Dr. Robert Edward Harrison

Services for Dr. Robert Edward Harrison, 87, of Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, January 14, 2019, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with the Reverend R. B. Moore officiating. Burial will follow in the Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA.

Dr. Bob, as he was referred to by many who knew him, was born in Lakeland, Florida, on October 30, 1931, and passed away in Monroe on January 8, 2019, after a lengthy illness.

He was preceded in death by his father, Neal E. Harrison; his mother, Nina L. Whelchel; his wife, Sarah Cutrer Harrison; son, Robert E. Harrison, Jr.; and his brother, Bill Harrison. He is survived by a niece, Ginny Logan of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bob is especially grateful for the loving care provided by Sue Lomax, Brandy Ryder, and Johntel Hawkins.

Bob was a 1950 graduate of Gainesville, Florida High School and a Korean Conflict veteran and served in the Army Quartermaster Corps. He earned a B.S.B.A. from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1958; an MBA from the University of Arkansas in 1959 and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1966. He taught at the University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University, and Northeast Louisiana University where, at the time of his death, he held the designation “Professor Emeritus of Marketing.” After retiring from NLU, he served as Court Administrator of the Fourth Judicial District Court of Morehouse and Ouachita Parishes for almost four years.

Bob was very active in both his academic and judicial careers. On the academic side, he was a member of many campus-wide committees and chaired many of them—the most notable of which was the inaugural Faculty Senate, where he served its first two years as President. In his final administrative position, Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration, he was Director of the MBA Program, Coordinator of Professional Programs, the College of Business division of continuing education for business and administrative practitioners, and Director of the MBA Program in Hong Kong, a program he negotiated in 1978.

As Court Administrator for the Fourth Judicial District, he was responsible for the design and installation of a new phone system in Monroe and the replacement of typewriters with computers for eight secretaries and court reporters in both Morehouse and Ouachita Parishes. He also designed and directed the filming of a Juror Information Film to be used in both parishes. He also was active in the Louisiana Association of Court Administrators.

Bob was also active in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. He served on many Church committees, including the central governance group, the Administrative Board. His proudest accomplishment was the writing of “The Authorized History of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church,” published in 1998.

Also, he served the Rotary Club of Monroe as Treasurer for two years and volunteer business manager for twelve years. He chaired the Scholarships Committee, responsible for the annual selection of the student recipient of the ULM Rotary endowed scholarship. He also served as a member of the District Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee which selects a college student each year to study overseas funded by the Rotary.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Mike Dolecheck, Mr. John Burson, Mr. Danny Keyes, Mr. Don Durham, Judge John Robert Harrison, and Mr. Chuck Casteel.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Van McGraw, Dr. Dwight Vines, Dr. Jim Hood, and Mr. Charles Masur.

Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM Monday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church before the service.

Any planned memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Monroe.

Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com