Harris was most well known for his association with University of Florida and its athletic programs, particularly the Florida Gators football team. He first attended games as an undergraduate in 1956 and remained a season-ticket holder at
Florida Field for sixty-four seasons. After earning his undergraduate degree in 1961 and his law degree in 1965, Harris became active in university and alumni affairs, serving as a president and life member of the Gator Boosters and later as a Legacy Director, a donor designation recognizing contributions in excess of $3 million to Florida athletics. He served on both the University of Florida Foundation and Athletic Association boards. As a Legacy Director, Harris received commemorative championship rings for the
1996 and
2006 football seasons. Harris became a prominent figure at home football games and known on campus for his support of the Florida Gators. A 2008
CBS Sports Network feature showcased “Stumpy's Gator Fleet,” a collection of orange-and-blue, Gator themed vehicles that included bicycles, trailers, a motor home, a heavily customized
Ford V10 pickup nicknamed
The Mother Ship, and a 1952
MG roadster that he trailered to
Gainesville for game weekends. Harris helped fund the installation of the
Bull Gator statue outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, a life-size bronze alligator commemorating the Gators’
2006 national championship season. The statue was provided through a gift from Harris and fellow alumnus, Hjalma Johnson, and Joe LeCompte, and has since become a landmark on the University of Florida campus and a popular photo site for students and alumni. After his passing, Harris was designated as an In Memoriam Legacy Director of the Gator Boosters, alongside
Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. and Ben Hill Griffin III. == Personal life and death ==