Emmett B. Harrison Jr.

In 1973, Bruce Harrison founded the E. Bruce Harrison Company with his wife, Patricia, and it became one of the country’s earliest and largest owner-managed environmental communications firms. His skill as a communicator, business leader, and counselor for Fortune 100 companies and adjunct professor at Georgetown University impacted the lives of so many in positive ways.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, he was a reporter and managing editor at two newspapers in Alabama and Georgia, before going to Washington as a press secretary to a Member of the House of Representatives.

In 2000, PR Week named him as one of the “100 Most Influential Public Relations Professionals of the 20th Century". The recipient of many awards and honors including the Distinguished Service Award from the Arthur Page Society, the Outstanding Journalism Graduate award and its Distinguished Achievement Award from his alma mater, the University of Alabama; The Society of Professional Journalists Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award for the initiation of Project Watchdog on press freedom. The Public Relations Society of America made him a fellow and inducted him into the PR Hall of Fame; the Associated Press gave him its Radio Journalism Award; and the National Press Club recognized him for distinguished service. Bruce was also a community leader both in the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, VA, and on the board of the Cherry Hill United Methodist Church. In his retirement, he volunteered at Virginia Hospital Center and brought comfort to those at the end of life.

In 1992, he was chief communications counselor to the U.S.business delegation at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the first earth summit in Rio de Janeiro. He was a playwright whose prize winning play was performed at Arena Stage and also authored two books for the business world on environmental public relations and a third book, used by academia, on leadership communication

Bruce’s true love was reporting and his long commitment to ensuring freedom of the press. He was a lifetime member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Press Club and a strong supporter of the First Amendment. Bruce is survived by his wife Patricia de Stacy Harrison, six children, 11 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren and his beloved brother and nephew.

He died peacefully surrounded by his family on January 16, 2021 at age 88. Services are private, condolences and fond memories may be made to the Harrison family at murphyfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bruce Harrison can be sent to the Saint Pio Foundation or the First Amendment Forever Fund or a charity of your choice:

Saint Pio Foundation, 270 North Avenue, Suite 808, New Rochelle, NY 10801www.saintpiofoundation.org

First Amendment Forever Fund: Society of Professional Journalists

Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Center3909 N. Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46208

317-927-8000https://www.spj.org/hq.asp