, 1971, defeating Republican Jack J. Garris. During his second term in office, Harris worked with a liberal/radical coalition on city council, composed of four Democrats and two members of the local, left-wing Human Rights Party (HRP), who held the balance of power beginning in 1972. Harris supported HRP efforts to decriminalize marijuana use in Ann Arbor (see Cannabis laws in Ann Arbor, Michigan), telling the Washington Post: "In this town, it was the only way to go. ... We've made a great effort to get a decent relationship between the kids and the cops. Now at least we'll get the police out of the marijuana business." In 1973, after two two-year terms in the mayor's post, Harris chose not to run for another term. That year, the liberal/radical coalition lost power, as Republican James E. Stephenson
won the mayoralty and local Republicans took control of seven seats on the ten-seat city council.
After 1974, Harris continued as an adjunct faculty member at the law school, while practicing law as the senior partner of an Ann Arbor law firm he founded. The firm included, at various times, Bob Guenzel (later Washtenaw County
Corporation Counsel, and now County Administrator), Ed Goldman (now general counsel of the University of Michigan Hospitals
), and Jerry Lax (former Ann Arbor city attorney and candidate for a federal judicial appointment during the Clinton
administration).
Harris served on many community boards and was a founding member of Friends of Legal Aid, which provides support to Legal Services of South Central Michigan. He also did extensive pro bono
work for indigent individuals and for numerous groups, including Ozone House
, Perry Nursery School and S.O.S. Community Services.
In his retirement, Harris tutored children in reading and volunteered for Food Gatherers. He also had a passion for model airplanes and jazz.
Harris, who was Jewish, was at times a member of Temple Beth Emeth (Reform
) in Ann Arbor.
He died in 2005 from brain lymphoma
, and is interred in Arborcrest Cemetery in Ann Arbor.
He was survived by his wife of 52 years, Mimi; children David of Ann Arbor; Liz (Lorn Gingrich) of Albany, N.Y.; and Kate (Peter Bullard) of Chelsea, Mich.; three grandchildren, Devon, Rachel and Sophia; brothers-in-law Dick Porter of Upper Jay, N.Y.; Herb Rueben of White Plains, N.Y.; and Sam Rosenfeld of Washington, D.C.; seven nephews, two nieces and his sisters-in-law.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city of Ann Arbor in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Harris was born in Boston, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was educated at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was then a Rhodes Scholar and went on to Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, where he was a member of the Law Review
Law review
A law review is a scholarly journal focusing on legal issues, normally published by an organization of students at a law school or through a bar association...
and Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
. He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He came to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1959 as a professor in the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
, where he taught full-time from 1959 to 1974.
Harris was elected Mayor of Ann Arbor on the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
ticket on April 7, 1969, defeating Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate Richard E. Balzhiser. He was re-elected on April 5, 1971, defeating Republican Jack J. Garris. During his second term in office, Harris worked with a liberal/radical coalition on city council, composed of four Democrats and two members of the local, left-wing Human Rights Party (HRP), who held the balance of power beginning in 1972. Harris supported HRP efforts to decriminalize marijuana use in Ann Arbor (see Cannabis laws in Ann Arbor, Michigan), telling the Washington Post: "In this town, it was the only way to go. ... We've made a great effort to get a decent relationship between the kids and the cops. Now at least we'll get the police out of the marijuana business." In 1973, after two two-year terms in the mayor's post, Harris chose not to run for another term. That year, the liberal/radical coalition lost power, as Republican James E. Stephenson
James E. Stephenson
James E. Stephenson was a Republican politician in the American state of Michigan. He served as mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1973 to 1975.-Further reading:* , AnnArbor.com, August 29, 2009....
won the mayoralty and local Republicans took control of seven seats on the ten-seat city council.
After 1974, Harris continued as an adjunct faculty member at the law school, while practicing law as the senior partner of an Ann Arbor law firm he founded. The firm included, at various times, Bob Guenzel (later Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
Corporation Counsel, and now County Administrator), Ed Goldman (now general counsel of the University of Michigan Hospitals
University of Michigan Health System
The University of Michigan Health System is the wholly owned academic medical center of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. UMHS includes the U-M Medical School, with its Faculty Group Practice and many research laboratories; the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers, which includes University...
), and Jerry Lax (former Ann Arbor city attorney and candidate for a federal judicial appointment during the Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
administration).
Harris served on many community boards and was a founding member of Friends of Legal Aid, which provides support to Legal Services of South Central Michigan. He also did extensive pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
work for indigent individuals and for numerous groups, including Ozone House
Ozone House
Ozone House, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 5013 non-profit organization funded by the United Way that works to "meet the needs of runaway, homeless, and high-risk youth and their families." Ozone House addresses these objectives through a variety of services and venues, including a 24-hour...
, Perry Nursery School and S.O.S. Community Services.
In his retirement, Harris tutored children in reading and volunteered for Food Gatherers. He also had a passion for model airplanes and jazz.
Harris, who was Jewish, was at times a member of Temple Beth Emeth (Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
) in Ann Arbor.
He died in 2005 from brain lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, and is interred in Arborcrest Cemetery in Ann Arbor.
He was survived by his wife of 52 years, Mimi; children David of Ann Arbor; Liz (Lorn Gingrich) of Albany, N.Y.; and Kate (Peter Bullard) of Chelsea, Mich.; three grandchildren, Devon, Rachel and Sophia; brothers-in-law Dick Porter of Upper Jay, N.Y.; Herb Rueben of White Plains, N.Y.; and Sam Rosenfeld of Washington, D.C.; seven nephews, two nieces and his sisters-in-law.
External links
- Obituary in the University of Michigan Record
- Mayors of Ann Arbor page at PoliticalGraveyard.com