Joseph D. Harris

Joseph D. Harris, known by his neighborhood friends as “Hooks” received his formal education in Elizabeth, New Jersey. While in elementary school he began to win awards and medals for track and field usually placing first.

Joe was a member of the Thomas Jefferson High School graduating class of 1960. At Thomas Jefferson (known as the “Minutemen”) he became an active member of the Color Guards, the Service League, participated in the Christmas Pageant, the Sports Club, as well as the Jefferson Student Organization. He was even selected as a representative to the New Jersey State Student Council. Joe was the Captain of the Sophomore Football Team and was a member of the Indoor Track team while excelling in many other school activities. He was elected President of his sophomore and junior classes; being a significant role model in and outside of his community.

His High School football and track coaches were: Herman Herring, Bill Tranavitch, Joe Kania, Frank Cicarell, Paul Barotta and Bill Satz. His college football and track coaches were Everett “Ed” Eischeid, George Richards, Bob Otto, Bud Myers, and Chuck Peterson. During the years that Joe played for the Thomas Jefferson “Minuteman” football was going through a “building season” for the 1960’s into the 1961 seasons. Jefferson was operating on dual sessions meaning, the school had two sessions of classes due to dilapidated conditions, thus disallowing the sophomore class to fully participate in school activities due to schedule limitations. Thusly, sophomores had to report to school in the afternoon which was trying at best. The 1957-58, football season was limited to a six game season and those who were called the sophomore team played against the best teams in Union County ( where Joe was a leading Defensive End) and won four, tied one and lost one game under the direction of Coach Herman Herring and Paul Barotta.

Entering into the 1958-1959 season, Joe played under Coaches Joe Kania and Frank Cicarell as a Defensive End and was given an opportunity as a Punt Receiver. In 1960, Frank Cicarell became Head Football Coach and had to start rebuilding; using Joe as a Defensive End where he played exceptionally well and earned three letters in football and three letters in track.

As a sophomore, Joe’s individual track and field records at Thomas Jefferson High School reflect that in 1958, in New York at the Cardinal Hayes Track Invitational track meet Joe set a new novice indoor track record in the 100- Yard Dash of 10.7. In 1959, Joe placed second in the Newark Board of Education Invitational Track Meet in the 220 yard dash. He also won the State Elk’s 100-Yard Dash and placed second in the 200- Yard Dash in Asbury Park, NJ.

In 1960, Mr. Jack Tilson wrote an article in the Elizabeth Daily Journal under the heading of, “On the Go/People and Places: “College scouts have their eyes on Joe Harris, Thomas Jefferson High’s track star. Joe a rabbit-like sprinter recently broke the New Brunswick stadium broad jump record with a leap of 21 feet ½ inches. Joe’s leap was better than an eleven year Zebra record.” In the same meet, Joseph continued on to win both the 100-Yard Dash and the 220 yard Dash.
In the Union County Interscholastic Track meet, Joe placed third in the Broad Jump injuring his leg and he was sidelined during the State champions. At graduation he was presented the Outstanding Student Track medal for 1960 by his Coach William Bill Tranavitch.

In 1960, Joe attended Upper Iowa University where he was awarded a full athletic scholarship in football, which was just one of many offers. Joe played football as a Running Back; he was awarded his letter sweater and college jacket at the end of the seasons.

In 1962, Joe transferred to Mankato State University in Minnesota, where he was awarded a scholarship to continue to participate in both football and track. Joe was again awarded his school letter and jacket. One of the highlights in Joe’s sports career was being one of the two athletes offered a try-out with the Oakland Raiders Professional Football Team. Joe was elected as President of the Student Chair of Ideas and Civil Rights Representative of the Senior Student body.

During Joe’s undergraduate years at Mankato, Joe continued to set records, Running 6.2 seconds for the 60 yard dash indoor’s and leaping 21 feet 9 ½ inches setting a Broad Jump Indoor Track Record. He placed third in the 220- Yard Dash in a time of 21.7 seconds at Bemidji State Invitational conference in Minnesota.

Joe graduated from Mankato State University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. He continued and furthered his education and obtained certifications in Social Studies, Psychology, Teaching the Handicapped, Cooperative Work Study and his sixth year level at Kean University in Supervision and Administration.

Joe was a Work Study Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson High School, served in the position of Assistant Principle at Cleveland Middle School, House C, Battin Middle School and Hamilton Middle School in Elizabeth, until his retirement in July of 2005. He served for 38 years in the Elizabeth School System driven by his love for education and the advancement of all youth. He also served as the Supervisor over the Elizabeth Recreation Summer Programs.

He served as a facilitator in the community Center School # 1 under the late Howard J. McKenzie and continued to be active in many groups, associations and clubs including NAACP (Elizabeth Branch), The Black Educators and the Talented Tenth.

Joe was raised in the church and over the last 25 years, he served on the Shiloh Baptist Association of the New Jersey Scholarship committee and surrogate father to neighborhood boys. He has actively recruited students for college and participated on scholarship committees both locally and regionally.

In 1991, Joe was inducted into the Distinguished Alumni at Mankato State University. He is a proud father of two children, Lane Joseph Harris and Keisha Lauren Harris as well as a devoted husband to Gwendolyn Ruth Harris. Last year, at the age of 65, Joe ran the Resolution 5K Run and came in the top ten in his division. He ran in the Millburn 10K Run, which he finished well in his age group. Joe did not stop there but went on to run the 5K Leprechaun Leap and topped the year off by earning his first finisher’s medal by completing the Long Branch Half- Marathon where he plans to run again this May.

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