Fred R. Harris

Full Name: Fred R. "Red" Harris
Date of birth: February 28, 1910
Date of death: October 20, 1979

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
H	94	Nov 13, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953	52nd ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Hamilton / Hamilton	Coryell, Hamilton
S	11	Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 9, 1951	50th 51st	Democrat	Dallas / Dallas	Dallas
H	50-4	Jan 14, 1941 - Dec 31, 1941	47th ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Dallas / Dallas	Dallas
H	50-4	Jan 12, 1937 - Jan 10, 1939	45th	Democrat	Dallas / Dallas	Dallas
H	50-4	Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 12, 1937	44th	Democrat	Dallas / Dallas	Dallas

(1) Fred R. Harris, in special election 11/13/1951, succeeded Earl Huddleston, resigned 6/14/1951. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Succeeded predecessor on 11/13/1951. Texas Legislative Manual.
(3) Fred R. Harris resigned 12/31/1941. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Terms of Service top

House District 94
Nov 13, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953
Legislatures: 52nd ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hamilton / Hamilton
Counties in district: Coryell, Hamilton

Senate District 11
Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 9, 1951
Legislatures: 50th 51st
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

House District 50-4
Jan 14, 1941 - Dec 31, 1941
Legislatures: 47th ⁽³⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

House District 50-4
Jan 12, 1937 - Jan 10, 1939
Legislatures: 45th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

House District 50-4
Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 12, 1937
Legislatures: 44th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

62nd Legislature, R.S., SR 19, painting. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
64th Legislature, R.S., HCR 122, outstanding Western artist. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

Oral Memoirs of Charles Frederick 'Fred Red' Harris Jr., audio, 1977. Baylor University Digital Collections.
Memorial, March 1980, p. 270. Texas Bar Journal.

Military Service Notes

Description of United States Navy service during World War II, and Harris as recipient of "the Navy's highest award, the Navy Cross," and two Purple Hearts. Obituary, "Longtime Political Figure, 'Roastmaster' Red Harris Dies," 10/21/1979, p. 51A. Dallas Morning News.
Fred Red Harris, birth date 2/28/1910 in McAllister, Oklahoma; address in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; draft registration 10/16/1940 in Dallas. FamilySearch Texas World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947.
Description and remembrance of World War II service, Fred "Red" Harris, birth date 2/28/1910. Tattooed on My Soul: Texas Veterans Remember World War II, edited by Stephen M. Sloan, Lois E. Myers, and Michelle Holland, Texas A&M University Press, 2015, pp. 95-120. Google Books.
United States Navy, World War II. "In 1935 he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he remained until 1941. He was then appointed County Commissioner of Dallas County, but had to resign to enter the Navy in 1942. Mr. Harris served aboard an aircraft carrier. He returned to Dallas in 1945 decorated with the Navy Cross, Bronze Star, Commendation Ribbons, and two Purple Hearts." Memorial, March 1980, p. 270. Texas Bar Journal.
United States Navy. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

Obituary and photo, "Longtime Political Figure, 'Roastmaster' Red Harris Dies," 10/21/1979, p. 51A. Dallas Morning News.
Fred Harris, death date 10/20/1979 in Bell County. FamilySearch Texas Death Index, 1964-1998.
Fred Red Harris (1910-1979), burial in Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County. Find a Grave.
Book in LRL collection, 700 H241W 1971. The Western Paintings of Fred Red Harris, 1971.

Photographs

Photograph. Fred Red Harris, 51st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Fred Red Harris, 50th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Fred Harris, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Fred Harris, 45th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Fred Harris, 44th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

50th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
51st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
44th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, east wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
45th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, west wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
47th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, west wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
52nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

51st R.S. - 1949 Civil Jurisprudence Contingent Expenses Education Employees Assignment, Special Game and Fish General Investigating General Investigating, Special Insurance Insurance Code Labor Local and Uncontested Bills, Special Oil, Gas and Conservation (Chair) Privileges and Elections Rules (Chair) State Affairs Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage
50th R.S. - 1947 Contingent Expense (Vice Chair) Education Employees Assignment, Special Game and Fish General Investigating, Special Insurance Interstate Cooperation (Vice Chair) Labor Local and Uncontested Bills, Special Oil, Gas and Conservation Privileges and Elections Rules (Chair) State Affairs Student Activities at A&M College, Investigation, Special (Chair) Veterans' Affairs
47th R.S. - 1941 Claims and Accounts (Vice Chair) Constitutional Amendments Highways and Motor Traffic Liquor Traffic Revenue and Taxation
45th R.S. - 1937 Commerce and Manufactures Congressional and Legislative Districts Highways and Motor Traffic Insurance Liquor Traffic
44th R.S. - 1935 Criminal Jurisprudence Highways and Motor Traffic Insurance Military Affairs (Vice Chair) Teachings of Communism in State Institutions of Higher Learning, Special

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