Mr. Bill Harris has passed.

[fox-admin]

Sadly I must announce that Mr. Bill Harris a Life member of the AHFCA passed away on July 12th. Bill or Billy as his family called him was a true Southern Gentleman and good friend of all who knew him. Bill was instrumental in the formation of the AHFCA with his financial support, and his extremely generous donation of the AH Fox factory records to the organization. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and Anita at their home in Florida in 2009; we became instant friends. Bill had many collecting interest including classic cars, vintage tractors, military arms and of course Fox guns. Bill has a very large family, three sons and a daughter and many grandchildren. Bill loved his family and his country estate. Bill will be missed he was a great man.
The family asked me to delay the announcement of his passing in order to maintain their privacy. Craig Larter

[MARSHFELLOW]

I was sorry to hear of Mr. Harris' passing. I was fortunate to meet he & Mrs. Harris once at the Las Vegas show several years ago and we had a nice time. He had previously provided me with some of his personal Fox records for me to do some research on guns that I was interested in...it was a very generous & gracious deed.
Yes, Craig, we have lost a true gentleman and Fox fan.

tjw

[DSizemore]

"A true southern gentleman" is very accurate Craig. Hate to hear that! Thanks for posting.

[Silvers]

The BD's have known of Bill's passing, and I thank Craig for keeping in touch with Anita during this very sad time, and delaying his announcement. My friend Toolman and I first met Billy a little over three years ago, and I immediately liked this man. Turns out he and I had many of the same interests including classic cars, US military rifles and of course Foxes. We talked many times since then and he always impressed me as a Southern Gentleman, a pretty smart and savvy guy, and honest as the day is long. We all here are blessed in some manner because of this fine man. Just thinking back over the past three years I am sure Billy was ready when the Master issued his summons. Rest in peace Billy.

Here's a pic of that first get together with me on the left, Toolman center and Mr. Bill Harris right.

[TOOL MAN]

"True Southern Gentleman"......indeed. The Fox community has lost an ardent supporter. So glad I was able to spend some time with him and my comrade Silvers, a few years back. It was an epic journey that I'll never forget. I know Billy was "grandfather proud" of the AHFCA and the tremendous progress we made, especially in those early years. No doubt he will be looking down at us next week at the Vintage Cup. Sitting back with that wry little smile, sipping a wee bit of the "recipe" and negotiating with St. Peter on a nice, honest Fox!! Here's to Heaven and high grades, my good friend. -------TOOL

[Silvers]

Tool, I think that was Brooklyn Handicap in our friend's flask that evening. Kinda we'nt wid dem Soopers.

[eightbore]

Bill Harris was a wonderful man, and generous to a fault with the Fox records. Whether most of you know it or not, Bill and a mutual friend from "Down South" actually physically copied the original Fox order cards, and in duplicate no less. What a task that must have been. I will miss him. Bill Murphy

[FRBRIT]

I'm so sorry to hear of Billies passing.

I only had the pleasure of meeting him once at the spring Tulsa show a few years ago. After that one short meeting I felt that I had just met a very special person. In the months following I learned more of the great contributions he had made to the Fox collecting community & this helped confirm my initial feelings about the man.

The Fox collecting world and humanity in general has just loss a truly great man!

Billy,
Thank you for all you have done, May you rest in peace!!!!!