February 28-March 5, 2020, Vol. 13, Issue 9 Shelby County lawmakers still targeting NCAA, trying to Frayser could get new high school according to Shelby protect student-athletes from exploitation P. 5 County Mayor Lee Harris P. 6 FORMERLY THE MEMPHIS NEWS FAYETTE • TIPTON • MADISON Family, friends and fans attend A Celebration of Life service for former rodeo clown Lecile Harris on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at Collierville High School. (Mark Weber/The West Tennessee News) ‘DEDICATED TO HIS CRAFT’ Collierville remembers the life of beloved rodeo clown Lecile Harris P. 2 BLOOD VESSELS A NEW LEADER University of Memphis Memphis Heritage names professor and team working Holly Jansen Fulkerson as on ways to create new type of June West's successor P. 7 blood vessel implant P. 5 A Publication of The Daily News Publishing Co. 2 February 28-March 5, 2020 The West Tennessee News Lecile Harris leaves friends and family ‘wanting more’ “I came to know a person that was very deep in his faith,” Atkinson said. “He tried his best to live out his faith … What a truly authentic person. What a good represen- tative of the gospel, of Collierville (and) of Collierville United Methodist Church.” He said Harris was gracious as he would meet everyone who lined up to shake his hand and meet him, even if it meant stay- ing after midnight.“He loved life and loved sharing that with you and others,” Atkinson said. “That’s why you’re here today.”He said the next generation will only get to know part of Harris’ life.“Long live the legend of Lecile Harris,” he said.Rodeo announcer Andy Stewart teared up and his voice slightly quivered as he thanked the family for the opportunity to speak. He first saw Harris at 7 years old and he was inspired to become an announcer, and said all he knew about “showmanship” was learned from Harris.“He was a perfection- ist,” he said. “He was bigger than life — his acts, his makeup, his costumes, everything about him.”He said each in the room had a talent. “Lecile’s talent was entertainment and making people laugh,” Stewart said. “Laughter is the best medicine and he was the king of it.”As the service closed, Stewart Ethel Harris, (second right) widow of former rodeo clown Lecile Harris,wipes tears during the service for her late husband on Sunday, asked the congregation to shut their eyes. Feb. 23, 2020 at Collierville High School. (Mark Weber/The West Tennessee News) “We’re gonna close this like Lecile closed every rodeo,” he said. “I want you to picture that long-legged friend standing in ABIGAIL WARREN “wanting more.” The West Tennessee News “After performing for us through eight Some wore cowboy hats, boots and different decades and even at 83 years old, jeans into Collierville High School’s gym- his timing was absolutely amazing,” Knopp nasium Sunday as many gathered to re- said. “He ended the final performance of his member the life and legacy of Lecile Harris. favorite rodeo. He finished his act. He left “On the road Lecile was the famous the stage, but he left us all wanting more.” rodeo clown,” Ken Knopp, a rodeo cowboy, “He was an entertainer,” Collierville said. “Here around Collierville he was just Mayor Stan Joyner said. “He loved to laugh Lecile.”Many wanted to know what Lecile and he loved to make people laugh.” was “really like,” Knopp said.He loved his Harris was born in Cormorant, Missis- hometown and his family, Harris’ friend sippi, but he and his family moved to Col- said. “He was a hero, a friend and a hell of a lierville and he was proud to be a resident of decent guy,” Knopp said.He said Harris was the town.“I would like to express my condo- “dedicated to his craft” but also “earnestly lences from the town of Collierville,” Joyner devoted” to his family.“To his children, said. “Lecile was a well-known citizen and he was dad. To his grandchildren, he was a very respected businessman in the town big daddy,” Knopp said. “To Ethel (Harris’ of Collierville.”Harris was a “native son” of wife), he was everything. He was her whole the suburb according to Joyner. world.”Although he traveled for his career, “Lecile told me that wherever he went, his family was inspired by his work. and spoke to people and performed, that “He was magnetic … He commanded he always wanted people to know was Christi Lalonde, daughter of former rodeo clown Lecile Harris, hugs friends during the attention of everyone, whether he was en- from Collierville, Tennessee,” Joyner said. service for her late father on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at Collierville High School. tering the arena or entering a room.” “When he was introduced, he wanted to (Mark Weber/The West Tennessee News) Knopp also said he had a “good heart” be introduced as being from Collierville, and treated people “with respect and Tennessee. He had great pride in the town recommend they contact Harris. the middle of that arena.”As the audience kindness.”