William LeRoy Harrison died Nov. 28, 2021 in Medford, Ore. He was born in Kinsley, Kan. on Jan. 1, 1937, to Donald Ray Harrison and L. Evelyn (Hargadine) Harrison. He was raised in Stafford, Kan. and attended high school in Wichita, Kan.  

He is survived by his wife Betty (Wentz) Harrison of Eagle Point, Ore.; son Mark Charles Harrison of Wichita, Kan.; and daughter Amy Lynne Harrison (Ray Nunn) of Colton, Ore. Other family members include a brother Raymond Douglas Harrison of Kent, Wash.; a sister Donna (Harrison) Staab of Great Bend, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert James; and brother-in-law, Lawrence Dahl Staab.

After graduating from high school in 1954, Bill entered the U.S. Military Academy of West Point. He received a medical discharge in 1956. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University in 1959, an MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Ph.D. in Information Sciences from University of California, Berkeley in 1973. He was on the faculty at The University of Kansas and then at Oregon State University until his retirement in 1999. He was a Fulbright Scholar at National Sun Yat Sen University in Kaohsiung, ROC from 1987-1988.  

Bill was a strong proponent of life-long learning/continuing education. After his family, teaching was his first love. Bill pursued excellence on the golf course, running marathons, baking pies or in the classroom. 

At his request, a private interment will be held at a future date at the Eagle Point National Cemetery.  Memorials may be sent to Providence Community Health Foundation, 940 Royal Avenue, Suite 410, Medford, OR 97504.  

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 8, 2021