Lawrence "Bobby" Harris
Lawrence “Bobby” Harris died August 22, 2006, at the Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Vermont. He was 79.
Bobby joined Skidmore in 1966, as a cook’s helper assigned to Moore Hall on Union Avenue. He later became fourth cook in Father’s Hall, also on the downtown Scribner Campus. In 1980 he rose to first cook at the Aikins and Murray Dining Halls on the new Jonsson Campus. He retired in 1994.
In his free time Bobby enjoyed golf, the Saratoga Race Course, and bowling. He was “a joy to work with and the life of the union picnic,” according to Tom Bayer, friend and Skidmore postal clerk. A stint as cook at Hattie’s Chicken Shack left Harris in possession of the Saratoga landmark restaurant’s famous fried-chicken recipe; he also liked to create unusual new dishes at the campus dining halls. Also, according to colleague Mary Bradley, “Bobby enjoyed the students, and sometimes spoiled them. If they wanted something special, he’d run right off and get it for them.”
His survivors are unknown.