Associate Director of Housing Operations James B. Harris retires Friday after 19 years of service at UNCW.

Harris is an alumnus from UNCW, class of 1970, who began his career as the Swansboro High School baseball coach in Onslow County for four years. He then pursued a sales career at Boseman’s Sporting Goods until 1986 when he came to UNCW as the Facilities Coordinator for the formerly named Housing and Food Service.

In 1991, student affairs merged with Housing and became what is now Housing and Residence Life. Mr. Harris was quickly promoted to Assistant Director of Housing and then to his final position as the Associate Director of Housing Operations just 10 years ago. In this position he was in charge of coordinating major housing projects as the Suites were being completed, and fully constructing International, Honors and Cornerstone, as well as the three major housing projects in the last three years that include Seahawk Village, Landing and Crossing.

Since Harris took his job, he has been responsible for doubling on-campus housing, adding around 4100 new beds. He supervised and worked very closely with Defender Services and the Housing and Residence Life maintenance shop to keep on-campus housing clean and in good repair.

He is recognized as a four-time faculty golf champion, has earned an Outstanding Service Award from the 1992 North Carolina Housing Officers as well as earned an Innovative Programs Award from the Division of Student Affairs in 1997. Mr. Harris is also one of the few state-certified public managers from UNCW who completed the five year Certified Public Manager program in 1995 that only yielded a 25 percent graduation rate.

Harris was a former star pitcher for the Seahawks from 1967 to 1970 and pitched a no-hitter in 1969 versus St. Andrews. He later umpired baseball games when he became an alumnus. Since the UNCW basketball dedication game versus Wake Forest in November 1977, he has been operating the time clock and scoreboard, making 2009 his 32nd year as the time clock keeper.

Harris was and will forever be very dedicated to Seahawk athletics, as he did everything from providing housing for athletes, participating in sporting events and even purchasing the original Sammy the Seahawk mascot uniform and donated it to the athletic department a few decades ago.

Harris’ retirement luncheon was hosted by the Director of Housing and Residence Life Brad Reid who was joined by a variety of speakers including the Associate Director for Residence Life Larry Wray, Senior Associate Athletic Director Greg Dalton and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Pat Leonard.

Reid’s speech was well-balanced with a comedic introduction and an ending of praise. He said, “Whenever he would be given an assignment or a project with a lot of tasks and a lot of dollars attached to it, having such a major scope as to what was being ordered or installed, every time, this man always pulled it off ahead of schedule and under budget. If I gave you all the projects in ten years that this man has done we would be here until midnight.”

Harris coordinated the two latest housing projects, Seahawk Village and Seahawk Landing, and dealt with two different construction companies that finished tremendously under budget and so far ahead of schedule that it is unheard of in most circles in the construction industry.

Reid also speculated that the nearly finished Seahawk Crossing will save UNCW thousands of dollars in prolonged construction fees and offered his thanks to Harris.

Reid said, “I really appreciated everything he has done with our department, it is what it is today because of Jim Harris. We enjoy Jim around the office; there is extreme student satisfaction, our staff enjoys working in our department and he helps contribute to that good feeling.”

Harris always showed dedication to his job and to UNCW and arrived at work around 7:00 a.m. every morning with this greeting, “Just another day in paradise.” Just another day of many days surpassing 19 years of hard work, something the Vice Chancellor can also attest to.

Reid introduced Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Pat Leonard as knowing Jim every year he has been at the university. As she described her experiences with Harris before the construction years of Seahawk Landing, Village, and Cornerstone, Leonard stated her opinion, “Jim has truly come to leave his mark on this university, he has been a friend and supporter of the athletic department, a friend and supporter to students, and has also been a friend and supporter of every department on this campus. As you look around the room here all these different people that have come to acknowledge Jim’s work with us is really astonishing. I think we all really appreciate you and were all going to miss you.”

Nick Troutman was hired by Harris earlier in his career and will take over as Associate Director of Housing Operations Monday. From experience he explained, “Jim gave me my first job here as a conference assistant and he asked several questions that I just had to say, ‘I have no idea, sir’ to. Since then he has helped me here quite a bit as an undergrad, grad student and professional.”

Mr. Harris began his farewell speech mirroring his witty personality saying, “Everything Brad said was true.”

He then read a self-reflection piece about living life. Harris said, “I have seen too many of my friends leave this world too soon before they understand the great freedoms of aging, I know I am sometimes forgetful but there again some of life is just as well forgotten, and I’ll especially remember the important things, I think. Sure, over the years my heart’s been broken, how can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or a child suffers or even somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car, but broken hearts are what gives us strength. I don’t pressure myself anymore I’ve earned the right to be wrong and I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it. Thanks to the housing department, UNCW and praise be to my savior Jesus Christ.”

Harris, although retired from his job, will continue to make a mark at UNCW for years to come because of the values and lessons he taught to his employees and student workers, and the appreciation and respect they have for him. If anyone has ever received an email from Mr. Harris they have read his motto, “If you want to do something you will, if not, you will find an excuse.”