Thomas Edward Harris (1908-1990), the son of Thomas and Anna E. Beattie Harris, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.  He received his A.B. from Oberlin College in 1933 and years later took courses at Harvard University.  He married Helen B. Laird (OC Class of 1935) in 1941.

            Returning to his alma mater in 1942, Harris  replaced Carroll Shaw as the Secretary to the Oberlin college Alumni Association.  For two years he served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant, but returned to Oberlin in 1945 to resume his duties as Alumni Secretary.  In addition, he was also a member of the Prudential Committee (1945) until 1949 when he was appointed Assistant to the President.

            Although Harris' predecessor Harold S. Wood (1944-48) held the title of Vice President, this position was renamed and reclassified as Assistant to the President by President William Stevenson. Most of the same duties and responsibilities were retained, such as  responsibility for developing funds for new Oberlin College buildings and scholarships.

            Harris held the Assistant's position until 1953 when he resigned and returned to the office of Alumni Secretary.

            Thomas E. Harris died August 27, 1990.  He is survived by two sons and a daughter.