O.H. 'Ike' Harris

Full Name: Orland Harold "Ike" Harris
Date of birth: June 5, 1932
Date of death: July 7, 2021

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	8	Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995	73rd ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾	Republican	Dallas / Dallas	Dean of the Senate. (73rd)	Dallas, Tarrant
S	8	Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 12, 1993	71st 72nd	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Collin, Dallas
S	8	Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 10, 1989	69th 70th	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Collin, Dallas
S	8	Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985	68th ⁽⁴⁾	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Collin, Dallas
S	8	Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983	67th ⁽⁵⁾	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Dallas
S	8	Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 13, 1981	65th 66th	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Dallas
S	8	Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 11, 1977	63rd ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾ 64th	Republican	Dallas / Dallas	Senate President Pro Tempore (63rd)	Dallas
S	8	Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 9, 1973	61st 62nd	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Dallas
S	8	Nov 21, 1967 - Jan 14, 1969	60th ⁽⁸⁾	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Dallas
H	51-3	Jan 8, 1963 - Jan 12, 1965	58th ⁽⁹⁾ ⁽¹⁰⁾	Republican	Dallas / Dallas		Dallas

(1) 73rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/25/1993, pp. 589-590. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(2) Due to redistricting litigation, entire Senate went up for reelection in 1994. See also Clips database, 4/6/1993 - 4/8/1993, Redistricting - Legislature; and Guide to 2001 Redistricting - Appendix A, 1990s Redistricting (Texas Legislative Council). Terrazas v. Slagle, 821 F.Supp. 1162 (April 5, 1993), 1993.
(3) See the Fort Worth Star Telegram, 11/23/1992 ("For the first time in modern history, the dean of the Senate will be a Republican, Ike Harris of Dallas."). Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(4) 68th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/17/1983, p. 495. Drew 2-year term (also see message from President, p. 467). Senate Journal.
(5) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1982 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(6) 63rd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 5/28/1973. Senate Journal.
(7) 63rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/10/1973, pp. 12-13. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(8) O.H. Harris, in special election 11/11/1967, took office 11/21/1967, succeeded George M. Parkhouse, died 8/24/1967. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(9) Sworn 11/21/1962. Oaths of Office.
(10) Republican. 1964-1965 edition, pp. 532-533. Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 8
Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995
Legislatures: 73rd ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾
Dean of the Senate. (63rd)
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas, Tarrant

Senate District 8
Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 12, 1993
Legislatures: 71st 72nd
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Collin, Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 10, 1989
Legislatures: 69th 70th
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Collin, Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985
Legislatures: 68th ⁽⁴⁾
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Collin, Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983
Legislatures: 67th ⁽⁵⁾
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 13, 1981
Legislatures: 65th 66th
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 11, 1977
Legislatures: 63rd ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾ 64th
Senate President Pro Tempore (63rd)
(63rd)
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Senate District 8
Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 9, 1973
Legislatures: 61st 62nd
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Senate District 8
Nov 21, 1967 - Jan 14, 1969
Legislatures: 60th ⁽⁸⁾
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

House District 51-3
Jan 8, 1963 - Jan 12, 1965
Legislatures: 58th ⁽⁹⁾ ⁽¹⁰⁾
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Dallas / Dallas
Counties in district: Dallas

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

60th Legislature, 1st C.S., SR 8. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
68th Legislature, 2nd C.S., SR 19. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
87th Legislature, 1st C.S., SR 3. Resolutions - Memorial.

Biographical Sketches

Background Information on Senator O.H. "Ike" Harris by John C. Heal, Jr. Donated Material.
Oral history interviews available in Oral History Collection, University of North Texas.
Biographical sketch and photo. Senate Biographies, 63rd Legislature, 1973.
Biographical sketch and photo. The Senators of Texas, 64th Session, 1975.
Memorial biographical sketch and photo. A State of Remembrance, 2023.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 66th Legislature, 1979.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 67th Legislature, 1981.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 68th Legislature, 1983.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 69th Legislature, 1985.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 70th Legislature, 1987.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 71st Legislature, 1989.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 72nd Legislature, 1991.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 73rd Legislature, 1993.
Harris, Orland Harold. Texas State Cemetery.

