Polly Harris

Polly Harris (born Pauline Adair Elstein; December 6, 1924  December 6, 1987) was a Texan politician and theater enthusiast. Harris was one of the first women politicians in El Paso. She was known for serving on City Council and supporting local theater. A senior center in El Paso is named after her.

Polly Harris
Born
Pauline Adair Elstein

(1924-12-06)December 6, 1924
DiedDecember 6, 1987(1987-12-06) (aged 63)
El Paso, Texas, US
EducationKansas City Junior College (AA)
University of Missouri at Kansas City (BA)
OccupationPolitician, theater enthusiast
Spouse(s)
Paul Harris
(m. 1949)

Biography

Harris was born Pauline Adair Elstein in Kansas City, Missouri on December 6, 1924.[1][2] As early as nine, she began to get interested in the theater and at 17, had directed her first play.[1] In 1943, she graduated with an associate degree in art from Kansas City Junior College and two years later, earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.[1] She married Paul Harris in 1949 and the couple moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico and then to El Paso a year later.[1]

Between 1950 and 1959, Harris worked for radio stations, KSET and KEPO, and then later, until 1968, worked in advertising.[1] Harris became involved in theater in El Paso in 1952, playing in a comedy at the Turn of the Century Theater.[1] She also helped raise money for the theater.[2] Harris was also involved in leadership positions in other theaters, including serving on the board of directors for the El Paso Playhouse.[1][3] Both Harris and mayor of El Paso, Tom Westfall, had small parts in the film, The Border (1982).[4]

Harris first ran for office in 1977, running for a new City Council position.[1] She was the sixth woman in El Paso to run for council and the first woman to serve three terms in that office.[1][5] In office, she was considered a moderate vote and focused on tourism and advocating for women and the elderly.[1] She also supported equality for Hispanic people in El Paso.[6] In office, Harris jokingly called herself an "alderbroad."[1] Harris was also the first woman to serve as mayor pro tempore, when she presided over City Council on February 19, 1980.[1] Harris also ran, unsuccessfully for mayor of El Paso in 1985.[1] She lost another bid for City Council in 1986, and had planned to run again for mayor in 1989.[7][8] Harris also served as the chair of the El Paso Women's Political Caucus.[9]

Death and legacy

Harris collapsed at a friend's house on December 4, 1987 and went into a coma.[10] She died of a brain aneurysm on December 6, 1987.[11] At her funeral, there were more than 700 people attending the service at the Martin Funeral Chapel.[12] A scholarship in her name was created by the El Paso Women's Political Caucus.[13] In 1989, a senior center on the West side of El Paso was constructed and named for Polly Harris.[14] A memorial for Harris was placed at the Transmountain Optimist Club bicycle track in 1989.[15] She is an honorary member of the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame.[16]

References

  1. Longo, Joseph R.M. (22 September 2014). "Polly Harris: A Flamboyant El Paso Politician". Newspaper Tree. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. Longo 2015, p. 23.
  3. Viescas, Carol (1987-12-13). "Flamboyant El Paso Enthusiast Brightened the Stage of City Life". El Paso Times. p. 87. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Mayor, Other Characters, Preen for Silver-screen Stardom". El Paso Times. 1 July 1980. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  5. Longo 2015, p. 24.
  6. Olivera, Joe (1987-12-13). "Agree or Not, Polly the Politician Made Her Points Well". El Paso Times. p. 86. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Former El Paso City Councilwoman Dies". Tyler Morning Telegraph. 1987-12-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Scharrer, Gary (18 December 1988). "El Paso Mayoral Race Will Suffer Without Presence of Polly Harris". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com. "Harris". El Paso Times. 18 December 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  9. Scharrer, Gary (1987-12-08). "Harris Called Inspiration for Women". El Paso Times. p. 5. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Harris Comatose". El Paso Times. 1987-12-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  11. Scharrer, Gary (7 December 1987). "First Lady of El Paso's Political Scene, Polly Harris is Dead". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com. "Harris". El Paso Times. 7 December 1987. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  12. Scharrer, Gary (9 December 1987). "Standing-Room-Only Crowd Pays Tribute to Polly Harris". El Paso Times. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com."Harris". El Paso Times. 9 December 1987. Retrieved 26 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  13. Scharrer, Gary (1987-12-13). "'She Was Something Else!'". El Paso Times. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  14. Weeks, Donna (1989-03-01). "Senior Center is Open - Barely". El Paso Times. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Polly Harris Memorial". El Paso Times. 1989-03-12. p. 10. Retrieved 2019-12-26 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame Members". El Paso Commission for Women. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2019.

Source


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