Representative Herbert Eugene Harris

Herbert Eugene Harris II (April 14, 1926 – December 24, 2014) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia who served three consecutive terms from 1975 to 1981. Representing a district that included part of Fairfax County, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents over the course of his three terms in office.

Harris was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 14, 1926. He attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Kansas City from 1930 to 1939 and graduated from Rockhurst High School, also in Kansas City, in 1943. After high school he pursued higher education at several institutions, attending Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, from 1944 to 1945 and the University of Notre Dame from 1945 to 1946. He then returned to Kansas City, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rockhurst College in 1948, laying the academic foundation for his later legal and political career.

Following completion of his undergraduate studies, Harris moved to Washington, D.C., to study law. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law School in 1951. That same year he was admitted to the bars of both Missouri and the District of Columbia and commenced the practice of law in Kansas City. In 1951 he relocated permanently to the Washington, D.C., area, where he would build a career that combined legal practice, business, and public service. He became cofounder, vice president, and general counsel of Warner & Harris, Inc., an international trade consulting firm, gaining experience in regulatory and commercial matters that would later inform his work in public office.

Harris entered elective public service at the local level in northern Virginia. He served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1968 to 1974, a period of rapid growth and suburban development in the region. Concurrently, he was a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority from 1968 to 1974, reflecting his early involvement in transportation and infrastructure policy. From 1970 to 1974 he also served as vice-chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, where he played a role in the oversight and development of the emerging Metrorail system and regional transit planning for the Washington metropolitan area.

In 1974 Harris was elected as a Democrat to the 94th Congress, defeating incumbent Republican Representative Stanford E. Parris. He was subsequently re-elected to the 95th and 96th Congresses, serving from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 1981. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Herbert Eugene Harris served as a Representative from Virginia in the United States Congress and was a key proponent of establishing the Quantico National Cemetery, reflecting his attention to veterans’ affairs and national memorials. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, and as a member of the House of Representatives he participated actively in the legislative process while representing the interests of his Fairfax County–area constituents. In 1980 he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 97th Congress, losing to Stanford E. Parris, who regained his former congressional seat.

After leaving Congress, Harris remained engaged in both law and politics. He attempted a congressional comeback in 1982 but narrowly lost, 48.6 percent to 49.7 percent. He later publicly expressed sympathy upon the death of his former opponent Stanford E. Parris in 2010, reflecting a measure of personal respect despite their long-running political rivalry. Professionally, Harris resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C., with the firm of Harris & Berg. He continued to reside in northern Virginia, making his home in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County while maintaining his legal and civic activities.

Herbert Eugene Harris died on December 24, 2014, at his house in Fairfax County, Virginia, at the age of 88. He was a resident of Mount Vernon, Virginia, at the time of his death. In recognition of his advocacy for veterans and his role in the establishment of Quantico National Cemetery, he was interred there alongside his wife, Nancy Fodell Harris.