Though small in stature, there was nothing small about the impact that Leslie “Goldie” Harris had on the students he taught and coached or on the adults who were fortunate enough to know him and work with him. Leslie Harris, referred to affectionately by some as “Coach” and by others as “Goldie,” served as football, basketball, tennis and track coach and as geometry, history and biology teacher in Seguin ISD at Ball High School, Saegert Middle School and Seguin High School. Under Coach Harris’s leadership, Ball High School was the state runner-up in football in 1955, state runner-up in basketball in 1947 and state champion in 1949. The school also produced the 1949 girls state 200-yard relay champions.
Mr. Harris received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Southern University in Louisiana in 1941. His coaching career was put on hold as he entered the armed forces, seeing time in the European Theater in World War II. Following his service to his country, Coach Harris returned to begin his employment with Seguin ISD in 1945. He continued his education with graduate work at Texas Southern University.
In addition to his dedication to public school education, Coach Harris volunteered his time to his church and to many civic and social organizations in Seguin. He was a longtime member of the NAACP and held the position of president of the local chapter. During his term as president, the local group added its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Freedom March and annual awards banquet. Mr. Harris also served on several civic committees including the City of Seguin Planning and Zoning Committee. He was a 1994 Vision Award winner presented by the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise.
Leslie Harris retired in 1979 after 34 years of teaching and coaching, all in Seguin ISD. In his letter informing the district of his retirement plans, Coach Harris said of his professional experience, “I have enjoyed every minute, hour, month and year.”
After his retirement, he continued a life of service in the community, including mentoring the youth of Seguin and serving as their role model until his death on April 3, 1995. Leslie “Goldie” Harris Gymnasium was named in his honor by the Seguin ISD Board of Trustees on August 13, 2002 and was dedicated on August 15, 2004.