Robert Lewis Harris is a distinguished lawyer, activist, and business executive whose impactful career bridges law, civil rights, and corporate leadership. Born on March 4, 1944, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to Lucy and Benjamin Harris, he relocated with his family to California in 1960. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School in 1961, Harris pursued higher education at Merritt College, earning his associate’s degree in 1963, followed by a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University in 1965—a university that later honored him by inducting him into its Hall of Fame in 2007.
Harris began his professional journey serving four years as a probation officer, an experience that inspired him to study law. He attended the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), receiving his J.D. in 1972. Shortly thereafter, Harris joined Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), where he launched an impressive 34-year tenure, advancing through the ranks as both an attorney and executive. By the time he retired in January 2007, Harris had risen to key leadership positions, notably as Vice President of Community Relations and later as Vice President of Environmental Affairs. In these roles, he strengthened the company’s engagement with diverse communities and elevated its environmental initiatives.
Harris’ influence extended well beyond the corporate world into the heart of the legal profession and civil rights. In 1973, he became active in local bar associations, and just three years later, he served as President of the Charles Houston Bar Association, which advocates for Black lawyers in Northern California. His legal acumen came to national prominence in 1978 when he led the successful defense of the NAACP against libel and slander charges. The following year, Harris made history by becoming the first West Coast attorney to serve as President of the National Bar Association, the country’s largest association of African American lawyers. He further contributed to the legal community by co-founding the California Association of Black Lawyers in 1977 and serving on the inaugural board of the National Bar Institute in 1982. That same year, he was elected the first President of the Wiley Manuel Law Foundation.
Throughout his life, Harris has been recognized for his advocacy and service. He chaired the 1983 Legal Redress Committee for the Oakland NAACP Branch, and in 1986, he received the organization’s highest legal honor, the W. Robert Ming Award. Among his many accolades, he holds the Laurel Wreath Award from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the C. Francis Stradford Award from the National Bar Association.
A landmark moment in Harris’ legal career came in 1985, when he successfully argued a pivotal corporate free speech case before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning significant First Amendment protections for PG&E. In 1987, he married Glenda Newell, M.D. with whom he started a family, and enhanced his leadership credentials by completing Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 1988.
He served as Grand Sire Archon of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. from 2008 to 2010. Beyond his corporate, legal achievements, and dedication to Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Harris remains deeply committed to public service and equity. He has occupied top leadership roles in notable organizations such as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He has also served on the board of the Port of Oakland and has been actively involved with the United Negro College Fund, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, the California League of Conservation Voters, and the American Association of Blacks in Energy. Harris’ dedication to environmental justice is evident through his service with the U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, the California EPA’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Policy Commission.
Robert Lewis Harris’ legacy is defined by a lifelong commitment to justice, corporate responsibility, and community empowerment, making him a prominent figure in both the legal and social advocacy arenas.
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