Former Georgia governor shares insights in PAUS classes
Ask Professor John Clayton Thomas what he thinks about leadership and he sounds like the late Vince Lombardi, the great football coach. “Leaders are made, not born,” he says.
Winter 2008
In his undergraduate class, Leadership, Citizenship and Public Ethics, Thomas helps his students explore the responsibility of America’s elected officials and citizens in addressing public issues. He invites highly regarded public officials – in office and retired – to visit the class and share personal stories that illustrate key principles of leadership.
Joe Frank Harris, who served as Georgia’s governor from 1983 to 1991, is a perennial favorite in both this class and Thomas’ graduate-level class, Leadership and Organizational Behavior. Harris, too, believes leaders are made. “My feeling is that you are not exactly a born leader, but you are born with the ability to be a leader. You’ve got to grow and develop it,” says Harris. “You can learn an awful lot by watching others who are successful and analyzing what they do.”
“When Harris talks about ‘character,’” says Thomas, “you listen to him and think, ‘this is someone I can believe and trust.’ He is candid about his beliefs and up front with our students. He’s a great role model as well as a good listener, a trait not often associated with politicians.”
A Democrat, Harris is remembered for bringing a “conservative, businesslike approach to the governor’s office,” according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. A businessman from Cartersville, in 1964 he was persuaded to run for – and won – a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. He served nine consecutive terms and in 1974 was named chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Just recently, he ended a seven year term on the Board of Regents. Statewide education reform is considered one of his greatest public achievements.
Shortly after he left the governor’s office, Harris was named the first Distinguished Executive Fellow at Georgia State. He has addressed leadership and ethics in Thomas’ class since 1993. “Our students are very impressed,” says Thomas. “He talks about how his ethics are grounded in his faith. For example, he says that when he was asked to run for the statehouse, he and his wife, Elizabeth, had been trying to figure out their calling. They prayed, and he ran. He never lost an election.”
Students frequently cite Harris when writing about their own leadership styles. Typical student comments include:
“This calls to mind the honorable former Gov. Joe Frank Harris’ essentials of leadership: ‘A leader delegates authority, but never surrenders the power.’”
“Former Georgia Gov. Joe Frank Harris … spoke of value-based decision making and foundations. Having widely agreed upon and genuine values will earn respect of subordinates even if they don’t agree with you.”
“Governor Harris made an important point that leaders must be willing to be the first to arrive and the last to leave.”
“I’ve always attempted to promote good ethical principles in life, politics and business,” says Harris. “I am glad to impart my experience and the benefit of doing what’s right, being honest and telling the truth. The main thing I try to get across is that we’re all human. We’re going to make mistakes. When you make a mistake, people are forgiving if you admit you made it, ask forgiveness and then move on.”
Harris says he enjoys the class. “I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with Dr. Thomas. The work he does is an inspiration to me,” he says. “It’s great to have had this working relationship for so long.”