Julian Harriss

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[edit] Julian Harriss (1914-1989)

Julian Harriss is a member of the Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame . He was inducted in 1996 and is immortalized with a plaque that hangs on the wall in the University of Tennessee's College of Communication and Information.

Harriss was born on August 15, 1914 and passed away on January 3, 1989. Upon his death, the Tennessee House of Representatives honored him on its floor by passing a resolution remembering his contributions to the state and its flagship university.

Harriss served the as the University of Tennessee's director of public relations for over 30 years and served under four university presidents. In addition to his PR duties, Julian found time to co-write a textbook on reporting--The Complete Reporter. He also helped to convince the UT Board of Trustees to establish a journalism program at the university. In word, Harriss helped found the School of Journalism at UT-Knoxville.

Harriss was married to his wife, Virginia, for over 50 years. They had three sons (Robert, David, and Gerald). All three sons graduated from UT as did two of his grandchildren (Chandler and Molly). Julian devoted his life to the University of Tennessee and his family continues that tradition by funding and maintaining a public relations scholarship in his honor.