Ninth Generation

16086. John Clinton Harris was born on 1 April 1911 in Cullman, Cullman Co., AL. John resided with his uncle Grady Davis in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL on 15 April 1940. John died in Alabama on 19 December 2001 and was buried at Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood, Jackson Co., AL in December 2001 .⁴²⁰⁰³

John Clinton Harris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA, After being on academic probation through mid-sophomore year, when Dean "Light Horse" Harry Campbell taught him how to study quickly. He played in the school band, sang in the glee club and made the W. & L. Varsity swimming team for three years. As the lead 440 yard free style swimmer, he was undefeated his last two years. He majored in accounting but was unable to get a job because of the Depression until the following January so he spent a year working at the Jacobs Stove Manufacturing Company in Bridgeport. He decided he did not care about spending his life in contoversy with the Steel Workers Union so with his dad, mother and his Uncle Grady Jacobs' financial support, he and his cousin, J.C. Jacobs went into the wholesale grocery business which he enjoyed and spent the rest of his working life in it, until he sold it in 1975.

John Clinton was appointed to the first City School Board in 1954 and served as Chairman for the first five years. The Board's best accomplishments were doing away with the "Cotton Picking Vacation" in Scottsboro Schools, construction of the Caldwell Elementary School, the intergration of Scottboro Schools and closing the old Carver School (formerly the Black school). In 1960, he was elected to a four year term on the Scottsboro City Council and served as Police Commisioner. He has been active in several Grocery Associations and has served as a Director and President of The Alabama Wholesale Grocers Association. He was Director of the Wholesalers and president for two terms. He was also director of the United States Wholesale Grocers Association of which he was Vice President and member of the Executive Committee. He served as President of Food Merchandisers of America with over 4,000 retail affiliates and Director and Governor of American Wholesale Grocers Association.

He did not forget service to charitable organizations as he has served in every Office of the Scottsboro Civitan Club during a sixty four year membership. He has served as Food Chairman of Jackson County Christmas Charities for a number of years. He was the first Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee of the Jackson County United Way and served as President in its second year.

John Clinton has been a member of First Baptist Church since 1933 and served as Sunday School Superintendent or teacher most of that time and served on most of the Committees and was Chairman of the Finance Committee for many terms.

He was one of the organizers of Jackson County Federal Savings and Loan Association and served as Director until it merged with First American Savings and Loan Association and served on the Advisory Board until it merged with Colonial Bank. He served on the Board of J.C. Jacobs Banking for approximately fifty years, until he retired in 1999, during which time they grew from a bank of four employees to one with seventy five employees and seven offices in Jackson, De Kalb and Madison Counties and was rated as one of Alabama's strongest banks.

Information provided by John Clinton Harris to Albert W. Carhart (Kerrville, Texas).

John Clinton Harris and Edna Earle Eagerton were married on 21 June 1941 in Montgomery, Montgomery Co., AL. Edna Earle Eagerton was born on 16 October 1918 in Montgomery, Montgomery Co., AL. Edna died in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL on 18 May 2001 and was buried at Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood, Jackson Co., AL in May 2001 .⁴²⁰⁰⁴