Roy V. Harris

Roy V. Harris
Harris speaking before a Citizens' Council meeting
Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1937–1940
Preceded by	Eurith D. Rivers
Succeeded by	Randall Evans Jr.
In office 1943–1946
Preceded by	Randall Evans Jr.
Succeeded by	Frederick Barrow Hand
Personal details
Born	Roy Vincent Harris (1895-10-02)October 2, 1895 Glascock County, Georgia, United States
Died	January 21, 1985(1985-01-21) (aged 89)
Political party	Democratic
Children	Roy Vincent Harris Jr.
Alma mater	University of Georgia School of Law

Roy Vincent Harris (October 2, 1895 – January 21, 1985) was an American politician and newspaper publisher in the U.S. state of Georgia during the mid-1900s. From the 1920s until the 1940s, Harris served several terms in both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate, and was twice the speaker of the house, from 1937 to 1940 and again from 1943 to 1946. Historian Harold Paulk Henderson has called Harris "one of Georgia's most capable behind-the-scenes politicians".^[1]

During his time in politics, Harris acquired a great deal of political power and was regarded as a "kingmaker" when it came to the governorship of Georgia, primarily using the state's unique county unit electoral system to help several individuals get elected to that position. Additionally, Harris was a supporter of public education in the state, serving as a regent for the University System of Georgia from the 1950s to the 1970s. However, he is arguably best remembered as an ardent supporter of racial segregation and white supremacy, and both as an elected official and a prominent citizen, Harris fought against school integration and opposed the larger civil rights movement.