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Celebrating 35 Years
of Success at Terra

James F. Harris - 1986 Graduate,
Welding/Nondestructive Testing

James Harris was what you might call a “non-traditional” student when he attended Terra Community College.

When he enrolled at Terra in 1985, 13 years had already passed since his graduation from North Baltimore High School. He was employed by the Toledo Edison Company as a quality control inspector and many of the students in his classes were younger.

But with credits he had already received from the Ohio State University, Harris was able to graduate with honors from Terra in one year with an Associate’s Degree in Welding/Nondestructive Testing.

“Terra was the only school in the area that would work with me to utilize previous college credit and life experience toward my Associate of Applied Science degree,” Harris said. “I can never thank Eric Magnuson enough for the time he gave me and his personal interest in my career.

“The same is true for all of the welding engineering technology instructors. I owe much for the success of my career to Jerry Kissell, Craig Stinchcomb and of course last but not least, Bill McCleese.”

And what a career it has been.

After four years at Toledo Edison, Harris went to Centerior Energy in Cleveland where he was employed as a welding engineer performing nondestructive testing in Generation Services. During his tenure there, he won several awards, including the President’s Award in 1991 for the most significant contribution to the corporation through the application of ultrasonic examination technology.

In 1995, Harris took his talents to Ashland Chemical Company where he remains today as a senior staff engineer. His work in the Engineering Services Group has taken him to international projects in Great Britain, Taiwan and China. 

Along the way, Harris has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Cleveland State University. He holds numerous professional certifications and has taught some type of welding at every stop he’s made.

Harris is active in the American Welding Society, the American Society for Nondestructive Testing and the Industrial Advisory Committee at Terra. He has had several papers published.

Terra made an impression on Harris in a variety of ways.

“Another wonderful experience I had while attending Terra was, I learned to enjoy learning again and I have not stopped learning to this day,” he said. “I also met new people who have become lifelong friends.”

Harris lives in Marysville with his two children, daughter, Megan, a mechanical engineering student at Ohio State and son, J. Benjamin Harris, who will soon be headed to the U.S. Air Force boot camp in San Antonio, Texas.