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'''Jean Louise Harris''' (November 24, 1931 – December 14, 2001) was an American physician and politician. The first black woman to graduate from the [[Medical College of Virginia]], she went on to serve on the faculty there before being appointed [[Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources|Virginia Secretary of Human Resources]] by Governor [[John N. Dalton]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul G.|last=Edwards|title=Dalton Appoints Black Woman Va. Human Resources Secretary|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 13, 1977|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/12/13/dalton-appoints-black-woman-va-human-resources-secretary/351c11bc-3edf-41cd-9d11-2472b9cb4233/|accessdate=May 21, 2019}}</ref> Harris moved to Minnesota, where she ran in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary for [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota|lieutenant governor]] in 1990 and eventually for mayor of [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]. She was mayor until her death from lung cancer in 2001.<ref>{{cite book|first=David Vassar|last=Taylor|title=African Americans in Minnesota|page=76|publisher=[[Minnesota Historical Society|Minnesota Historical Society Press]]|year=2009|ISBN=9780873516532|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S68Jd8AxalMC&pg=PA76|accessdate=May 21, 2019}}</ref> |
'''Jean Louise Harris''' (November 24, 1931 – December 14, 2001) was an American physician and politician. The first black woman to graduate from the [[Medical College of Virginia]], she went on to serve on the faculty there before being appointed [[Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources|Virginia Secretary of Human Resources]] by Governor [[John N. Dalton]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul G.|last=Edwards|title=Dalton Appoints Black Woman Va. Human Resources Secretary|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 13, 1977|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/12/13/dalton-appoints-black-woman-va-human-resources-secretary/351c11bc-3edf-41cd-9d11-2472b9cb4233/|accessdate=May 21, 2019}}</ref> Harris moved to Minnesota, where she ran in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary for [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota|lieutenant governor]] in 1990 and eventually for mayor of [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]. She was mayor until her death from lung cancer in 2001.<ref>{{cite book|first=David Vassar|last=Taylor|title=African Americans in Minnesota|page=76|publisher=[[Minnesota Historical Society|Minnesota Historical Society Press]]|year=2009|ISBN=9780873516532|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S68Jd8AxalMC&pg=PA76|accessdate=May 21, 2019}}</ref> |
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==Early Life== |
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Dr. Harris was the daughter of Dr. Vernon Harris Sr., a prominent African-American physician, and Mrs. Jean L. Pace-Harris. A Episcopalian, Dr. Harris was the oldest child of this union; her younger sister, Dr. Diane Harris Marsh, became a well-known dentist and artist in Richmond, Virginia who married [[Henry L. Marsh]], the first African-American mayor of Richmond, Virginia, as well as a long-time state senator. Dr. Harris had an older brother, Vernon Harris Jr, born from his father's 1925 marriage to Vernon Jr.'s mother, Beatrice Virginia Robinson Harris (1908–1928), who passed away at the age of 20 years. <ref> Find a Grave, "Mrs Beatrice Virginia Robinson Harris". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198986883/beatrice-virginia-harris </ref> |
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Dr. Harris attended Armstrong High School, graduating in 1947. [[Douglas Wilder]], the first African-American governor in the Virginia and the United States, was Dr. Harris' classmate at Armstrong High School and Virginia Union University. |
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After graduating with honors from Virginia Union University, Harris became the first African American student admitted to the School of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. She graduated in the top five of her class earning her degree in 1955. One of her Class of 1955 classmates was Hunter McGuire, a member of the famous McGuire medical family and the great-great-grandson of Civil War physician, Dr. Hugh Holmes McGuire. |
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Harris spent three years as an intern and resident at MCV before completing her post-graduate training at the University of Rochester. She served on the School of Medicine faculty during the 1970s. |
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==Medical, Academic Career== |
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Dr. Harris held academic positions at Howard University and Johns Hopkins University, served as executive director of the National Medical Association Foundation, and the first full-time African-American faculty member at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. |
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She led a medical research foundation for the St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center. She served as the director of medical affairs at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic, and was a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. |
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==Government, Political Career== |
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Dr. Harris became the first African American cabinet member in the Commonwealth of Virginia when Governor John Dalton appointed her Secretary of Human Resources in 1978. |
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The National Governors’ Association recognized her work on the federal and state level by honoring her with the association’s distinguished service award in 1981. |
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Dr. Harris served as Chief of the United States Bureau of Resources Development, a consultant to the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the United States Agency on International Development and to the Congress during the Johnson and Nixon administrations. |
