Richard [Nicholls] Harison / Harrison - Onondaga and Oswego ...

He became a member at 21, joining his father and older brother. "You've been a member for years," Jones kidded him. (The
Harison family was involved with bringing golf to Augusta around the turn of the century, building the Bon Air Golf Club and the
storied hotel in which Phil's grandfather, Dr. William Henry Harison Jr., was a major shareholder. That course became affiliated with
Augusta Country Club, and Dr. Harison served as its first president for 20 years.)
For long-term tenures, it's hard to match Harison's with the Masters. "Jones would be delighted with the way Phil has carried on his
legacy," says local sportscaster/historian Stan Byrdy. "Phil has been the pulse of the Masters -- and the town -- for a very long time.
Like so many others here, I hope he makes it back this year for his 60th."
Phil Harison died in Augusta, GA, in 27 Apr 2008 at age 82. He was survived by a sons, Campbell Harison and Phil Harison, Jr.
But what makes Phil Harison's children proudest won't be found in his accomplishments in golf. To them it will be his long list of
contributions to the community. Campbell Harison recalled that his father always put others first, living a life of giving. "I could never
begin to be half the man he was," his son said. "To me, he was always my idol."
In 1988, Campbell Harison was in an auto accident that left him a quadriplegic. In the ensuing years, his father led a capital
campaign to provide affordable accessible living for the physically disabled. The campaign raised $1,375,000 to establish Harison
Heights at Walton Rehabilitation Health System. And as chairman of Walton Rehabilitation Foundation, he spearheaded efforts that
raised more than $3 million, said Dennis Skelley, president and CEO of the health system. He described Mr. Harison as a father
figure who stressed kindness, honesty and integrity. "To him, family went well beyond his immediate family and really was tied to the
community," he said. "He very much loved Augusta."
A graduate of the Academy of Richmond County, Mr. Harison was active in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he served as
treasurer for 12 years. He was also a vestry man and senior warden.
Phil Harison Jr. called his father a true Southern gentleman, adding that he always stressed giving back to the community. In 1966,
he was elected to the Richmond County Hospital Authority, where he served as treasurer, vice chairman and chairman. In the
1970s, Mr. Harison, who earned his living in the insurance business, worked to turn around University Hospital as co-administrator
with Harry Jernigan, Phil Harison Jr. said.
He also served on the boards of Episcopal Day School, the American Cancer Society, Historic Augusta, the Tax Assessors Board of
Equalization, the Augusta Radiation Center, the Augusta Area Mental Health Association, the Augusta Speech and Hearing Center,
the Augusta Historical Society, the First Tee and University Health Care Foundation. Phil Harison Jr. said his father's dedication to
Augusta can be traced back to his grandfather, Dr. Harison, a physician who tended to the poor for free.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/content/blog-post/bill-kirby/2009-04-04/introducing-augusta%E2%80%99s-first-foursome
Introducing Augusta’s first foursome
Bill Kirby | Sat, Apr. 4 5:23 PM
Most of you know the story of Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts and their idea for a golf course that became the Augusta National
with its famous Masters Tournament. But have you ever wondered who first showed up in Augusta with clubs and ball and
suggested a game? You would think no one would know, but you would be wrong.
This is Augusta, a city proud of its history, and when that question was asked almost 40 years ago, someone had the answer. His
name was Joseph B. Cumming and his family is one of our town's oldest.
In response to an account in a local history publication, the elderly attorney told this story:
In the 1890s, he reported, four men showed up one day on the sweeping lawn of Mrs. Jane Cumming Verdery's home at what is
now Milledge and Pickens roads. They were neighbors, Mr. Cumming said, who dropped by to socialize and take advantage of the
grounds to demonstrate the newly popular game of golf.
The names of that "first foursome" - Dr. William H. Harison Jr., his brother Morley, Henry H. Cumming and Louis Berckmans. It was
a group that quickly became enthusiastic about the sport. They were the core of those who organized the Augusta Country Club
with its first nine-hole course on the east side of Milledge Road, about half a mile from that first recorded demonstration. Dr. Harison
became president of the Augusta Country Club.
After 1900, land was purchased from the estate of Henry H. Cumming across Milledge and two 18-hole courses were constructed;
first the "Lake" course and, several years later, the "Hill'' course.
Such courses attracted many, including a young Atlantan named Bobby Jones, who often came to town to play. Banner headlines,
for example, proclaimed his 1924 match with the British, French and Southern amateur champs at the Augusta Country Club.
And ``Louie'' Berckmans?
His family owned a plant nursery out on Washington Road. It was a great piece of property that was sold years later to a group of
investors who built a golf course, created a tournament and, well . . . you know the rest of that story.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/04/30/obi_196910.shtml
Philetus "Phil" Sawyer Harison, 82, died on April 27, 2008. He was the beloved husband of the late Grace Merry Harison. They
were married on November 16, 1957. A native of Augusta, he was the son of William Montgomery Harison and Kathryn Sawyer
Harison. After graduating from Richmond Academy, he attended Emory University and the University of Georgia.
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