Robert Harris Jr., a former student, professor, and board of visitors member at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, died on January 8. He was 90 years old.
Harris was originally denied admission to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education because of his race. He later was the first African American student to enroll at the school. Dr. Harris earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and went on to earn a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Harris had long career as an educator in the Milwaukee Public School System serving as a teacher of science, mathematics, and history, football coach, and school principal. Later he joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
