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Harris was one of three sons of Homer H. Harris, Sr. (1890–1971), and the former Arletta Cato (1888–1987). He was born at Hard Times Plantation south of Alexandria. The family moved in 1921 to Alexandria, where he graduated from Bolton High School, attended [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] for two years, and graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. During [[World War II]], Harris volunteered in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force]]. He piloted [[B-29]] bombers.<ref name=obit/>​

Harris was one of three sons of Homer H. Harris, Sr. (1890–1971), and the former Arletta Cato (1888–1987). He was born at Hard Times Plantation south of Alexandria. The family moved in 1921 to Alexandria, where he graduated from Bolton High School, attended [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] for two years, and graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. During [[World War II]], Harris volunteered in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, the forerunner of the [[United States Air Force]]. He piloted [[B-29]] bombers.<ref name=obit/>​

Harris was a member of the Alexandria-Pineville [[Chamber of Commerce]] and chaired its aviation committee. He also served for a decade]on the Rapides Parish]Aviation Authority, including two years a president. Harris was a director of the Central Cities Development Corporation and a former president of the Rapides Parish Industrial Development Board. He was past president of the Alexandria Lions International and scored perfect attendance for sixty-three years. He was active in the Committee for a Better Alexandria and worked on the development of navigation]projects on the Red River.<ref name=obit/>​

Harris was a member of the Alexandria-Pineville [[Chamber of Commerce]] and chaired its aviation committee. He also served for a decade on the Rapides Parish Aviation Authority, two years a president. Harris was a director of the Central Cities Development Corporation and a former president of the Rapides Parish Industrial Development Board. He was past president of the Alexandria Lions International and scored perfect attendance for sixty-three years. He was active in the Committee for a Better Alexandria and worked on the development of navigation projects on the Red River.<ref name=obit/>​

Harris was survived by his wife of sixty-six years, the former Nelwyn Rhodes (c. 1918-2018) of Alexandria;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?pid=189397769|title=Newlyn Harris obituary|ppublisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=March 14, 2019}}</ref> two daughters, Sandra Harris Kearney, and her husband, James Michael Kearney of Alexandria, and Conni Harris Smith of [[Lafayette]], the widow of Hadley M. Smith (1940–1996); one son, Eric W. Harris, Jr. (born c. 1942) of Moncks Corner, [[South Carolina]], and five grandchildren.<ref name=obit/> He was preceded in death by another brother, Homer Harris, Jr. (1910–1999). Harris died in Alexandria at the age of ninety-one. His services were held First [[United Methodist]] Church in Alexandria, where he served on the building committee. Interment was at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref name=obit/>​

Harris was survived by his wife of sixty-six years, the former Nelwyn Rhodes (c. 1918-2018) of Alexandria;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?pid=189397769|title=Newlyn Harris obituary|ppublisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=March 14, 2019}}</ref> two daughters, Sandra Harris Kearney, and her husband, James Michael Kearney of Alexandria, and Conni Harris Smith of [[Lafayette]], the widow of Hadley M. Smith (1940–1996); one son, Eric W. Harris, Jr. (born c. 1942) of Moncks Corner, [[South Carolina]], and five grandchildren.<ref name=obit/> He was preceded in death by another brother, Homer Harris, Jr. (1910–1999). Harris died in Alexandria at the age of ninety-one. His services were held First [[United Methodist]] Church in Alexandria, where he served on the building committee. Interment was at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref name=obit/>​