Chris Harris, a smart, gruff and accomplished former state legislator from Tarrant County, died early Saturday morning, according to state Rep. Charlie Geren, a friend and former colleague. Harris was 67.Â
Harris, an attorney specializing in family and business law, served in the Texas House for three sessions starting in 1985 before winning a spot in the state Senate, where he served from 1991 to 2013.Â
His district and his assignments in the Senate changed over time. Harris came to state government from Arlington and at various times represented parts of Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Johnson and Parker counties in the state Legislature. He came to Austin when Republicans were a small minority in the House and Senate; by the time he left, his party had overwhelming majorities in both chambers.Â
He served as chairman of the Senate Administration Committee for five terms, was the Senate president pro tempore in 2001, and also headed committees on jurisprudence and economic development.Â
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/19/former-lawmaker-chris-harris-dead-67/.
From the Associated Press: FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Former state Sen. Chris Harris has died at a Fort Worth hospital.
His law partner, Mansfield Mayor David Cook, says Harris died Saturday. He was 67.
Cook said Monday that Harris previously had heart and lung problems. He says Harris was not feeling well, was admitted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital on Dec. 14 and was being treated for an infection. Cook had no other immediate details on a cause of death.
Harris served in the Texas House from 1985 to 1990. He was in the Texas Senate from 1991 to 2013. Harris served portions of Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Parker and Dallas counties. He was Senate president pro tempore in 2001.
Cook says a funeral was planned at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie.