Harold "Hal" M. Harris, Jr.

Harold (Hal) Monroe Harris, Jr., passed away Monday, March 4, 2024 with his wife Claudia by his side. He was 84 years old.
  
Born and raised in Montgomery Alabama on his family’s dairy farm, he was the son of Harold and Lillian Haden Harris.  Hal graduated Phi Kappa Phi from Auburn University and then entered the US Army, where he served in the 7th Cavalry division as a first lieutenant.  He completed his education at Purdue University, earning a doctorate in Agricultural Economics.
 

After spending 5 years as an associate professor at Virginia Tech, he arrived at Clemson University in 1975, where he taught and worked with farmers in extension service for 28 years. He received many honors during his tenure at Clemson, including The Award for Faculty Excellence, The Distinguished Public Service Award, and induction into the Dairy Hall of Fame. 

 He was a leader in the Agricultural Economics profession and professional organizations. Dr. Harris' extension and research areas covered a broad array of topics in the public policy and marketing fields of the profession, including commodity policy, market structure, dairy marketing and policy, producer marketing strategy, grain marketing, wetlands and endangered species issues, animal waste policy, agribusiness management, and international trade and trade policy. He authored over 300 research and extension reports, bulletins, book chapters, proceedings papers, and journal articles. He earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) one of the most prestigious awards given to an Agricultural Economist. Clink on following link for full article. 

https://www.proquest.com/docview/227998598?parentSessionId=jQuQiZa6gvvbBmoBzHAoNpOJWrAe9sAWOlo%2BmfRxArc%3D&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals

He was also very active in Southern Agricultural Economics Association where he was   elected President-Elect of the SAEA and served on the Board of Directors for 3 years as President-Elect, President, and Past-President. He also served as Chair of the National Public Policy Education Committee, two terms as Chair of the Southern Extension Public Affairs Committee, and as Chair of the Southern Extension Marketing Committee. 

He was a member of many honor societies including Sigma Xi, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Tau Sigma, and Epsilon Sigma Phi. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He loved outdoor activities and was an avid golfer, gardener and fisherman. Hal was a devoted CU Tiger and AU War Eagle, never missing games.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 62 years are his children, Robert Harris of Mount Pleasant and Stephanie Harris of Hendersonville, NC; Siblings Haden Pickel of Nashville, and Jimmy Harris of Eclectic AL, and his number one grandson, Sloan McKenna of Eugene, Oregon.
  
 A celebration of Hal’s life and achievements will be held at 4 PM, Friday, March 22, 2024 in the Chapel of Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home in Central, SC.
  
The family will greet friends following the service at the funeral home.
  
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, PO Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633 https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving/scbg or to Conserving Carolina at 
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E93495&id=17
 

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Cremations, Central-Clemson Commons.