Harris, John Benjamin, 1927-

Professor Emeritus of Management and Marketing at Virginia State University. Pioneered governmental and commercial awareness of African American advertising markets and, in the 1970s, became the Director of the Virginia State Office of Minority Business Enterprise and Special Assistant to the Governor for Minority Enterprise.

From the description of John Benjamin Harris Papers, 1955-1991 and undated. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 226390070

• 1927 Jan. 15: Born, Chesterfield County, VA
• 1933 - 1940 : Kingsland Elementary School, Chesterfield County, VA
• 1943: Certificate of Barber Practice and Science from Virginia State College Trade School
• 1944: Graduated, D. Webster Davis High School (Virginia State College Laboratory School) American Campaign Medal
• 1944 - 1945 : U.S. Army Air Force Virginia State College, Petersburg, VA
• 1947 - 1949 : Virginia State College, Department of Military Science
• 1949: Commissioned U.S. Quartermaster (QM)
• 1950 Sept. 2: Married Ruth Hortense Coles
• 1950 - 1953 : 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Corps
• 1951: B.S. in Business Administration, Virginia State University
• 1952: Instructor in Military Tactics and Strategy, U.S Army QM School
• 1954 Jan. 2: Son, John Jr., born Assistant Hotel Manager, Love B. Woods, Inc., New York, NY
• 1954 - 1966 : Captain, U.S. Army Officers Reserves
• 1955: M.B.A. in Marketing and Management, New York University, Graduate School of Business Administration Special Advertising Representative and Space Salesman, AFRO-AMERICAN Newspapers, Inc., Baltimrore, MD
• 1955 - 1967 : Assistant Professor of Business and Economics and Director of Publicity, Virginia Union University
• 1957 Dec. 25: Daughter, Vita Michelle, born
• 1964: Fellow, General Electric and National Association of Manufacturers, Claremont Men's Graduate School, Advanced Certificate in Basic Economics
• 1965: General Electric Fellow,University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, Certificate in Applied Economics Special Projects Officer, International Business Machines, Office Products Division
• 1965 - 1971 : National Urban League Fellow
• 1966: Certificate in Macro Economic Theory, Case Institute of Technology. Republic Steel Fellow/Economics-in-Action Fellow
• 1967: Advertising Planner and Special Markets Assistant, Eastman Kodak Company Retired from Army Reserves
• 1968: NDE Fellow, Audio Visual Media Technology, Graduate School of Education, Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) Associate Professor of Marketing and Management, School of Business, Virginia State University General and Special Markets Advisor to Vice President, Pillsbury Company, Grocery Products Division Consultant on Minority Affairs, U.S. Navy Department
• 1969: Certificate in Advanced Advertising Management, Montauk, NY Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Assistant Account Executive, Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency
• 1970: Member, President's Inter-Agency Socio-Economic Policy Staff for Minority Business Enterprise
• 1971: Assistant Brand Manager, The Proctor and Gamble Company, Toilet Goods Division
• 1972: Director, Virginia State Office of Minority Business Enterprise and Special Assistant to Governor for Minority Enterprise, Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia Associate Professor of Marketing, School of Business, Virginia State University Evening School (10 years) Information Specialist, USDA, Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Consultant and Interim Director, Church Hill Economic Development Corporation Certificate of Honor presented by Virginia Union University president Allix B. James "In recognition of distinguished services to the University 1955-1972"
• 1973: Honorary Citizen of Dallas, TX Member, Southern Growth Policies Board (6 years)
• 1974: Graduate School of Education, Howard University. Concentration in African American Relations, emphasis on marketing, business, and economic development African American Institute and Howard University Fellow to West Africa
• Circa 1974: Certificate in Marketing Education, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare
• 1978: Stanford University, concentrated course on the "Role of Business in Society," ROBIS Institute/Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Certificate
• 1979: Director, Virginia State office of Minority Business Enterprise and Special Assistant to Governor for Minority Enterprise, Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
• 1983: Fellow, The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation, Inc. and Direct Marketing Day Fellow, Cleveland Scholarship Program, Inc. and Professorial Intern in Marketing, Cleveland Illuminating Company

From the guide to the John Benjamin Harris Papers, 1955-1991 and undated, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)