Roll Call Tribute

Richard Love Harris 

February 14, 1932 - November 23, 2024 

Richard Love Harris, 92, passed away peacefully at home on November 23, 2024.

Richard was born February 14, 1932, in Anson, TX to Richard Milton Harris and Leta B. Love. Richard attended public school in San Angelo, TX, graduating from San Angelo High School in 1950. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station, TX as an Air Force cadet and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business. Richard served from 1954 to 1956 in the United States Air Force as an Air Police Officer stationed at Goodfellow Air base in Texas, obtaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. Richard was honorably discharged from active duty in 1956 but continued his service in the Air Force Reserve until 1968 obtaining the rank of Captain.

After his discharge from active duty, Richard gained employment with El Paso Natural Gas in Farmington, New Mexico where he began to take an interest in oil and gas law. He applied and was accepted to Law School at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado studying every waking hour while also working to pay the bills. Richard graduated from Denver law school and while also in Denver, met the love of his life Judith “Judy” Abigail Russell during a random document delivery to the building where she was employed in secretarial work. Richard, so he tells the story, delivered the document, rode the elevator down and called back to her office on a pay phone to ask her out for a coke. She accepted apparently and a lifelong journey of love and trials thus began. Richard and Judy were married in 1961 in Tulsa, OK at the home of Judy’s parents at 24th Street and South St. Louis Ave.

Richard quickly passed the Oklahoma Bar exam and soon found work with the Law firm of Farmer, Woolsey, Flippo and Baily in downtown Tulsa. He worked tirelessly in the early years of his career to make a name for himself as an oil and gas attorney while at the same time being a very present husband and father to two young boys Kyle and Lance. Richard was soon making his own oil deals and growing his own mineral interests and subsequently took the position as attorney and investor in Viking Petroleum Company in the 1970’s. He was frugal with his earnings during this boom time and when the bust of the early 1980’s happened, Richard did not faulter. He started his own law firm soon after practicing law and dabbling in mineral interests successfully and with integrity through the rest of his life taking on numerous well remembered partners in the law firm over the years. Richard created two oil entities in his career, Jones County Minerals and Windmill Oil and Gas which his sons now operate.

Richard’s hobby was his work, but he also took a significant interest in historical western and native American art. He built quite an impressive collection that adorned the walls and shelves of his and Judy’s home throughout their lives. He and Judy also loved to spend time at their farm where she could enjoy her horses, and he could sit on his back porch on a nice evening watching his swans. Richard was highly active in the Shriners and received his 50-year pin in 2020 and was also a Jester. He was active in boy scouting with his sons and served as Scout Master for Troop 1 in Tulsa in the late seventies and was an Eagle scout in his own rite. It was especially important for Richard to give back to the community and causes he cared about, and he did so generously, mostly to Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Research and a scholarship fund at his alma mater, Texas A&M University. Richard is survived by his two sons Kyle Russell Harris of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Lance Rodney Harris of Tulsa; three grandchildren, William Creede Harris, Chloe Abigail Sharp and Josie Love Standridge; and two brothers, Robert E. Harris of Tyler, Texas and John E. Harris of Austin, Texas. He was preceded in death by his lovely bride, Judith Abigail Russell, and his parents.

Though Richard is no longer with us, his love, generosity, and wisdom will remain a guiding light for those that were fortunate enough to know him. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will continue to shine in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those he touched with his wonderful charm and kindness.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday December 14, 2024, at Stanleys Memorial Chapel with reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma. 6660 S. Sheridan Rd., Suite 202, Tulsa, OK 74133. Please leave a message for the family on Richard’s webpage at www.stanleysfuneralhome.com.