Longtime NRMCA, TMMB Member Harris Dies at 68

Longtime NRMCA, TMMB member and industry leader Thomas J. Harris died August 23 at 68.

Mr. Harris was born in 1957 in Austin, MN, and moved to Dodge Center, MN, in 1979 where he began a 38-year career at McNeilus Companies. He is survived by his wife, Becky, daughters Katy (Martijn) Bos of Rochester, MN; Lora (Brandon) Smith of Sauk Rapids, MN; Natalie (Colleen Powers) Harris of Minneapolis and five grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mildred Harris; oldest brother Robert Harris and nephew Dave Harris.

Mr. Harris had a lengthy and distinguished career with McNeilus and supported both NRMCA and TMMB in a variety of capacities. In 2012, he was named the Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient for his longtime commitment to then OES Committee and the ready mixed concrete industry. He was a foremost authority on mixer trucks; beginning in the 1980's he was an integral part of the invention and introduction of federal bridge formula mixer trucks and in the 1990's helped invent the Sliding Mixer System (SMS), a trailer mixer which became highly popular.

Mr. Harris served in many capacities and roles within NRMCA and TMMB. He was involved with Middle Tennessee State University as it initially started the Concrete Industry Management Program; was a longtime member of OES Committee and one of the leading supporters of the NRMCA Driver of the Year Program and NRMCA’s National Mixer Driver Championship.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, and also one hour prior to the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Ronald McDonald House Midwest Charities in Rochester, MN. A full obituary and more information can be read here.