Ben
F. Harrison, a longtime supporter of Samford University for whom the
school’s theatre is named, died Saturday, Sept. 26, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Harrison was a Birmingham business leader who served 37 years on the
Samford Board of Trustees, beginning in 1971. He was vice chairman of
the board and chairman of the executive committee for two years
(1990-1992), and also served as chair of its business affairs committee
(1985) and investment committee (1994-1995).
He
joined then-President Thomas Corts and trustee Ben Brown and their
wives in identifying the property that became Samford’s London Study
Centre in 1984. The property, now known as Daniel House, was one of 14
sites the group visited.
Samford’s Ben F. Harrison Theatre was named in his honor in 1987.
Harrison, from Greenville, Ala., was the former chief executive officer
of U.S. Pipe and of U.S. Home. He later served as chairman of the
board and president of Harrison Industries, Inc., a diversified company
he formed in 1976.
Harrison was a tank driver with the U.S. Army during World War II,
serving in the Philippines. He attended the University of Alabama
under the G.I. Bill after the war and earned his accounting degree in
two and a half years.
“As
a stalwart friend of Samford, Ben Harrison played a significant role in
many of the important developments in the life of the institution over
the past three decades,” said Samford President Andrew Westmoreland.
“He was a visionary leader with a deep commitment to our academic
program. Along with members of the Harrison family, we mourn the loss.”