Selected Events in the Public Life of Curtis West Harris, Sr.
1956
July 13: Licensed as a minister at Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, VA by Dr. G. W. King, Pastor
1959
April 15: Ordained as a minister at Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, VA by Dr. G. W. King, Pastor
Called to pastor at First Baptist Church, Bermuda Hundred in Chesterfield County, VA
1960
Organized the Hopewell Improvement Association, an affiliate of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was elected vice president
August 22: Arrested* along with 75 others and sentenced to 60 days in jail for staging a sit-in at the segregated Georges' Drugstores in Hopewell---the charge was trespassing [*Rev. Harris was arrested 13 times for civil disobedience]
Led a protest against the segregated swimming pool and cemetery in Hopewell---
the swimming pool was closed and later filled in and cemented
1961
Became a member of the National Board of SCLC while Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was president; and accepted
Dr. King's nonviolent approach to fighting racial and social injustice by using passive resistance
April 27: Arrested for disorderly conduct in Hopewell while leading a peaceful march to
sympathize with 33 African Americans convicted for charges brought against them for
their involvement in the Summer 1960 sit-ins of Georges' Drugstores
Cited for contempt by the Boatwright Committee of the Virginia General Assembly for not revealing the
names of other SCLC members and not responding to the questions asked by the committee
Called to pastor at the Union Baptist Church in Hopewell, VA and the Gilfield Baptist Church in Ivor, VA
1962
January: Religious leaders in Virginia gathered at Union Baptist Church in Hopewell and accompanied Rev. Harris to his contempt trial; after marching in their robes to the courtroom, it was annouced that the trial was postponed at which time Dr. Milton Reid (then president of the VA Unit of SCLC) led the congregated ministers in a stirring prayer during which the judge and minor court officials assumed reverent postures; the determinal ministers lined up in pairs and led the spectators out of the courtroom back through downtown Hopewell to Union Baptist Church
March 29: Dr. King accompanied Rev. Harris to court for the contempt trial in Hopewell---
ministers from all over Virginia joined Dr. King in his support; the contempt charges were eventually thrown out
1963
Elected president of the Virginia State Unit of SCLC, and served until 1998
Became Worthy Patron in the Lily of the Valley Chapter #44 of the Order of Eastern Star (Prince Hall Affiliated)
Led a march against discrimination and was arrested in Danville, VA---the charge was inciting people to riot
June 14: Curtis, Jr. and Kenneth, Rev. Harris' two sons, were the first African Americans assigned to all-white Hopewell High School; the brave young men attended summer schools at the high school and integrated Hopewell Public Schools
August 28: Marched with Dr. King in the March on Washington and witnessed the delivery of
the "I Have A Dream" speech that inspired the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act---
and was accompanied by his sons, Curtis, Jr. and Kenneth
1964
Became the state coordinator of the Virginia Council on Human Relations, a non-profit organization associated with the Southern Regional Council and with Councils on Human Rights that focused on acknowledging and accepting the "legitimate aspirations of all people of Virginia," regardless of race, color, or national origin.
1965
March 7 - 25: Marched with Dr. King from Selma to Montgomery (a 50 mile trek) in support
of the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act; acted as a human shield for Dr. King during the march
Publicly criticized the Virginia's Byrd Organization
Elected secretary of the Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies
1966
August: Had a confrontation with the Ku Klux Klan on the steps of Hopewell's city hall during a peaceful
demonstration to prevent the building of a landfill in the African American community
1967
Cross erected in Rev. Harris' yard, but it did not burn
A bomb thrown through the picture window of Rev. Harris' home, and through the
window of his restaurant, Harris' Snack Bar---neither bomb exploded
1968
Assisted with the coordination of the Poor People's Campaign in Washington D.C.
