Class of 1970 | Greenfield-Central High School
“Jeff Harris,” says Kevin Horrigan, “is the classic story of a hometown boy who made good…but didn’t leave for greener pastures…instead, chose to stay and help right here in Greenfield.” And, help he has through numerous community service avenues, athletics, church and Greenfield-Central community schools.
Jeff was one of the students who made the transition from Greenfield High School to the consolidated Greenfield-Central High School, and became part of its inaugural graduating class of 1970. Six years later Jeff began his own business with a single chair he rented from Green Meadows Barber Shop. Since that simple beginning, he has become the successful, hometown small business owner of Ye Olde Head Shoppe. His family-friendly, full-service salon and spa has grown beyond a man and his scissors. It now includes ten stylists, three massage therapists, two nail technicians, and an esthetician, all working at a renovated home on State Street and welcoming any who step inside his door.
Along the way, Jeff got involved. He helped start the Greenfield Fast-Pitch Softball Association (GFSA) which still exists today. Jeff served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greenfield. He has served as a Trustee at Greenfield Christian Church and is active in its Men’s Ministry. He joined the Rotary Club of Greenfield where he has served on its Board of Directors as well as in other capacities including chairing the club’s “Apple Day” program. A program that recognizes the importance and significance of all employees of the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation as well as those at St. Michael’s School, Jeff expanded the distribution of apples beyond teachers to include all staff when he took leadership of this program. Jeff also facilitates the “Bell Ringers” program for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. All proceeds help fund the Sheriff’s Department’s “Shop with a Sheriff” Christmas gift program.
He has stepped up even more as he has focused on our community’s schools. For over 25 years, Jeff has run the 25-second clock (or other press box operations) for all home football games at Greenfield-Central High School. He is the assistant sponsor of the Rotary Interact Club at Greenfield-Central High School. Jeff helped raise multiple funds for the improvement of Greenfield-Central High School’s softball field and softball facilities. He spearheaded the project to help restore the basketball center circles from Hancock-Central and Greenfield High Schools. Both of these now hang on the wall outside the main entrance to Greenfield-Central High School’s gymnasium. Says Kevin, “Jeff believed by restoring and hanging these center circles, we would help preserve some of the historical and educational legacies of the four past high schools that eventually made up what is today Greenfield-Central High School.”
Jeff has been honored by his peers and community with the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2007 Businessman of the Year Award and the Greenfield Central School Foundation’s 2012 Todd Kaminski Community Service Award.
Kevin wraps it all up by saying, “Jeff Harris has positively influenced and touched the lives (to say nothing of the hair) of countless thousands of young and old here in Greenfield through his generous donations of his time…his talent…and his treasure.” Jeff is greatly honored by his nomination and acceptance into the Alumni Hall of Fame. He says he lives, “a very normal life.”
Jeff’s memories of his time in high school are vivid and sweet. He moved to Greenfield in 1967 and soon learned the new basketball coach, Joe Stanley, was none other than one of his teachers from his previous school. “Coach Stanley invited me to become the basketball manager. I was thrilled,” says Jeff. “The next two years were great years with the state’s leading scorer, Mike Edwards, along with some outstanding teammates.” Jeff’s school recollections could fill pages about games, trips, cars, the media frenzy that accompanied the team’s success, and the closeness he felt to the class of 1969 and that special last year at Greenfield High School.
Jeff and his wife ConnieJo, who has been the athletic secretary at G-CHS for over 21 years, are the parents of a son and daughter. Jeff adds, “I am very proud of G-CHS and what a great school we have in our community. My son and daughter both were athletes and graduates of G-C. I really believe growing up in Greenfield, getting a good education, and the opportunity to be in sports have helped shape them into them being successful adults.