Several decades ago, Dr. Leroy Ramsey attended, and eventually become a teacher, at Harris High School and Harris Junior College. It was located near

Dr. Ramsey grew up on 8th Avenue and 21st Street. He's 82 now and returned home to visit friends and family.

"The sad part about it is, many of the people I grew up with and know are not here anymore," Ramsey said. "And when I come home, I come home because it's home. But I used to come home with the itinerary of meeting some of the guys I went to school with."

Dr. Ramsey said he knew T. J. Harris, for whom the school is named, very well. He reflected on one of his fondest memories.

"I was acting up one day and he sent me home. And your parents got to bring you back," said Ramsey. "My daddy worked on the railroad and my daddy had a fit that he had to take a half day off a work to take me back to Harris High School, because I had been acting up. So I go with the history of Harris High."

Ramsey has lived in New York since 1960. Now he resides in Philadelphia, Penn. He retired as bureau chief from New York state government, and he worked for former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. He said he hopes his accomplishments will inspire youths to dream big. And he says discipline is the key to success.

"More discipline, and discipline not through negotiation, discipline through telling them what it's got to be, and that's the way Mr. T.J. Harris was," Ramsey said.

Dr. Ramsey said he wants to pass on the Harris legacy, so people in this community won't forget this important chapter in Meridian's history.