Military Service Notes

United States Air Force, Captain, instructor pilot. Texas State Cemetery.
United States Air Force. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.
Notice of death, 7/8/2021. Speaker of the House.
Mentioned in "Access Through the Lobby," 2/24/1995, pp. 14-17. Texas Observer.

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1993.
Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.
Named 'Most Improved'. Best and Worst Legislators 1981.

Photographs

Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 72nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. (Ike) Harris, 62nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. O.H. "Ike" Harris, 58th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

60th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
61st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
62nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
63rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
64th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
65th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
66th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
67th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
68th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
69th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
70th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
71st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
72nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
73rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
58th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

73rd R.S. - 1993 Committee of the Whole Senate Economic Development Jurisprudence Nominations, Special Redistricting, Ethics and Elections, Committee of the Whole Senate, Special (Vice Chair) Redistricting, Ethics and Elections, Committee of the Whole Senate, Subcommittee on Elections and Ethics, Standing (Vice Chair) State Affairs (Chair)
72nd R.S. - 1991 Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special, Subcommittee on Legislative Districts (Vice Chair) Economic Development (Vice Chair) Economic Development Subcommittee on Insurance (Vice Chair) Economic Development, Interim Jurisprudence Jurisprudence, Interim (Chair) Nominations, Special (Vice Chair) State Affairs
71st R.S. - 1989 Administration, Special Committee of the Whole Senate Economic Development (Chair) Finance Insurance Regulation, Special Legislative Redistricting, Select Nominations, Special (Vice Chair) Public Education, Select State Affairs State Guaranty Funds, Select
70th R.S. - 1987 Administration, Special Committee of the Whole Senate Deceptive Trade Practices Economic Development (Chair) Finance Health Care Reimbursement Alternatives, Commission on Nominations, Special (Vice Chair) Security for Judgments, Special Space Science Industry Commission State Affairs
69th R.S. - 1985 Administration, Special Committee of the Whole Senate Economic Development (Chair) Finance Local Measured Telephone Service, Interim Nominations, Special State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee on Elections
68th R.S. - 1983 Business, Technology and Education, Special Committee of the Whole Senate Committee of the Whole Senate, Subcommittee on Educational Quality Economic Development (Chair) Finance Rules, Special State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee on Nominations
67th R.S. - 1981 Economic Development (Chair) Finance New Federalism, Task Force Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special Congressional Panel State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee on Elections
66th R.S. - 1979 Economic Development (Vice Chair) Education State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee on Elections
65th R.S. - 1977 Economic Development Education Human Resources Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare (Chair) Long-term Care Alternatives
64th R.S. - 1975 Economic Development Human Resources Jurisprudence Jurisprudence Subcommittee on Criminal Matters (Vice Chair) Public Health
63rd R.S. - 1973 Constitutional Convention Planning Economic Development Human Resources Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare Jurisprudence (Vice Chair) Jurisprudence Subcommittee on Criminal Matters Prison Reform Public Health Special Districts, Special
62nd R.S. - 1971 Banking Constitutional Amendments (Vice Chair) Consumer Protection County, District and Urban Affairs Drug Study, Interim Economic Development Foreign Livestock Trade and Grain Development General Investigating, Special Horse Racing and Pari-mutuel Betting, Interim (Chair) Insurance Jurisprudence Labor and Management Relations Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts Oil and Gas Parks and Wildlife Prairie View A&M College, Investigation Prairie View A&M College, Investigation, Special Public School Finance, Interim Sales Tax, Interim Special Districts State Affairs State Tax Policy Transportation
61st R.S. - 1969 Agriculture and Industry Banking County, District, and Urban Affairs Federal Programs and Relations (Vice Chair) Finance Insurance Liquor Laws Military and Veterans Affairs (Vice Chair) Oil and Gas Penal Servitude and Parole Transportation Water and Conservation
60th R.S. - 1967 Banking Constitutional Amendments Finance Insurance Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts Oil and Gas Public Health State Affairs Transportation Water and Conservation
58th R.S. - 1963 Claims and Accounts Criminal Jurisprudence Examination of Comptroller's and Treasurer's Accounts Public Health School Districts

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