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Polly Harris

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Polly Harris
Born
Pauline Adair Elstein

(1924-12-06)December 6, 1924
Kansas City, Missouri, US
DiedDecember 6, 1987(1987-12-06) (aged 63)
El Paso, Texas, US
EducationKansas City Junior College (AA)
University of Missouri at Kansas City (BA)
Occupation(s)Politician, theater enthusiast
Spouse
Paul Harris
​
(m. 1949)​

Polly Harris (born Pauline Adair Elstein; December 6, 1924 – December 6, 1987) was a Texan politician and theater enthusiast. Harris was one of the first women politicians in El Paso. She was known for serving on City Council and supporting local theater. A senior center in El Paso is named after her.

Biography

Harris was born Pauline Adair Elstein in Kansas City, Missouri on December 6, 1924.[1][2] As early as nine, she began to get interested in the theater and at 17, had directed her first play.[1] In 1943, she graduated with an associate degree in art from Kansas City Junior College and two years later, earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.[1] She married Paul Harris in 1949 and the couple moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico and then to El Paso a year later.[1]

Between 1950 and 1959, Harris worked for radio stations, KSET and KEPO, and then later, until 1968, worked in advertising.[1] Harris became involved in theater in El Paso in 1952, playing in a comedy at the Turn of the Century Theater.[1] She also helped raise money for the theater.[2] Harris was also involved in leadership positions in other theaters, including serving on the board of directors for the El Paso Playhouse.[1][3] Both Harris and mayor of El Paso, Tom Westfall, had small parts in the film, The Border (1982).[4]

Harris first ran for office in 1977, running for a new City Council position.[1] She was the sixth woman in El Paso to run for council and the first woman to serve three terms in that office.[1][5] In office, she was considered a moderate vote and focused on tourism and advocating for women and the elderly.[1] She also supported equality for Hispanic people in El Paso.[6] In office, Harris jokingly called herself an "alderbroad."[1] Harris was also the first woman to serve as mayor pro tempore, when she presided over City Council on February 19, 1980.[1] Harris also ran, unsuccessfully for mayor of El Paso in 1985.[1] She lost another bid for City Council in 1986, and had planned to run again for mayor in 1989.[7][8] Harris also served as the chair of the El Paso Women's Political Caucus.[9]

Death and legacy

Harris collapsed at a friend's house on December 4, 1987 and went into a coma.[10] She died of a brain aneurysm on December 6, 1987.[11] At her funeral, there were more than 700 people attending the service at the Martin Funeral Chapel.[12] A scholarship in her name was created by the El Paso Women's Political Caucus.[13] In 1989, a senior center on the West side of El Paso was constructed and named for Polly Harris.[14] A memorial for Harris was placed at the Transmountain Optimist Club bicycle track in 1989.[15] She is an honorary member of the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Longo, Joseph R.M. (22 September 2014). "Polly Harris: A Flamboyant El Paso Politician". Newspaper Tree. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b Longo 2015, p. 23.
  3. ^ Viescas, Carol (1987-12-13). "Flamboyant El Paso Enthusiast Brightened the Stage of City Life". El Paso Times. p. 87. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Mayor, Other Characters, Preen for Silver-screen Stardom". El Paso Times. 1 July 1980. Retrieved 2019-11-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Longo 2015, p. 24.
  6. ^ Olivera, Joe (1987-12-13). "Agree or Not, Polly the Politician Made Her Points Well". El Paso Times. p. 86. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Former El Paso City Councilwoman Dies". Tyler Morning Telegraph. 1987-12-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Scharrer, Gary (18 December 1988). "El Paso Mayoral Race Will Suffer Without Presence of Polly Harris". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) "Harris". El Paso Times. 18 December 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Scharrer, Gary (1987-12-08). "Harris Called Inspiration for Women". El Paso Times. p. 5. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Harris Comatose". El Paso Times. 1987-12-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Scharrer, Gary (7 December 1987). "First Lady of El Paso's Political Scene, Polly Harris is Dead". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) "Harris". El Paso Times. 7 December 1987. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Scharrer, Gary (9 December 1987). "Standing-Room-Only Crowd Pays Tribute to Polly Harris". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)"Harris". El Paso Times. 9 December 1987. Retrieved 26 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Scharrer, Gary (1987-12-13). "'She Was Something Else!'". El Paso Times. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Weeks, Donna (1989-03-01). "Senior Center is Open - Barely". El Paso Times. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Polly Harris Memorial". El Paso Times. 1989-03-12. p. 10. Retrieved 2019-12-26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame Members". El Paso Commission for Women. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2019.

Source

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