It was apparent within the

first few minutes of my conversation with Hollis Harris

that a short newspaper profile would not begin to do

justice to his life.

The story of Hollis Harris

could be told as a history of Peachtree City - he

moved to the city when the population was close to 600.

His profile is also the story of Delta Air Lines -

he started working and moving up the ranks of Delta in

1954 when it was still in its infancy.

The story of Harris could

be one that typifies the "American Dream" at

its best - his father worked in the mills of

Carrollton and the family didn't have indoor plumbing

until Hollis was in the 2nd grade. Another full story

could be written regarding from the perspective of a

successful business person.

In actuality, the story of

Hollis Harris is more suited for a book. As a book is

currently in the works, maybe this brief overview of the

67 year old will pique the readers' interest in the book.

Hollis Harris has literally

traveled the world. "One of my goals was to go to

every continent in the world," he said. "I have

been to every one except Antarctica." He and

longtime friend Joel Cowan are making plans to complete

his global goal in the near future.

THE EARLY YEARS

That Harris has been a goal

setter - and achiever - since his early years is clear.

As a child living on the

outskirts of the Carrollton mill village, he read the

Rover Boys, Jack Armstrong and envisioned all the places

described in the books. He determined to travel and liked

the idea of airplanes.

When his family would make

the then long trek to Atlanta, he had his father take him

model airplanes and began working to make his dreams a

reality.

Although he grew up in

Carrollton, his family ties are to Fayette County. His

grandfather was a railroad worker, and a community

minister, living in Tyrone. His father was born in

Tyrone.

Harris gets his

determination to succeed honestly - his father

became a Methodist minister late in life. He got his GED,

and then his undergraduate degree from West Georgia

College while Hollis was in high school. He did his

seminary work at Emory. His father occasionally assisted

at Tyrone's Hopewell Methodist Church prior to his death

at age 86.

After Harris graduated from

high school, he attended Auburn University, focusing

originally on aviation administration. In 1951, after one

year of college, he joined the army to help fight in the

Korean War.

He first tried to volunteer

in the Air Force, hoping to fly. However, as a result of

an enlistment freeze, he volunteered in the Army. "I

asked to be an airplane spotter in Korea, but they must

have thought I was crazy so they sent me to

Germany," he said.

He spent two years in

Germany as a battery commander in the 567th Field

Artillery Battalion of the 35th F.A. Group. He returned

first to Georgia, then was sent to the Pentagon.

During his brief stay in

Georgia, he had his first date with future wife, Joyce

Entrekin. In 1954, he made the decision to get out of the

military and was discharged from the military as a first

lieutenant in the artillery. He returned to Georgia and

started dating Joyce steadily.

She was an 18 year-old

senior in high school when they started dating, and he

was 23. He took a job at Delta and started back to school

at Georgia Tech, shifting his focus from aviation

administration to aeronautical engineering.

In July of 1955 Joyce and

Hollis married. They recently celebrated their 44th

anniversary.

DELTA AIR LINES

For six years Harris

attended night school at Tech and worked at Delta during

the day. During his junior year at Tech he began working

on projects at Delta that could be done at any time, so

the airline "let me go to school full-time."

While in school the Harris

family was growing, as Patti, David and Jeff were born.

Jeff, the youngest, was born in 1961, the same year

Harris graduated from Tech with a bachelor's degree in

aeronautical engineering.

When Harris first joined

Delta Air Lines they employed approximately 3,500 people

and had less than $100 million in revenue. In 1990, when

he resigned from Delta, the company employed over 65,000

people and boasted a net profit of roughly $500 million.

During his tenure at Delta,

Harris "moved around." His titles have included

transportation agent in the marketing division and

aircraft engineer and head of the aircraft engineering

department. He has held key management roles in the

facilities department, in-flight services, passenger

service and operations.

Harris notes, "I

always wanted to improve. I didn't want to design, I

wanted to manage and I set my goals high - I wanted to be

the CEO and president of Delta."

In 1987 he became the

president of Delta and was responsible for all marketing,

operations, technical operations and personnel functions.

BEYOND DELTA

In 1990 Harris left Delta,

in a move which surprised many, and became the chairman,

president and chief executive officer of Continental

Airlines and president of Continental Airlines Holding,

Inc.

Harris says he learned a

lot during his 36 years at Delta. The airline was solid

and had good people. He speaks highly of the airline, its

people and the relationships he built.

However, he says,

"When I went to Continental it was a different

management challenge. I learned more about people and

crisis management in one year than during my entire time

at Delta."

