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Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot Texas: Texas Backwoods Battler

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Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot Website! Memoirs
Purchase Autographed Copies on our website!
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Up and Coming Book Signings:
- December 19th, 10am-2pm, Heritage Museum of Montgomery County- Conroe, TX
- January 24th, Greater Conroe/ Lake Conroe Chamber Luncheon
- February 2nd, Barns and Noble, Woodlands, TX

By Robin Montgomery

There is an ocean of trees interlaced with vines in Southeast Texas, from which the morning dew drips upon spongy, swampy ground. In the 1930s, this wilderness of Cut and Shoot was as savage as when it defied the explorations of the Spanish 200 years before.

The ’30s brought the Conroe oil boom to Cut and Shoot, engendering not only prosperity, but conflict between the boomers and the native inhabitants whose homes and hunting grounds were violated. In this turbulent environment, Roy Harris was born.

Attuned to the cultural atmosphere of the times, in the late ’40s and early ’50s, Conroe became the boxing capital of Texas. The sport was taught in the schools with local boxing tournaments a big draw. The coach who started the program, J.T. Montgomery, later to become high school principal, purchased a ring from Madison Square Garden once used by all-time boxing greats. In this ring, kids of Montgomery County honed pugilistic skills, but in a spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

Nourished in these surroundings, Roy Harris rose to a shot at the world heavyweight boxing title. In 1958, he met the then champion Floyd Patterson. Unfortunately, after 12 rounds the fight was called for Patterson on a technicality as Roy had suffered a serious cut. Though he lost the fight, Roy made Cut and Shoot a household name. On the very day of the fight, Cut and Shoot received a post office due to the overflow of mail from around the world. Later, as an attorney, Roy played a vital role in the incorporation of Cut and Shoot while serving for 28 years as Montgomery County clerk. He was also a military officer.

Sportsman, real estate mogul, politician and friend to all, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, with his co-author, yours truly, Robin Montgomery, Roy will be at the Heritage Museum, Conroe, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to autograph their new book, “Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot: Texas Backwoods Battler.” This is a limited pre-publication sale of advance copies, at a reduced price. We hope to see you there.

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The tale of professional heavyweight boxer Roy Harris Roy Harris and Robin Montgomery pen exciting new memoir on boxer

CUT AND SHOOT, Texas – Roy Harris stood in the boxing ring in Los Angeles one August night in 1958, facing the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, Floyd Patterson, who, at the time, had earned that crown at an earlier age than any other man in history. Roy, however, faced a psychological handicap met by few other heavyweight challengers: how could a rustic backwoodsman turned gentleman-scholar-soldier cope with such a challenge? What strange events had conspired to create the meeting of such a contrast in pugilistic antagonists? It is Roy’s story that he and Robin Montgomery pen in his new memoir, “Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot: Texas Backwoods Battler” (published by iUniverse).

“Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot” is, in part, the story of how and why Roy Harris emerged from backwoods obscurity to the pinnacle of fistic heaven – a heavyweight title bout. But this is also the story of the rapidly vanishing breed that spawned and nourished him – the rugged individualistic frontiersmen from the oil-rich southeast Texas thicket country.

Today, Cut and Shoot is a growing community northeast of Houston. Roy has retired from illustrious careers not only in boxing, but as an attorney, real estate mogul and the county clerk of Montgomery County, Texas, for 28 years.

Roy’s personal memories are inserted throughout “Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot,” adding authenticity to this dramatic saga. “It brings a sense of place, culture, simplicity and truth to a society that has in many ways grown jaded and insensitive to the basics of life, good friends, truth, honor and patriotism,” Montgomery states.

“Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot: Texas Backwoods Battler”

By Roy Harris and Robin Montgomery

Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 302 pages | ISBN 9781475960679 |

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 302 pages | ISBN 9781475960662 |

E-Book | 302 pages | ISBN 9781475960686 |

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Authors

Roy Harris, attorney-at-law, married Gloria Jean Groce in 1955, and the two had six children. He excelled in a variety of careers. In recent years, the Conroe City Council declared August 18 – the date on which he fought for the world’s heavyweight title in 1958 – as Roy Harris Day. He lives in Texas.


Robin Montgomery, Ph.D., earned his doctorate of philosophy in political science from the University of Oklahoma. He is president of the Texas Center for Regional Studies, and he is the author of nine previous books, dozens of articles, and newspaper columns on current events and local history. Montgomery is married and has four children.

Thank you.


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