Shelton Harrison

HARRISON, Mr. Shelton E. - Entrepreneur, automobile dealer, music concert promoter and artist manager, philanthropist, champion boxer, and devoted and faithful husband and father died on February 21, 2013, in Nashville, TN. He was 78. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, TN for 38 years. He loved the church, the people, and especially enjoyed working with the children in little league sports and the day school. A graduate of the University of Memphis (UM), Harrison owned and operated several automobile dealerships in the metropolitan areas of Memphis, Nashville, and Jackson, TN, including Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Toyota. In a career spanning five decades, he gained renown among auto dealers and salespeople as a motivational speaker and trainer; received numerous business and industry awards; and remained friends with his professors and mentors, including Dr. H. J. Markle, Dr. Wayland Tonning, Dr. Eugene Smith, Coach W. C. Rook, and Dr. Robert Wood. Alongside the auto business, Harrison rose to prominence as a music promoter in the 1970s and 80s. Harrison's hundreds of concerts featured performers such as Dottie West, Floyd Cramer, Marty Robbins, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn and many more. Harrison's philanthropic endeavors included his 1976 creation of the Shelton Harrison Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit St. Jude Hospital, which event included golfers such as Lou Graham and other sports celebrities including Stan Musial and Bear Bryant. Harrison provided financial and logistical support to annual events such as the Liberty Bowl and organizations such as Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC). He established the Shelton and Brucene Harrison perpetual scholarship at UM and served on the boards of CUMC, Christ Methodist Day School, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, and other organizations. Harrison also supported the U.S. Navy Base in Millington through numerous events for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation. Originally from Arkansas, Harrison excelled in athletics from an early age with the love and encouragement of his aunt Ann and uncle Shirley Harrison. Harrison won over a dozen boxing championships, including two Golden Gloves championships, and fought professionally in New York, Detroit, and elsewhere. He then returned to Memphis to care for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emery Harrison, and was recruited by Dr. Cecil C. Humprey to coach UM boxing. Harrison later coached U.S. Navy and Marine boxing as well as little league baseball and basketball. He helped recruit scholar-athletes such as Dale Brady for the UM and Vanderbilt University football, basketball, and baseball teams. Harrison is remembered for his always-inspiring enthusiasm, his magnanimity, his gift of encouragement to others, and his selfless life of service. He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Brucene; daughter, Camille; and son, Shelley. To celebrate Shelton's life, the family asks that any memorials be made to a charity of donor's choice. A private service was held on February 25th, 2013. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 615-794-2289. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tennessean/obituary.aspx?n=shelton-harrison&pid=163355997&fhid=5461#sthash.AsOBNOgY.dpuf

Interment Details

Williamson Memorial Gardens