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Published Thursday, October 01, 2009 in Business

File Photo

Bill Harrison

Former Development Authority chief dies

By Jeff Bishop

The Times-Herald

Retired Coweta County Development Authority President Bill Harrison died Tuesday night at 7:30 at his home in Sharpsburg.

"We had the honor of being with him as he passed and are relieved that he did not struggle and is no longer suffering with this illness," said his daughter, Jennifer. "We are incredibly, incredibly sad."

The funeral service for Harrison will be today at 10:30 a.m. The service is being held at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic church, 3 Village Road in Newnan.

The family will receive guests prior to the service, starting at 9:30 a.m. A luncheon will be provided in the parish hall after the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in memory of Bill Harrison. The Conservancy can be contacted at 799 Washington St., P.O. Box 807, Harper's Ferry, WV 25425.

The Harrison family members said they are "overwhelmed by all of the love and support" that they have received during Harrison's final days. More than 2,000 comments were logged at a Web site set up for Harrison and his family at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/billharrison .

His children shared memories of Harrison's love of the outdoors -- he was an avid hiker on the Appalachian Trail, kept maps of the Trail on his office wall, and almost always wore his hiking boots.

His daughters said they would go camping and whitewater rafting with their father, as well.

Harrison was an avid Atlanta Braves fan, and Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, Dale Murphy, and Phil Neikro were among his favorite players.

Family members praised Harrison's "adventurous spirit" and said that he never shied away from opportunities for positive change.

"Bill has meant so much to so much of the state of Georgia for such a long time," said Mike Pennington, executive director of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. "I'll remember his performance at the 'GEDA Idol' competition in Jekyll Island, his ubiquitous hiking boots -- they sure looked comfortable -- and his stories about his trips to Asia and his tongue-in-cheek anger toward Rome for 'stealing' the Macon braves. Bill always had a smile and a handshake ready for me."

In March of this year, Harrison was diagnosed with esophageal cancer which was found on the lower part of the esophagus closest to the stomach.

He had been experiencing abdominal pain and discomfort, but was drinking his morning juice one day and doubled over due to the pain he felt just below the chest, said his wife, Virginia.

The cancer diagnosis was "tough news," she said, as Harrison had planned to retire from the Coweta County Development Authority at the end of this year.

Surgery was performed on April 18 that required the removal of the stomach, part of the esophagus, the spleen, and the lymph nodes surrounding the stomach. Although Harrison was always hopeful and optimistic, the surgery could not eliminate the cancer, which continued to spread.

Harrison officially retired on July 31. He was able to attend a retirement celebration at the Newnan Country Club at the end of July.

"It was a great time and awesome to talk to many of the people that Bill had worked with over the years," said Virginia Harrison. "He was proud of Coweta County and the progress that had been made over the past several years."

Harrison had previously worked in Baldwin and Jasper counties.

A July 31 editorial in The Times-Herald stated, "Bill Harrison is a good guy. If he were in an old western movie, he would be wearing a white hat."

His six years as the county's point man for economic development were a positive change in direction for Coweta County, the staff editorial noted.

"When Harrison took the economic development job in Coweta, our community's industry-recruiting effort was a mess," the editorial stated. "It was fragmented. There was no single go-to person or organization. It had gotten so bad that prospects would simply look elsewhere. That changed after Harrison was hired to preside over the Development Authority and that group became the go-to agency here."

At Harrison's retirement reception, Brenda Washington, his executive assistant, said, "Bill brought the community back together."

Others had high praise for Harrison. Development Authority Chairman David Brown presented a plaque and said, "This plaque is small, but the legacy Bill leaves is large... We respect him. He was the right person for the job at the right time."

Former Authority Chairman Mike Barber said, "He put us on the map for state development."

But Harrison was always humble, and his retirement reception was no exception.

"I think we have done extremely well," Harrison said at what turned out to be his last public appearance. "But it's not me. It just shows what a community can do as a team. You can be very successful, even in rough times."

As example number one, he pointed to the announcement of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, which is expected to bring 500 new jobs and hundreds of millions in new economic investment to Coweta County.

"I was just glad to have them come here," said Harrison.

"I felt certain for several months before the announcement was made that we were going to get it," Harrison said. "And I'm glad that came through for us."

Harrison said that he hoped the community would get behind new Development Authority President Greg Wright.

"I think he and the development authority will continue to capitalize on this asset we have here, which is the community," Harrison said. "If they can keep up the teamwork and continue to work together, that's what success is all about.

"I would hope the community would rally behind Greg," said Harrison. "If they give him the same kind of support they gave me, there will be no end to what they can do."

He said the support the community has shown for him during his battle with esophageal cancer was "tremendous."

"This has been a difficult time for me," he said. "But the community stepped up and really went above and beyond to let me know they were there for me."

"Coweta County has lost a wonderful man," said Kim Higgins.