John J. "Jack" Harris
August 16, 2019
John J. "Jack" Harris passed away on August 16, 2019. He was 96 years old. Jack was a Life Member of the ASQDE.
Mr. Harris was born in 1923, in Seattle, Washington. Prior to beginning his career in forensic document examination, Jack spent four years in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Beginning in 1948, Mr. Harris was trained as a document examiner by his father, John L. Harris. He worked in private practice with his father, and later, with Howard C. Rile, Jr., for many years in the firm of Harris & Harris in Los Angeles. He retired from private practice in 1997.
Mr. Harris testified in hundreds of cases, including the Estate of Howard Hughes and the Estate of J. Paul Getty. He was an instructor in questioned document examination at the college level for 20 years, first at the University of Southern California and later at California State University of Los Angeles. He was the author of numerous published articles and professional papers.
John J. Harris was the ninth president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. He became a probationary member of the ASQDE in 1949, a Regular Member in 1951 and subsequently a Life Member of the Society.
In 2004, John J. Harris received the Albert S. Osborn Award of Excellence in recognition of his distinguished career and the many contributions he made to both the ASQDE and the profession as a whole.
Obituary
In Memoriam Article from the ASQDE Newsletter
1997 Los Angeles Times article about Mr. Harris
He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Beginning in 1948, Mr. Harris was trained as a document examiner by his father, John L. Harris. He worked in private practice with his father, and later, with Howard C. Rile, Jr., for many years in the firm of Harris & Harris in Los Angeles. He retired from private practice in 1997.
Mr. Harris testified in hundreds of cases, including the Estate of Howard Hughes and the Estate of J. Paul Getty. He was an instructor in questioned document examination at the college level for 20 years, first at the University of Southern California and later at California State University of Los Angeles. He was the author of numerous published articles and professional papers.
John J. Harris was the ninth president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. He became a probationary member of the ASQDE in 1949, a Regular Member in 1951 and subsequently a Life Member of the Society.
In 2004, John J. Harris received the Albert S. Osborn Award of Excellence in recognition of his distinguished career and the many contributions he made to both the ASQDE and the profession as a whole.
Obituary
In Memoriam Article from the ASQDE Newsletter
1997 Los Angeles Times article about Mr. Harris