Bob Harris

BOB HARRIS

Cedar Rapids

Bob L. Harris, manager of the Cedar Rapids Symphony from 1975 to 1978, died Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at home in Evanston, Ill.

Bob was born Bobby Lee Harris on Oct. 11, 1922, in Walters, Okla., the son of Robert Lee Harris, who owned a barber shop, and Annie Abernathy Harris, who owned a dress shop. Bob graduated from President Walters High School (now called Walters High School) class of 1940 and was president of his senior class. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 384th Field Artillery Division of the 103rd Infantry Division. In 1947, Bob graduated Tau Beta Pi from the University of Oklahoma School of Engineering in Norman and married Margaret Sholl on June 1 of that same year. He received a degree from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, in 1949.

Bob worked in many venues:

In television, he appeared on the Fred Waring Show (1950-1954) as member of Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians; The Perry Como Show (1955-1959) as member of the Ray Charles Singers; "Max Liebman Presents" (TV's first 90-minute special); "Martha Raye Show;" The Garry Moore Show (1959-1964), sang and did skits with Carol Burnett, Dom Deluise, etc.; "Calamity Jane" with Carol Burnett (co-starred CBS TV, 1963); Kraft Music Hall and "The Entertainers," 1964 (lasted one season, with Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, Art Buchwald).

In film, he was a member of SAG, AFTRA, EQUITY, and he appeared in the following films: "A Flash of Green," 1983; "Last Innocent Man," (HBO 1980s); "Riders of the Purple Sage," 1996; "Appaloosa," 2008; and in theater, was a member of Northminster Players of Evanston, Ill., 1983-2005.

Other work Bob was involved in was in the De-velopment Office, United Presbyterian Foundation, New York City, 1966-1968; Development Office, Oklahoma University, 1968-1972; manager of Oklahoma City Symphony, 1972-1975; and managed The Orchestra of Illinois.

In 1985, while working in the bookstore of the Chicago Art Institute, Bob sent Jeffrey Potter's Pollock biography, "To A Violent Grave," to actor son Ed and suggested he make a film about Pollock. Fourteen years later, Ed directed and starred in the acclaimed film POLLOCK, which Bob also appeared in.

Bob served as an elder and Deacon at North-minster Presbyterian Church in Evanston. He also served as an elder at First Presbyterian in Cedar Rapids.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret; sons, Paul of Norman, Okla., Robert of Hillsborough, N.J., and Edward of Malibu, Calif.; granddaughters, Rebecca and Lily; daughters-in-law, Amy Madigan and Susan Primmer; and sister-in-law, Mary Drage of San Bernardino, Calif.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park Ave., Evanston, IL 60201.

Donations may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church (www.northminpres.org) or The Geneva Foundation (www. presbyterianhomes.org/ geneva).