“Did he have an ego? Absolutely,” of Collierville and we certainly had great “He was an artist. He was a craftsman. stood, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” by Three Knopp said. “You can’t not have an ego and pride in Lecile.”Many business signs in Col- He was a musician. He was a perfection- Dog Night sounded from the speakers. The be in the entertainment business, but he lierville, and almost all in the historic town ist,” Joyner said. “He was a man of faith, a audience hollered, whistled and cheered. was not egotistical and there’s a difference.” square were made by Harris. He started his husband, a father, a grandfather, a great- “Ladies and Gentlemen a four-time Harris attended University of Tennes- sign business soon after high school.“When grandfather and a great friend.” Joyner de- clown of the year, pro-rodeo hall of famer, see Martin on a football scholarship and I look around – especially when I go to the livered a certificate from Gov. Bill Lee to a star of televisions “Hee Haw, the one and did some boxing. square – I see Lecile’s fingerprints both Harris’ wife. Lee wanted to honor Harris’ only Lecile Harris.” His entertainment accomplishments figuratively and literally .. because I would legacy and express condolences on behalf The audience cheered. surpassed the rodeo ring. He was a drum- imagine Lecile painted, made and hung of Tennesseans. Harris’ pastor, Rev. David Harris died Feb. 13 at age 83 in his sleep mer who crossed paths with many notables every sign up there.”Harris knew the town’s Atkinson of Collierville United Methodist after a performance at the 55th Dixie Na- including Elvis Presley. Additionally he ap- sign requirements well. Joyner noted even Church called him a “living legend” and tional Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi. peared in some films with Bert Reynolds his office sign on Poplar View Parkway was said Harris’ faith was a “foundation” to “He did what he always did,” Stewart and Johnny Cash.Harris told Knopp that a made by Harris, and when business owners all he did.He recalled many lunches they said. “He’s leaving us wanting a little bit successful act will always leave the crowd asked for suggestions on signs, he would spent together. m o re .” The West Tennessee News February 28-March 5, 2020 3 Dentist to tech stars working for smiles at Church Health JANE ROBERTS 24-operatory dental clinic — the Golly, it was a wonderful place The West Tennessee News largest freestanding dental clinic to be for 37 years. I did a lot of Dr. Bob Turner’s dental cli- in the South — on the second dentistry on CEOs of different ents in Palo Alto included some floor of Crosstown Concourse. Silicon Valley companies, a lot of the biggest names in Silicon Church Health moved there of cardiovascular surgeons at Valley, including Google co- in spring of 2017 in a space that Stanford and a lot of faculty,” founders Sergey Brin and Larry more than doubled its capacity. Turner said. Page. Larry Ellison, Oracle co- It now sees 425 patients a week, “It was an amazing place to founder, was in his chair. So was including a list constantly wait- be in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. It was the entire Stanford University ing to see Turner in the back just incredible.” water polo team. of the clinic where it has five But his practice at Church When Turner, also a noted chairs for specialists, including Health is changing lives, he says, winemaker, left California to prosthodontics — making and in a way that makes him want to live full-time in Memphis, three fitting dentures or implants, his do what he can. friends individually took him specialty. “I said I would work from 9 aside and told him he ought to Turner takes up two chairs until noon on Mondays because Dentist Steven Oxner walks past the “wall of smiles” at the Church meet Dr. Scott Morris and set — perhaps making him the only I wanted to sleep in,” Turner said Health dental clinic on Feb. 19, 2020, at Crosstown Concourse. up shop at the Church Health retired dentist in the city who with a chuckle. (Greg Campbell/The West Tennessee News) Center. loves what he does so much, he’s “Pretty soon I was coming “I told him what I thought I figured out how to do more. in at 8 and staying until 12:30.” University of Tennessee Health every dentist to come every year could do to help the clinic,” says “With two assistants, I can go Last year, the clinic received Science Center in periodontics.