Joe Frank Harris (born 16 February 1936) was Governor of Georgia (D) from 11 January 1983 to 13 January 1991, succeeding George Busbee and preceding Zell Miller.
Biography[]
Joe Frank Harris was born in Cartersville, Georgia on 16 February 1936, and he graduated from the University of Georgia in 1958 with a business administration degree. He helped with running the family business, Harris Cement Products, Inc., and he was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1964, serving until 1983, when he won the gubernatorial election as a dark horse candidate. As governor, he gave teachers raises, built the Georgia Dome stadium in Atlanta, and lured the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta, and he built more libraries in Georgia than any other governor. After his governorship expired, he served on the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia, and he worked with education before becoming a member of the Board of Directors for Aflac.