as a means of uniting people who have a common plight, regardless of race
Selected to serve on the Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
which addressed the federal role in the desegregation of public schools
April 4: Dr. King assassinated in Memphis, TN
April 9: Attended Dr. King's funeral in Atlanta, GA
1969
Resigned from First Baptist Bermuda Hundred after ten years as pastor
Testified before a Congressional Committee on Hunger in Virginia
October 22: Beaten and arrested by Virginia State Police during a peaceful picket of the Louise Obici
Memorial Hospital in Suffolk, VA in support of the hospital's non-professional employees
who were seeking higher wages, better benefits, and more on-the-job training
1971
Elected Moderator of Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies
Outstanding Citizenship Award (Virginia Council on Social Welfare)
Citizen of the Year Award (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Omega Chapter)
Outstanding Services and Deeds to Mankind (Gilfield Baptist Church, Ivor, VA)
Outstanding Services Rendered (Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, VA)
Man of the Year Award (National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, Petersburg, VA Chapter)
1972
Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, VA
1973
July 31: Resigned as state coordinator of the Virginia Council on Human Relations after eight years of service
1978
Dedicated Service Award (President, Board of Visitors, and Faculty of Virginia State University)
Parade Marshall for the Hopewell Christmas parade
1979
Reorganized the Virginia State Unit of the SCLC
1980
September 22: Attended a Carter-Mondale Reelection Committee meeting in Atlanta to meet
President Jimmy Carter and, personally, endorsed his reelection to office
1981
Rosa Parks Award (SCLC, National Board)
Inspirational Award (SCLC, Virginia State Unit)
1982
Centennial Community Recognition Award (SCLC, Virginia State Unit)
Certificate of Appreciation (Floyd E. Kellam High School, Virginia Beach, VA)
Community Spirit Award (Tabernacle Baptist Church)
Citizen of the Year (Petersburg Consistory #144, 32 "833" Masons)
1983
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award (SCLC, Virginia State Unit)
Alumni Award (Carter G. Woodson High School Alumni)
Forced Hopewell to replace its longstanding at-large system for electing city council members with a ward system
Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, VA
1984
Recognition of Excellence (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
Majestic Leader Award (The Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention)
1985
Became Executive Director of the Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies
1986
Elected to the Hopewell City Council after seven attempts due to the establishment of a ward system
1987
Led a march in Colonial Heights, VA against discrimination
1989
Outstanding Achievement Award (Citizens of Hopewell)
1990
Marched on Ft. Lee against discriminatory practices in employment
Support of Children Award (Hopewell School Board)
1992
Unmatched Determination Award (SCLC, National Board)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity)
Appreciation Award (SCLC, Emporia/Greenville Chapter)
1994
Elected vice mayor of Hopewell
Retired as pastor of Gilfield Baptist after 33 years of service
1995
Certificate of Service (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)
Lifetime Service to Fellowmen Award (Surry County Citizens Forum)
March 7: Travels to Alabama to join forces with SCLC colleagues and retrace the route taken by voting rights
protesters in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March
1996
Filed complaint with the TRADOC, the command center for Ft. Lee, and identified the
discrimination as an example of "what's going on in the United States Army" across the nation
1998
May 14: Spoke to the Human Relations Council at the University of Virginia in 138 Cabel Hall
July 7: Sworn in as the first African American mayor of the City of Hopewell
The "Real Dream" Award (Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Life Institute)
Resigned as president of the Virginia State Unit of SCLC
2000
February 2: American Century Award (The Washington Times Foundation)
2001
Selected to be one of Dominion's Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership
2002
June 30: Union Baptist Church celebrates his 78th birthday with LTG Billy K. Solomon as guest speaker
2003
February 27: Interviewed by Brian Ward for the University of Florida Oral
History Program for the Southern Regional Council Project
March 20: Interviewed by Media Consultants Global, Inc. of Richmond to be included in the
Voices of Freedom, the videotaped oral histories of leaders in the Civil Rights Movement in VA;
the oral histories are a part of the Virginia Commonwealth University Digital Library
2004
April: Statue erected to Dr. King in downtown Hopewell
July 10: "One Man - One Day - One Vision," the celebration of his 80th birthday at the Marriott in
Richmond during which the superintendent of Hopewell Public Schools announced that the
Carter G. Woodson Middle School Library would be dedicated to and named for Rev Harris
September 2: Dedication of the Rev. Dr. Curtis W. Harris, Sr. Library in Carter G. Woodson Middle School to show appreciation for his staunch support of quality education for all students in the Hopewell Public Schools
2005
Elected National Vice President of the National SCLC
2006
Secured a $3000 grant from the R.G. Reynolds Foundation
to support a National SCLC membership drive
February 7: Attended the funeral of Coretta Scott King at New Birth Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA
2007
February 20: Public Life Unveiled, a program sponsored by Hopewell Public Schools, to reveal a showcase in the Rev. Dr. Curtis W. Harris, Sr. Library in Carter G. Woodson Middle School; the showcase highlighted his public life
Marched against a proposed ethanol factory being built in Hopewell; protest was supported
by the National SCLC with the presence of its president, Charles K. Steele, Jr.
