The late Larry D. Harris, J.D. ‘75, with his impressive professional and personal achievements, embodied the impact that education can have on the trajectory of life.
Born in the Jim Crow-era South, Harris was his family’s first college graduate, then its first lawyer. His degrees opened the door to a highly successful, four-decade career. A highly accomplished attorney, Harris was also a personable and easygoing extrovert; his preternatural gift for personal connection with people from all paths left an indelible mark on those he encountered.
After finishing GW Law, Harris entered the legal profession as a commissioned officer in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) to fulfill his ROTC obligation, he rose through the ranks to Big Law as an expert in government construction law. Scholarships (and loans) helped make his dreams a reality.
Harris’ wife, Maryanne Lavan, has noted: “Larry was a proud [George Washington University] graduate who had a passion for learning and who needed financial help to attend law school. Giving to education, and specifically financial aid, has always been a priority for our family. The kids and I thought a scholarship endowment would be an excellent remembrance, and something concrete that will last forever.”
The Lavan/Harris family’s generous gift establishes an endowment that provides for a yearly full tuition scholarship at GW Law in perpetuity. Recipient preferences reflect Harris’ passions, in priority order to encompass the most possible: a member of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA); a student planning to practice in the field of government procurement/government contracts; and/or prior or current military service.