[1] He attended Iredell County Schools and received his degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
[1] Harris was the first Republican Mayor of Charlotte in the twentieth century having been elected in 1977 in what was then considered a major upset.
[2] During his term he championed the development of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport including passing a bond issue which resulted in the construction of a new terminal which was instrumental in the growth of the city in the following decades.
[1] After leaving the office of mayor, Harris was elected to the North Carolina State Senate for two terms.
[1] Harris worked professionally in the insurance industry and was a member of the North Carolina Air National Guard for twenty years rising to the rank of major.