Curtis W. Harris

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Curtis West Harris, Sr. (born July 1, 1924 in Dendron, VA) is a minister, civil rights activist, and politician in Virginia.

Dr. Harris became a member of the National Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1961; and he is presently the SCLC National Vice President. He served as president of the Virginia State Unit of SCLC from 1963 - 1998. For his work as a civil rights activist he received the Rosa Parks Award from the National SCLC in 1981. Dr. Harris was also a recipient of the 2000 American Century Award and was selected as an outstanding African-American in Dominion Virginia Power's 2001 "Strong Black Men & Women" series.

After seven attempts, Dr. Harris was elected to the Hopewell City Council in 1986 because of his successful effort to bring a ward system to the city. In 1998, he was sworned in as the first African-American mayor of Hopewell.

Dr. Harris is presently a member of the Hopewell City Council and continues to pastor of the Union Baptist Church in Hopewell, Va since 1961.