Ross C. Harriott

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference

Description:	One typed page including photograph; biography of Ross Harriott, the man responsible for preserving local professional baseball for several years during the Depression. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.Ross C. HarriottAn esteemed Terre Haute businessman and civic leader, Roscoe C. Ross Harriott was largely responsible for preserving local professional baseball for several years during the Depression. Active in financial circles, the son of Benjamin F. and Susan Harriott was an officer and director of Terre Haute Trust Co., Wabash Federal Savings & Loan Association and Shanks Motor Co. For many years, he was a director of the Indiana Savings & Loan League. Yet he may be better remembered for his involvement in the Shrine, YMCA, Family Services Association and the Terre Haute Exchange Club. He served as an officer and a board member at the YMCA for 25 years and was president when arrangements were completed to construct the current building at Sixth and Walnut streets. As treasurer in 1944, Harriott delivered the final mortgage payment to Walter Talley. Ross became a member of the Family Services Association board of directors in 1922 and was president of the organization from 1928 until his death. He was a charter member of the Terre Haute Exchange Club and served in several capacities, including club president. A past potentate of the Zorah Shrine Temple, Harriott was awarded the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite--the highest honor in Masonry--on Sept. 28, 1949, at the annual meeting of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic District in Chicago. He also was a member of the Terre Haute Elks Lodge. He united in marriage with Leah McCune and the couple raised two children: Ann, who married Marshall Hubbard, and Jane, who wed Albert Siebenmorgen. Harriotts passion for sports occupied a large portion of his life. From 1919 until 1937, he was active in the management of the Terre Haute Baseball Club Inc., which fielded a team in the legendary Three-I League, one of Americas premier minor leagues, during that period. Between 1919 and 1921, he served as secretary-treasurer of the organization. In 1922 he began a 15-year tenure as president of the baseball club, spending countless hours and personal resources in an effort to keep the local team afloat while clubs throughout the U.S. folded. When Judge William Bramham became the third president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in 1933, he named Harriott to a four-man national advisory committee. As a result, Ross was one of the more visible national figures in minor league baseball. Though he was not involved in the management of the Terre Haute baseball team after World War II, Harriott supported the club and often was found at local sporting events. On Feb. 1, 1950, while attending the Indiana State-Eastern Illinois college basketball game, he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 69 years old. At the time the Harriotts resided at 101 N. 34th St. Leah M. Harriott died at age 81 on Jan. 30, 1972. The Harriotts are interred at Highland Lawn Cemetery.MEMBER FDICAlways Close to Home812-238-6000Si g n up now for FREE* online banking atwww.first-online.comEQUAL HOUSING LENDER MEMBER FDIC*One-time sign-up fee $5.95File name: Ross C. Harriott 2006 profileDate Published: Jan. 26, 2006
Origin:	2006-01-25
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/1024
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Harriott, Roscoe C., 1880 or 1-1950 Baseball Business people Baseball managers People Sports Business & Industry

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