Elmer Beseler Harris

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Elmer Beseler Harris (April 8, 1939 – December 23, 2019) was an American businessman and

.

Elmer Harris was born in

in 1985. He was a retired USAF Command Pilot and brigadier general in the Alabama Air National Guard. Harris served as honorary consul general of Japan. Harris was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2007 as well as the Alabama Engineering Hall Of Fame in 1996.

Harris created the Alabama Power Foundation and funded it at $150 million, the largest foundation in Alabama. He also created the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a group of businesses working together with state governments to win major economic development projects, such as attracting and winning the first Mercedes plant located outside of Germany, followed by winning the Honda plant in Lincoln, Alabama and the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama, thus creating a major automobile industry in Alabama.

After starting out as a co-op student in engineering with the

. Harris retired from Alabama Power in 2002 with 44 years of outstanding service to Alabama's largest corporation.

Harris served on numerous civic and business boards of directors, including

, Air University Foundation, Auburn University Foundation, Meyer Foundation, United Way, Heart Association, Business Council of Alabama and National Association of Manufacturers.

After retirement from Alabama Power, Harris continued to work on needed Alabama education, constitutional, and tax reform. He continued his work as honorary consul general of Japan and remained active in various international activities. In addition, he remained very active in business, serving as chairman or CEO of several financial and real estate LLCs.

Harris died on December 23, 2019.[2]

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