The following article was written by attorney J.C. Mitchell, senior member of the Mitchell and Armstrong law firm after the death of attorney Ralph Harris and published in the Marion Daily Republican.
When I returned to practice law in Marion in July of 1949, three lawyers Ralph Harris, August Fowler and Gordon Franklin, were the top trial lawyers in Williamson County. Continue reading
Ralph W. Harris was born November 20, 1904 in Creal Springs to Willis T. and Emma (Schafer) Harris.
The 1910 census revealed that Ralph’s family was living in Marion at 201 S. Market Street. Ralph’s father, Willis, was managing a livery stable. Ralph was 5 and shared space with six siblings. His older sister, Minnie L. Harris, was a public school teacher. The census indicated that Ralph’s mother had given birth to ten children and that eight of them were still living. Continue reading
Thomas Joseph Redickas was born April 11, 1927 in Chicago to Charles V. and Mabel M. (Harvey) Redickas. His father, Charles, was a Lithuanian immigrant and his mother, Mabel, was born in Illinois to full blooded Irish immigrants.
In the 1930 census, Tom was three years old. His parents were renting a home at 5629 Elizabeth St. in Chicago and paying $40 per month for rent. His father was a typesetter at a printing shop. Continue reading
William L. Harris was born August 30, 1923 in Marion, the son of Oscar Robert Harris (1896-1980) and Estelle (Murphy) Harris (1898-1948). William was politically active on the city, county and state levels of government in addition to being a businessman. Continue reading
With the 1980 Republican presidential nominations looming, Ronald and Nancy Reagan visited Marion on January 10, 1980. They arrived at Williamson County Airport at 5 p.m., held a brief conference and continued on to the Marion Ban Dor Inn for a fund raising dinner followed by a rally held at the Marion Civic Center, culminating at 8:45 p.m. after which the Reagan’s boarded their plane and returned to Los Angeles.
Reagan, of course, got the nomination and won the presidential bid, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter, becoming our 40th president. The Marion Daily Republican article covering the event is as follows. Continue reading