O.H. "Ike" Harris

Who is O.H. "Ike" Harris?

O. H. "Ike" Harris is an attorney and lobbyist in Austin, Texas, who served from 1963 to 1965 and 1967 to 1995 as a Republican member from Dallas County in both houses of the Texas State Legislature. He was elected to his single term as a state representative in 1962. His Senate tenure in District 8 ran from 1967 to 1995. In his final 1993–1995 biennial term, Harris was the dean, or senior member in tenure, among all of the state senators.

Harris is particularly remembered for having authored legislation that permits parimutuel betting at horse race tracks in Texas. On October 10, 2009, the racing industry honored him with its JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award during induction ceremonies of the Texas Racing Hall of Fame held at Retama Park in Selma near San Antonio, Texas. He also worked to implement interstate banking, insurance reform, and the expansion of the University of Texas at Dallas to a four-year institution. In 1973, he was Senate President Pro Tempore in the 63rd Legislative Session.