Most days I write articles that I hope will entertain and educate readers about something to do with the old AFL. Today’s story has a bit of a twist to it because I am hoping that someone in our AFL community can help educate me a bit…
Jim Harris was a 6’4″, 275-pound defensive tackle out of Utah State University. Harris was selected by the New York Jets with their seventh-round pick in the 1965 AFL Draft. He made an immediate impact on the field, finding playing time in all 14 games his rookie season, a feat that he replicated in 1966 & 1967. Unfortunately, quarterback sack and tackle statistics were not kept in the 1960s, so it is difficult to definitively report on Harris’s value to the team, but the back of his 1967 Topps football card states, “Jim certainly didn’t suffer from any sophomore jinx in ’66 as he continued as a top defensive tackle. The big man is fast, smart and strong. Nicknamed ‘Diamond Jim’ by his teammates, the defensive tackle works for The Police Athletic League in the off-season.”
Going into his fourth season in 1968, the Jet’s released Harris, along with seven other players, on August 26. With that, his professional football career came to an end.
Getting back to how readers can help to educate me… I would like to find out what happened to Jim Harris in his years post-football. Where did he go? What did he do? I assume that he is still living, as I have not found anything to the contrary. As you all know, I have a collection of trading cards signed by AFL players, and I would like to see if Jim Harris would sign his card for me. He is the last living player that I need to complete my 1967 Topps set, and that, combined with the fact that I cannot find any information about him, have really piqued my curiosity about him.
So, is there anyone out there in AFL fandom that can give me a clue on how to find Jim Harris?
Todd I will drop Chuck Mills a line and see if he knows of Jims whereabouts, Utah State from 1959 with the hiring of John Ralston and then The Silver Fox Tony Knap were able to attract very special players from the SFO Bay and surounding areas. Prior to coaching at Utah State both Ralston and Knap had sucessful HS coaching careers in the Bay Area San Carlos HS and Pittsburgh HS. Diamond Jim was in Logan five years prior to my arrival and I never knew him, and learned just today that he attended Berkeley HS, John Ralston played football at Cal Berkeley. A side note to your article on “AFL Players In The Olympics” Jimmy Hines attended Berkeley HS and at the time three men held the WR 100M 9.9 sec. Jimmy, Ronnie Ray Smith and John Carlos, both Jimmy and Ronnie were Californians, Ronnie Ray Smith attended LA Manual Arts HS 1966 and John was a California transplant from NY City. The two were teammates at San Jose State. In 1968 in Mexico City they along with their other San Jose State teammates Tommie Smith with Charlie Green set the WR in the 4×100 M. Ato Bolden the NBC Track analyst mentioned that Usain Bolt was timed at 27 mph and had a eight foot stride and I had to laugh, Tommie Smith was once in the Guiness Book Of World Records as having been timed at 28 MPH and a number of NFL players over the years have had eight foot strides, Issac Curtis and George Farmer (Bears) are two that come to mind, and most of todays big recievers ie Dez Bryant etc have at least 8 foot strides.
Thanks, Tom. I appreciate the help. I would love to speak with Harris about his time in the AFL, or even just see if he would sign a card or two for me.
Todd,
Chuck Mills doesn’t have it, Harris was before Mills, he suggested, if you have a way to contact Mac Arthur Lane or his brother Sid they might be able to help.
Todd,
I met Jim this September in Berkeley, CA eating lunch at the oldest food coop in California. I thought I recognized him and asked him his name. He told me “Jim Harris” and that he had just returned from a reunion in New York of the Jets and spent some time with Joe Namath.
Judging by the number of people he seemed to know at the coop, eating his lunch, I figured that Berkeley was where he lived.
Have you had your chance to speak with Jim? I know him him and could put him in touch with you.
Todd- I would suggest an email to the Alumni Office at Utah State. Most are pretty happy to check their files and as most college grads can attest they keep up with everyone so that they can hound you for money the rest of your life!
Thanks, Mike. I have tried that. They were quite nice, and said that they would forward a letter for me, but would not tell me what state Mr. Harris lived in. I sent a letter, but I never heard back.
I met Jim Harris about 3 months ago. Told me stories about playing with Joe Nameth and the Jets. He sure is a very nice guy. He lives on the floor just above my girl friend. Use to take my girl friends son to school and pick him up. If your interested, I’ll get your card signed for you, but for reasons I’m sure you understand, I will not let you know where he resides. Let me know as soon as possible as the place where they live is up for sale.
Hi_
Yes, thank you so much for your kind offer! I just sent you an email.
Thanks, Todd
[…] little more than a month ago, I wrote a post titled, “Where is he now? The New York Jets’ Jim Harris.” I wrote a bit about Harris’s career with the Jets, and also how I had hoped to […]
I spent 1967 & 1968 as an offensive guard on the Jet’s taxi squad. Jim Harris’ nickname was “Diamond”. I have one of his game shirts. A gentle giant. Very hard to move out of a hole.
Are you the Dave Hankee that sold tools for Kaner Company to San Onofre?
Dick Placak
mc4rich@att.net
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