William James Harris, Jr

Jun 17, 1918 - Dec 5, 2012

William James Harris, Jr., age 94, died quietly in his sleep on Dec. 5, 2012 at his home in E. Falmouth, MA from complications from myelodysplastic anemia. Born in South Bend, IN, on June 17, 1918, son of William James and Elizabeth M. (Scott) Harris, he married Ruth Laubinger on August 26, 1944 (deceased 1977) and married Elizabeth Dotten Shafer, June 24, 1978 (deceased 2011) and is survived by children: June Harris Sherren, William James Harris III, Debbie Shafer Hayden, Britta Shafer, and Barkley Shafer.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed family, friends, colleagues, learning, laughter, travel, food, fishing, and contributing to the common good. He committed his career of 60 years to non-profit research administration, military, public and community service.

Dr. Harris received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master's degree in metallurgy from Purdue in 1940, and a doctorate of science from MIT in 1948. He interrupted his doctoral studies to enlist in the Navy before World War II serving on active duty in the Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy Department in charge of the aircraft armor program. After completing his doctorate, he joined the staff of the Naval Research Laboratory, where he pursued studies of the relationship between metallurgical structure, composition, and steel properties with emphasis on ship failure mechanisms including identifying the metallurgical cause of liberty ship failures during World War II. He served the National Research Council as Director and later Chair of the National Material Advisory Board where he contributed to the commercial and military utilization of high performance materials including titanium.

During his many years with Battelle Memorial Institute, he worked on pipe line issues, ship failures, the development of research and development in third world countries, and the coordination of national research planning. He served the Association of American Railroads as Vice President for Research from 1970 to 1985. During that period, he established a major research capability that made significant contributions to safety and the efficiency of railroad transportation. He then joined Texas A&M University where he was named Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and the E.B. Snead Professor of Transportation Engineering. He served as Associate Director of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) from 1985 to 1995. He served as a commissioner on the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection 1997-98 and was asked to stay on to implement the recommendations senior executive, 1998-99 and 1999-2002 for the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office. He served as President of The Metallurgical Society and Engineers Joint Council and as Chair of the National Materials Advisory Board. He was an honorary member of the Board of the ITS of America. He represented the United States on committees supporting NATO. He was the U.S. representative to the International Union of Railroads for ten years. He participated in the establishment of the Korean Institute of Science and Technology. He organized and served for seven years as Chair of the International Heavy Haul Association. He carried out international missions for the United Nations Development Organization, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the World Bank.Amongst his civic and other contributions, Bill served as President of the Accokeek Elementary School PTA in the early 1960's, secretary of the President's Committee on Highway Safety, 1969; on the high speed ground transportation advisory committee for U.S. Department Transportation, 1972-74, on the Maryland Governor's Science Advisory Committee, 1972-76, on the Maryland Governor's Energy Council, 1974-76; as president of the Moyoane Association, 1951-53, 58; as president and chairman of the board Alice Ferguson Foundation, 1966-68; as chairman executive committee distinguished professors Texas A&M University, as Lieutenant Commander US Navy, 1941-45 and US Naval Reserve, honorable discharge as Commander 1959.

Among the honors he received are the American Defense Services Medal, Mathewson Medal of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Carey award from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Research Council, the Crum award from the TRB of the National Academy of Sciences, Research Man of the Year from the Transportation Research Forum, an honorary doctorate from Purdue, an honorary research professorship of the China Academy of Railway Sciences, and Railroad Man of the Year from Modern Railroads. He was elected to the Railroad Cooperstown Hall of Fame. He received a special citation from the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America for leadership in the establishment of the ITS World Congresses and was elected the ITS of America Hall of Fame. He was elected to membership in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

His remains will be interred at Bourne National Cemetery with military honors in a private ceremony. In place of a memorial service, he requested a celebration of his life to be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to offer a random act of kindness or assistance when an opportunity arises.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

12/30/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/165421335/william-james-harris