[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 36 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E189-E190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING TAMPA'S LOCAL TRAILBLAZER, HOWARD A. HARRIS III, IN HONOR 
                         OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 28, 2022

   Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, this Black History Month, I am 
proud to celebrate local trailblazers, and those who dedicate their 
time and talent to lifting up their neighbors. I rise today in immense 
gratitude of Howard A. Harris III, who after a long career that took 
him throughout the country, came home to his family to enjoy retirement 
and serve his community by honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Mr. Harris was born in Tampa and his parents, Howard Harris, 
Jr. and Ethel, instilled the importance of education. His father, who 
also served in the U.S. Army and attended Howard University on the GI 
Bill, was principal of several elementary schools throughout 
Hillsborough County, and Mr. Harris remembers as a young child sending 
his father off at the airport gate to Columbia University in New York 
City to receive his master's degree. Mr. Harris is the grandson of 
Marion and Booker T. Washington. He is the father of five sons, Dorian, 
Brian, Michael, Johnathan and Stephen. Mr. Harris graduated from Jesuit 
High School and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in electrical 
engineering from Howard University. He also received his master's 
degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.
  Mr. Harris worked in the defense, aerospace and automotive industries 
that took him to Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington, D.C. and Detroit. 
But he always wanted to return to his family and the hometown he loves 
to make a positive difference, and he returned to Tampa in 2001. In 
2021, he retired from IT Management with Hillsborough County government 
after 17 years. After serving as president of the local chapter of 
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Mr. Harris turned his attention to honoring 
the legacy of one of his lifelong heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
When the opportunity arose to expand Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
celebrations, Mr. Harris jumped at the chance. For decades, City of 
Tampa and Hillsborough County employees supported an annual local MLK 
tribute through a scholarship fund and downtown march. Mr. Harris was 
one of the founders that established the MLK Foundation to build a 
family-friendly parade that started in 2015, fund scholarships for 
deserving students and honor community heroes that uphold the legacy of 
Dr. King. Today, the MLK Foundation hosts one of the largest MLK 
parades in the southeastern United States and engages with businesses, 
community organizations and entertainment--over the past few years, 
numerous bands from Historically Black Colleges

[[Page E190]]

& Universities have participated in the annual parade. In fact, 2022 
was the first time ever that the largest HBCU bands in the country, 
Florida's own Bethune Cookman University and Florida A&M University 
marched together.
  Mr. Harris' return to Tampa proved invaluable to our community and 
the ideals of education and service instilled in him. It was where he 
chose to fulfill the calling for the next chapter for his family and 
continue a life of service. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful 
nation and Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize the service and 
leadership of Mr. Howard A. Harris III.

                          ____________________