"You're going to see a lot of changes. I can promise you that!"

That's the promise that longtime Meridian High School principal, R.D. Harris made when he returned in 2003 for a second stint as principal at the school. During that time, as in the previous 8 years when he had served as principal there during the 1980's school administrators say he lived up to that promise.

"R.D. was just accepted by all areas of this community. He just had a very diverse following," says for Meridian Public School District Superintendent Sylvia Autry.

It's that diverse following and vast community support which Autry says she believes helped Harris play a pivotal role in getting the district's first school bond in twenty years passed two years ago.

Because of his influence and knowledge current Meridian High principal Vicky Hood says she considered Mr. Harris to be her mentor.

"He could just look at a person and almost be able to read exactly what they needed. Whether they needed discipline, counseling, stroking or a quick kick in the butt to get that jump start."

Perhaps here's an example of just that from an interview that we did with Mr. Harris in 2003 when he talked to us about what was being done to enforce the dress code.

"If they don't have a belt we'll bring the lock on and bring those loops together and lock it and then in the afternoon they come by here, we unlock it and the next day they'll bring a belt."

During his tenure from 1980 to 1988 at Meridian High R.D. Harris also served as assistant superintendent for the district. After leaving MHS in 1988, he went to work for the Mississippi Department of Education and once he retired from there in 2002, Meridian Public School officials were able to lure him back until he retired due to health complications in December of 2007.

R.D. Harris is survived by his wife and one adult son. He was 65-years-old.

Funeral services for Harris will be held next Saturday, July 11 at noon at Mt. Olive Baptist Church at 544 James Chaney Drive in Meridian.