John Ray Harrison

Birthday: 2 August 1930, Abilene, Texas, USA

Harrison, John Ray (1930~2001) John Ray Harrison, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, District Judge, and four-time mayor of Pasadena, Texas, was born in Abilene, Texas, on August 2, ...Show More

Harrison, John Ray (1930~2001) John Ray Harrison, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, District Judge, and four-time mayor of Pasadena, Texas, was born in Abilene, Texas, on August 2, 1930. He graduated from Abilene High School and McMurry College. He earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree from South Texas School of Law. Prior to embarking on a distinguished political career, her served as a police officer, classroom teacher, coach, youth counselor and professional baseball player. He also practiced law for 26 years as a partner in the law firm of Cammack, Harrison and Coman.In 1964, Mr. Harrison was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. While in Austin, he introduced the bill that raised the minimum age for school attendance from 16 to 17. He also introduced a toddler's bill, which has since been the model of many municipal ordinances requiring public pools to be fenced for the protection of small children. Following this service, he was elected for two consecutive terms to the Pasadena City Council. He was elected Mayor of the City of Pasadena, Texas in 1973; reelected in 1977, 1985, and 1989. Mr. Harrison was appointed State District Judge in 1973, elected State District Judge in 1982, and most recently, served as a visiting State Judge.Harrison played the mayor of the town in the 1991 movie Rush, filed in Pasadena, Texas (where he was a four-time mayor), but based on a scandal in the town of Tyler, Texas. Hide