Bill Harris

Year Inducted: 2026

Billy Vaughn Harris was born on August 6, 1951, to James Roy Harris Sr. and Ovelia Vaughn Harris. Bill grew up on Harris Hill in Wilkesboro, NC with his older brother, the late James Roy “Bucky” Harris Jr., younger brother Michael B. Harris and close friend Myles “Boogie” Watkins Jr. He graduated from Lincoln Heights Elementary School in 1965, Wilkes Central High School in 1969 and Appalachian State University in 1973 with a BSBA - Insurance and Real Estate.

Bill developed a love of music that started with joining the school band in the 6th grade. During high school, along with Bucky, Boogie, and other friends, they started a Soul/R+B band called The Downbeats. They were well known and played many events in the area for several years. This provided an opportunity to learn to work with others to accomplish a goal. That love of music still continues today.

On June 11, 1973, Bill started his 39-year career with Lowe’s Companies, Inc. When he retired on July 27, 2012, he was number 7 on the employee list for years worked. At that time, there were over 240,000 Lowe’s employees. During his career, Bill worked in the Purchasing and Merchandising Departments, handling Water Heaters, Window A/C’s, TV/Home Entertainment Products, and Ladders. These were exciting times as Lowe’s grew from 95 stores to over 1700 stores with over $50 billion in sales. During his early years in the TV/Home Entertainment Department, many new life-changing products were introduced. These were VHS/Beta Video Recorders, Camcorders, Projection TVs, Compact Disc Players, Video Disc Players, DirectTV Satellite Dish, the Sony Walkman, and Flat Screen TVs. Lowe’s was a major retailer in the southeastern US for these products from RCA, Zenith, General Electric, Magnavox, Phillips, Panasonic, and Samsung.

After retirement, Bill became a volunteer at Wilkes Regional Medical Center in the Outpatient Surgery Department and received a Daisy award for outstanding service. He was a MerleFest volunteer for many years and has served as a board member of The Health Foundation, NCCF-Wilkes Community Foundation, Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilkes Heritage Museum, Yadkin River Greenway, and Wilkes County Hall of Fame. He served as Treasurer at Denny Grove AME Zion Church for many years and is currently serving his 17th year as Clerk of the Vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Bill supports the WCC Foundation, ASU Foundation, Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter, WCC Dental Hygiene Program, American Red Cross, Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center, Hospitality House of NWNC, Wilkes Circles of Care, Yadkin River Greenway, Samaritan’s Kitchen of Wilkes, Wilkes Central HS Athletic Boosters, West Wilkes HS Wrestling Team, Wilkes Public Dental Clinic, Wilkes YMCA Impact Fund, Wilkes Heritage Museum, Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilkes Ministry of Hope, Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Denny Grove AME Zion Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Crisis Ministry.

Bill and Ruth Gates were married on May 3, 2003. They have two daughters, Jennifer Gates Icenhour (late son-in-law Danny Icenhour) and Jessica Gates, two grandchildren, Hailey LaPlante (Austin) and Tyler Icenhour, and two great-grandsons, Wyatt and Rowan LaPlante.

Bill grew up seeing his parents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors working selflessly to help their schools, churches, and community. He learned early on that continuing this practice was something that was expected of him. Bill has always thought we are here for a short period of time and that we should work to try to make things better than we found them. He has tried to do that.