1. Young Loftin Gerdine Harris was an American lawyer, businessman, politician, judge, and philanthropist.
21 Facts About Young Harris
1. 2.
Young Harris is best known as the early benefactor of Young Harris College in the US state of Georgia, after whom the school was named.
3.
Young Harris was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1834 and began his law practice in Elberton, Georgia, where he was quite successful and represented Elbert County in the state legislature.
4.
Young Harris became well known and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Clarke County in 1841 and from 1847 to 1852.
5.
Young Harris was a delegate to the 1865 convention that drafted the 1868 Constitution of Georgia.
6.
Young Harris was appointed as judge of the Inferior Court of Athens In 1850, Young Harris owned seventeen slaves in Athens, Georgia.
7.
Young Harris was one of a group of Athens businessmen who founded the profitable Southern Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1847.
8.
Young Harris was initially named Secretary and Principal Director where he proved his financial skill by smart management of the company's assets.
9.
Young Harris was company president from 1866 until his death, and the business became one of the largest in the southeast United States.
10.
Young Harris died on May 18,1888, at age 70 after 53 years together.
11.
Young Harris died in 1894 and was buried at Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.
12.
Young Harris's funeral was well attended, indicating the respect and admiration he had earned.
13.
The Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church of Athens celebrated their centennial in 2009.
14.
Young Harris became a devout member, served as church superintendent for many years, and supported Methodism throughout the state.
15.
Young Harris used his wealth to make numerous contributions to small churches, helped build minister's homes, and supported the Young Men's Christian Association.
16.
Young Harris served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Emory College, and donated two buildings: the Marvin Dormitory and the President's Home.
17.
Lester wrote to Judge Young Harris, asking for a $100 loan, which was promptly granted.
18.
Young Harris funded the construction of the campus for $20,000, then continued to contribute several thousand dollars each year.
19.
Arguably Young Harris' most lasting and significant achievement were his donations to McTiere Institute.
20.
Young Harris College is highly regarded in Georgia and has had more of an impact on the state's politics and society than would be expected from a small school in the mountains.
21.
Young Harris did not talk about his charitable contributions because he was too modest.