Clarence J. Harris

Biography

"Clarence J. Harris was a man whose life path meandered through an exceptionally diverse landscape of callings and commitments. Initially a Universalist clergyman, his ministry extended even to the rugged terrain of Appalachia, where he served as a missionary. When the Great War gripped the world, Harris channeled his energies into national service, working within the Department of the Navy in Washington. Prior to his wartime contributions, his creative spirit led him to the burgeoning film industry. At Fox studios in Long Island, he penned at least two screenplays and contributed to countless others, until an irreconcilable disagreement severed his ties with the company. The post-war era saw him pivot once more, diving into the nascent aircraft industry in New Jersey, a field as innovative as his own career trajectory. Beyond his professional shifts, Harris was a gifted writer, known for his published animal stories, with a particular fondness for canine tales. The 1930s found him returning to his clerical roots, ministering as the pastor of the Washington Heights Universalist Church in New York City. Yet, his entrepreneurial spirit also shone through in his venture, a unique navy-style camp for boys nestled in the Adirondack mountains. This ambitious undertaking, however, ultimately faltered, not from lack of vision, but from Harris's own compassionate inability to deny access to young men who couldn't meet the financial demands."