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Roy Harris, World Class Boxing Legend

by Robin Montgomery

One of the greatest figures to grace the pages of MontgomeryCounty history, a figure of international  renown, is Roy Harris of Cut’n Shoot. Especially for the new-comers to our county, let us take a little journey, first to August of 1958, then to the colorful past which led to the momentous event of that year. And finally, let’s survey events in the life of this majestical figure since that date.
             
In the year 1958, Roy Harris was the third-ranked heavyweight boxer in the world. Included within his resume were numerous state golden glove championships and professional trophies of multiple levels. In August of that year, with the world’s heavyweight championship on the line, he met Floyd Patterson in the latter’s prime. For twelve grueling rounds, Royheld his own with the world’s champion, even
presenting him his first knockdown in his championship reign. Alas, however, destiny would not play well for Roy that night. The referee, mistakenly thinking Roy to be hurt because of a cut, stopped the fight in the twelfth round.
             
But Roy Harris had captured the heart of the nation and the world. And he had made a little burg east of Conroe, about which few outside its environs had ever heard, a household name. On a major national label, Royeven recorded a song about the town. Called “Cut’n Shoot, Texas,USA”,the song set many a hand to
clapping and enticed visitors by the scores to visit the place. Literally, Roy put Cut’n Shoot on the map, as a post office emerged largely due to his notoriety.
             
Raised in the woodlands of Cut’n Shoot, Roy Harris had enjoyed a colorful youth. Among his accomplishments, as an early teen ager, along with his brother, Tobe, Roy landed, with only a rope and a boat, the largest alligator ever captured in Texas. His family kept the “gator” in a little pond in the front yard. Legend is the stories of Roy’s father, Henry Harris, and his cousins, “Wildman” Campbell Woodman, and cousin “Armadillo”.  
             
When the Harris clan would go off to win a regional or a state championship at a golden gloves tournament, the Cut’n Shoot clan would trail along, “coon-skin” caps, bowie knives, and all. Boxing fans were enthralled. So intrigued was one reporter for the Fort-Worth Star Telegram that, with the guidance of Roy’s first coach and later principal, J.T. Montgomery, the reporter came to Cut’n Shoot to catch the full flavor of the place. So amazing was his story in the newspaper, that it received a coveted award as the Sports story of the year in Texas.
            
Not only did Roy Harris have a colorful past. Since he left the ranks of boxing, he has accomplished what few sports figures of any sport could claim. He has had a successful and rewarding life. An honor student in college, Roy went on to become super successful at real estate. Then he met the challenge, at the University of Arkansas, of becoming an attorney. In the meantime, this legendary figure that defeated in the ring some
of the most powerful fighters of his day, taught school, at the elementary school level! What a privilege for students of that young age to have the honor of sitting in class with such a high example of humanity, on a daily basis.
             
In addition to all of the above, this greater-than-life figure of MontgomeryCounty never tasted defeat as a politician, holding the office of CountyClerk for numerous consecutive terms. Unlike most politicians, he chose the time to step down from office, on his own terms.
             
Roy Harris retired to a life of raising a wonderful family of six children, along with his beautiful wife, Jeannie. Theirs has been a life of love and so many friends from all over the world that they could never count all their blessings.
             
Roy Harris, sportsman, businessman, attorney, adventurer, family man and friend. To dwell at the same time in the same county as this noble individual, is a privilege to hold and in which to bask.       

Thank you.


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