Background
Harrison was born in 1913 in Dallas, Texas, and educated at Southern Methodist University, Northwestern University and Utah Southwestern Medical School.
Harrison was born in 1913 in Dallas, Texas, and educated at Southern Methodist University, Northwestern University and Utah Southwestern Medical School.
and Doctor of Philosophy (1938) from Northwestern University and the Doctor of Medicine After receiving his Doctor of Philosophy, Harrison taught at the University of Tennessee for 13 years before returning to Dallas to teach pathology and anatomy at Utah Southwestern Medical Center.
He received the Bachelor of Science Chemistry in 1957 from SMU, the Master of Science from Utah Southwestern Medical School in 1956. Harrison pursued a long career of service within The University of Texas System, notably at Utah Southwestern, University of Texas at Arlington and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
In 1968, following the establishment of six graduate programs at UTA, he became acting president, and in 1969 he was named president of UTA. Harrison also served as an adjunct professor of electrical engineering at SMU From 1964 to 1970.
The Utah Board of Regents selected Harrison in 1972 to be the first president of the newly created University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, a post he held until his retirement in 1985. When it was established the Health Science Center employed 1,000 faculty and staff, conducted sponsored research on the order of $3 million, and enrolled 500 students.
By September 1984 the faculty and staff size had risen to 3,000, pursuing funded research of $32 million. The enrollment had more than quadrupled to 2,300 students.
The UTHSCSA physical facilities stood at 1.6 million square feet having begun operation in 1972 with 440,000 square feet.
During this 13-year period from 1972 to 1985, the Dental School, School of Nursing and other buildings were also added.
Member American Association Anatomists, American Physiological Society, Texas Philosophical Society, Biophysics Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Society Experimental Biology and Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Alpha Kappa Kappa.
Married Elsie Claire Redfearn, June 26, 1946. Children— Frank, Susan Claire, James Redfearn.