The airline was close to

bankruptcy and Harris was brought in late in the game to

help turn Continental airlines around. When disagreement

occurred in management as to how the airline should move

forward, Harris chose a direction which supported the

staff and pilots rather than go back on his commitments

to them. The position left him at odds with the

conventional views of others and ultimately resulted in a

mutual decision that he end his relationship with

Continental.

He, along with four

partners, started an aviation consulting firm, Air Eagle

Holdings, in Georgia. Doors are always opening for those

with the talents Harris possesses, and Air Canada came

calling. In 1992 he joined Air Canada as vice chairman,

president and chief executive officer. In January 1993,

he became the chairman.

Air Canada was in trouble.

On his first day with the airline they announced a big

loss. In 1991 the airline had lost $218 million. As an

American and outsider, Harris faced some additional

challenges. However, results speak volumes and Harris'

success soon had the airline industry throughout the

world watching.

Not one to forget past

promises and commitments, Harris managed to help turn

Continental around in the process of turning the tide for

Air Canada.

Shortly after joining the

airline, Air Canada and bidding partner Air Partners each

purchased 28.7 percent of Continental.

In 1997, Harris chose to

semi-retire, handing the then-successful Air Canada over

to a capable management team.

With the love of airplanes

and the drive of a true entrepreneur, Harris wasn't ready

to stop. He became chairman, CEO and the biggest

shareholder in a budding new airline, Cal Jet.

Unfortunately, the airline was just getting off the

ground when the ValuJet crash occurred and "at the

end of the day I lost more than anyone financially."

He then formed HLH Holdings

in Atlanta. HLH is an airline and consulting business

based in Peachtree City. While HLH is still going strong,

Harris was once again called upon to help save another

struggling airline and, as a result, is currently

concentrating on his new challenge.

Earlier this year Harris

was appointed chairman, president and CEO of World

Airways. His goal is to do what he did at Air Canada -

rescue the 50-year-old airline.

Although he was

"semiretired" prior to joining World Airways,

he says "I don't feel like 67. I would like to work

as long as I can. If Strom Thurmond can work until his

age, I think I can stay on for awhile."

LIFE IN PEACHTREE CITY

The Harris family moved to

Golfview Drive on the Flat Creek Country Club golf course

in Peachtree City in 1969. They later moved to their

current home located on a different Flat Creek green.

Golf is what originally

drew the Harrises to Peachtree City. Some friends told

Hollis about the golf course, he came, he played and

returned to stay. In 1969 a portion of Golfview was dirt

and Flat Creek was the only golf course in the area.

There was one community

church which served the needs of all denominations

including Catholics and Jews. When the various

denominations built churches and the community church

reverted to its original faith of Presbyterian, the

Harris family stayed with the church. They are still

active members at First Presbyterian in Peachtree City.

As "charter"

members of Peachtree City, the families ties are woven

into the history of the town. Harris served on the board

of Fayette State Bank with Joel Cowan and Floy Farr. They

built the bank up and sold it to C&S.

Both of the Harrises are

strong supporters of the Endowment Committee for the

Cultural Arts (ECCA) in Fayette County and Joyce served

on the Board for a number of years. In 1997 she was

recognized for her contributions to the nonprofit group.

The couple have already marked their calendar to attend

the ECCA's upcoming "Act of Art" membership

party.

Joyce has served on the

West Georgia College Trustee Board and sponsors the Joyce

Entrekin Harris Scholarship to encourage students in the

arts.

She is an accomplished

artist and the pair's home is dotted with examples of her

work. She has studied interior design as is evidenced by

the couple's beautiful home. Her interest in art began at

the instigation of her twin sister, who took up art as

one way to help her get through a difficult time.

Joyce received a call from

her one day and was informed, as only a twin can do, that

"we can paint." She can paint.

Joyce has also served on

the Battered Women's Board.

The Harrises' oldest son,

David, is married to Leigh Ann Baily from Fayetteville.

In addition to their son David Jr. who lost his battle

with leukemia in 1996, they have a 15 year old, Rachel

and a 9 year old, Michael. Daughter Patti lives in

Peachtree City. She is the mother of two, Jackson and

Mitch.

Youngest son, Jeff, lives

on Lake Lanier and has recently returned to college with

the goal of changing careers.

Family is important to

Joyce and Hollis. There is always time to go for a spin

on the golf cart with grandsons and the doors are always

open. The entire family is involved in some manner with

The David L. Harris, Jr. Foundation.

While they attend different

churches, faith is an integral part of their day-to-day

life.

A FINAL COMMENT

While I am certainly not an

expert in managing large companies, after spending an

afternoon talking with Hollis Harris, I would bet that

World Airways is getting ready to make a turnaround. And

I know that Fayette County has certainly been enriched by

the contributions Harris and his family have made.

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