Retired as pastor of Union Baptist Church after 46 years of service; retirement festivities were organized by the following
committee: Edgar Chambers, Sarah Crenshaw, Gloria J. Hewlett, Stephen L. Hewlett (Chairman), Shelly K. M. Hill,
Junius L. McClenny, Henry McCoy, Wendell Wellons, and Wanda B. Wise
December 15: Retirement Banquet at the Baptist Children's Home in
Chesterfield, VA with Govenor Timothy Kaine, keynote speaker
December 16: Final regular worship as pastor of Union Baptist at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Stephen L. Hewlett, guest minister
December 16: Final sermon preached as pastor of Union Baptist at 3:00 p.m. with the Flames of Glory, guest choir
2008
April 25 & 26: Attended the Civil Rights, Civil Duties in the Pursuit of Family, Happiness &
Peace Conference and Prayer Breakfast at Howard University in Washington D.C.
2009
Developed the C. W. Harris Empowerment Center (CWHEC), a non-profit organization, to spread the
love of God and to meet human need through a series of free workshops on various topics
July 25: CWHEC hosted an empowerment workshop entitled Know Your Rights on the Job with
Herbert Brown, director of the Norfolk office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as expert guest
September 11: The Dr. Curtis W. Harris Solidarity Lunch opens the 19th annual Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival in Newport News, VA; festivities were organized and implemented by Andrew Shannon
September 19: CWHEC hosted an empowerment workshop entitled Know Your Rights-Part II
with Rudy McCullom, a Richmond attorney, as expert guest
November 7: CWHEC hosted an empowerment workshop for teenagers entitled Why Go To College with an
expert panel that included Karen D. Harris, Lavern Myrick-Simms, and Rex Patterson
2010
May 4: Relected to the Hopewell City Council after 24 years in office
2011
January 22: Lauded during the Unity Ride and Rally, organized by Andrew Shannon,
that began in Newport News, VA and concluded in Hopewell
January 21 & 22: Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution commending Rev. Harris
as one Virginia's most celebrated religious, social, civic, and political leaders
July 23: Dr. Curtis W. Harris and Ruth Jones Harris Day: Feeding 5000 and Community Celebration
organized by Andrew Shannon took place to honor Rev. Harris and his late wife, Ruth
Henry McCoy of Petersburg, James Moore of Hopewell, and Iris Walker of Hopewell added to the CWHEC Board of
Directors; Curtis Harris remained president of the non-profit organization and Joanne Lucas became secretary-treasurer
2012
January 19: Attended the 2012 Strong Black Men/Women festivities at the Marriott in Richmond
February 4: CWHEC hosted an empowerment workshop entitled Felony Disfranchisement: Regaining the Right to Vote
with Rick Newman, the Hopewell Commonwealth's Attorney, and Theodore Hawkins, a convicted felon
who regained his voting rights, as expert guests
February 25 & 26: Honored at Black History Month programs in Petersburg, VA and Dinwiddie, VA.
March 1: Retired from the Hopewell City Council after 26 years of service.
July 1: Celebrated with family & friend on his 88th birthday.
2013
January 30: Attended the 2013 Strong Black Men/Women festivities at the Marriott in Richmond
April 3: Endorsed Evandra Thompson's candidancy in the Democratic Primary for the 63rd House of Delegates District against the incumbent, Rosalyn R. Dance.