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Dr. Harris served as Vice President and health lobbyist for Control Data Corporation in Minnesota. The first African-American candidate for statewide office in Minnesota, Dr. Harris ran in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2000. |
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At the time of her death Harris was serving as mayor of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was a member of the United States Conference of Mayors. |
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==Death== |
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After fighting Lung Cancer for 3 years, Dr. Harris passed away in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota on December 14, 2001. She is interred at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Minnesota. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 23:42, 28 March 2021
Jean Harris | |
|---|---|
| 8th Mayor of Eden Prairie, Minnesota | |
| In office January 1995 – December 14, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Doug Tenpas |
| Succeeded by | Nancy Tyra-Lukens |
| 2nd Virginia Secretary of Human Resources | |
| In office January 14, 1978 – January 16, 1982 | |
| Governor | John N. Dalton |
| Preceded by | Otis L. Brown |
| Succeeded by | Joe Fisher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jean Louise Harris November 24, 1931 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2001 (aged 70) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Leslie John Ellis Jr. |
| Alma mater | Virginia Union University Medical College of Virginia |
Jean Louise Harris (November 24, 1931 – December 14, 2001) was an American physician and politician. The first black woman to graduate from the Medical College of Virginia, she went on to serve on the faculty there before being appointed Virginia Secretary of Human Resources by Governor John N. Dalton.[1] Harris moved to Minnesota, where she ran in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor in 1990 and eventually for mayor of Eden Prairie. She was mayor until her death from lung cancer in 2001.[2]
Early Life
Dr. Harris was the daughter of Dr. Vernon Harris Sr., a prominent African-American physician, and Mrs. Jean L. Pace-Harris. A Episcopalian, Dr. Harris was the oldest child of this union; her younger sister, Dr. Diane Harris Marsh, became a well-known dentist and artist in Richmond, Virginia who married Henry L. Marsh, the first African-American mayor of Richmond, Virginia, as well as a long-time state senator. Dr. Harris had an older brother, Vernon Harris Jr, born from his father's 1925 marriage to Vernon Jr.'s mother, Beatrice Virginia Robinson Harris (1908–1928), who passed away at the age of 20 years. [3]
Dr. Harris attended Armstrong High School, graduating in 1947. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American governor in the Virginia and the United States, was Dr. Harris' classmate at Armstrong High School and Virginia Union University.
After graduating with honors from Virginia Union University, Harris became the first African American student admitted to the School of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. She graduated in the top five of her class earning her degree in 1955. One of her Class of 1955 classmates was Hunter McGuire, a member of the famous McGuire medical family and the great-great-grandson of Civil War physician, Dr. Hugh Holmes McGuire.
Harris spent three years as an intern and resident at MCV before completing her post-graduate training at the University of Rochester. She served on the School of Medicine faculty during the 1970s.
Medical, Academic Career
Dr. Harris held academic positions at Howard University and Johns Hopkins University, served as executive director of the National Medical Association Foundation, and the first full-time African-American faculty member at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia.
She led a medical research foundation for the St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center. She served as the director of medical affairs at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic, and was a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
Government, Political Career
Dr. Harris became the first African American cabinet member in the Commonwealth of Virginia when Governor John Dalton appointed her Secretary of Human Resources in 1978.
The National Governors’ Association recognized her work on the federal and state level by honoring her with the association’s distinguished service award in 1981.
Dr. Harris served as Chief of the United States Bureau of Resources Development, a consultant to the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the United States Agency on International Development and to the Congress during the Johnson and Nixon administrations.
Dr. Harris served as Vice President and health lobbyist for Control Data Corporation in Minnesota. The first African-American candidate for statewide office in Minnesota, Dr. Harris ran in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2000.
At the time of her death Harris was serving as mayor of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was a member of the United States Conference of Mayors.
Death
After fighting Lung Cancer for 3 years, Dr. Harris passed away in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota on December 14, 2001. She is interred at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Minnesota.
References
- ^ Edwards, Paul G. (December 13, 1977). "Dalton Appoints Black Woman Va. Human Resources Secretary". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ Taylor, David Vassar (2009). African Americans in Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 76. ISBN 9780873516532. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ Find a Grave, "Mrs Beatrice Virginia Robinson Harris". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198986883/beatrice-virginia-harris
External links
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