When William Harris saw his father, a cotton farmer in Alabama, recover from a serious illness after being treated by a chiropractor, he decided to become a chiropractor. He worked nights and weekends during the Depression to complete his program at Palmer College, studying with B.J. Palmer, until his father died. He returned to the farm and later finished his education, paying his family back the money they sent him while he was in school. This experience gave him the the vision of how to help others enter the field and develop the profession. (Colloqua, 2008)

Elder Statesman of Chiropractic

Dr. William M. Harris was an acclaimed philanthropist, doctor, executive, lecturer, author, educator, and elder statesman to the profession of chiropractic. He founded Practice Consultants, a chiropractic consulting firm, and the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education. Dr. Harris had a long association with prominent business leaders including W. Clement Stone, founder of the Combined Insurance Company and Success Magazine. He was also the personal chiropractor to the legendary Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich.

ShermanCollege and other institutions continue to benefit from his foundation’s donations and grants made possible by the success of his consulting company. Dr. Harris has generously issued several challenge or matching grants to Sherman College over the years. He was known in the greatest philanthropist of chiropractic by donating over $11 million to chiropractic education and research throughout his illustrious career, which began when he started his first successful practice in 1940. He influenced many of his family members and patients to become chiropractors as well, and pioneered chiropractic in the State of Georgia.

Dr. Harris graduated from Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1938, having been a student of both Dr. Lyle Sherman and Mrs. Eula Sherman who taught speech and communication. He was later an assistant professor in the X-Ray Department at Palmer College.

Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic and president of Palmer College authored six books, only dedicating two of them; Dr. Harris was one of the recipients. Among his many recognitions, he received Dynamic Chiropractic’s Chiropractic Philanthropist of the Year award in 1997, and he was honored by Sherman College with Service to the Profession award in 1998. He died in 2008, and was honored by the many people whose lives he touched.