Letters to the Editor of The (Marion, Ohio) Star
Pleasant Classmate Writes Tribute to David Harris
To the Editor:
My first association with Dave Harris was in the summer of 1963. I happened into the old Pleasant High School building and saw a boy about 6 feet and 200 pounds scrubbing and cleaning the walls and floors. I asked him what he was doing and he said that he was working around the school for extra money before fall football practice started.
I came to know Dave during that practice period and during the next three years of school. One year, during football practice, I happened to be his tackling partner. I, being much smaller than Dave, was really no match for his massive, muscular strength. Although I had to tackle him viciously to get him to fall down, he always took special care to make sure not to hurt me when it was his turn.
Dave had a natural affability for other people. This affability was tempered with sincerity and sensitivity toward the people with whom he associated. Nor was Dave a dissenter, he tended to be a cohesive force in his class which he served as treasurer in his sophomore year.
He was a leader by example on the gridiron. The younger boys on the team tried to imitate him while the older boys looked for his approval. He was always willing to help the other players, especially the younger ones.
One football game especially stands out in my mind. It was the last game of our senior year. If we could win we would be the North Central Conference champions and if we lost we would drop to third place. With but a few seconds to go Elgin was leading 30-24 and we were inside their 10-yard line. Dave carried the ball. He fumbled, whether after crossing into the end zone or just before crossing into the end zone, it has never been determined, but the referees gave the ball to Elgin.
