Mr. Thomas LeRoy Harris

Thomas L. Harris aka "Snook" was born on December 27, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The only child born to the union of Torn and Annabelle Harris. Although Thomas was born in Milwaukee, he spent many ummer in Marianna, Arkansas with his maternal grandparents and was baptized at an early age. He attended MPS and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1949. He furthered his education by enrolling at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM). Torn was an artist, a musician turned photographer. Snook was a drummer from 15 years old. He sat in with many band at many of the lounges and nightclubs around Milwaukee. He sat in on ion with such jazz greats as: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespe, Lester Young, Dinah Washlm!l:on, Woody Herman, Bunky Green, Willie Pickens, Billy Holiday and many others. Thomas L. Harris was united in holy matrimony with Anne Creizhton in December of 1966. Their union was blessed with two children. Later Tom developed a love for photography and he recognized that he could use his camera as he did his drums ... to create impressions and mood. Tom Harris was one of the first blacks to earn an Associate's Degree of Photography a Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1969, and one of the more widely exhibited black photographers in the entire state of Wisconsin. He taught photo design at UWM's School of Fine Arts and photography at MATC. He also conducted summer workshop and organized an annual film project for inner city youth. Tom was the director of me Milwaukee Inner City Film Workshop, chairman of the Photography Department of me Bayside Art Workshop and produced "Black Scene" on WTMJ-TV, channel 4. Tom's photography has been seen at the Lake Front Festival of Arts and Alverno Art Fair where he won awards in 1970; Community Arts Festival where he won first place awards in 1975 and 1978; Milwaukee Art Museum; Bergstrom Art Museum in Neenah, WI; Peter Stormonth School in Fox Point, WI; Mount Mary College; UWM Fine Arts Galleries; Marine National Exchange Bank; Wustrum An Center in Racine, WI; and has had his photography published in Ebony and Jet mazarines. He operated his own studio, "Tom Harris Studio" on 27th and Center and later moved to Teutonia and Atkinson Avenue. Tom also worked at International Harvester, A.O. Smith; Briggs & Stratton; Next Door Foundation; and Cornerstone Achievement Academy. In his leisure he truly enjoyed playing golf, reading, and in his later years riding his motorized scooter all over the east side of Milwaukee. Thomas L. Harris aka "Snook" departed this life on Tuesday, November 7 2017 at 7:10 pm. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Annabelle Harris; maternal and paternal grandparents; and aunts, Helen Alexander Anna Paris, and Myrtle McMillon. He leaves to cherish his memory: his son and daughter, Creighton and Tiffany Harris; mother, Anne Oyama of California; son, Arnold Harris also of California; two first cousins, William (Pat) Webb of Marina, California and Frances (William) Utsey of Milwaukee, WI; friend and pastor, Lovelace Redmond; caregiver of 5 1/2 years, Shakarr Phifer; sister-in-law, Kathleen Creighton; and a host of nieces nephews and dear friends.

Mr. Thomas LeRoy Harris

December 27, 1930 - November 7, 2017