Dave Harris graduated from Statesville High School, where he was an All-State Football player and an All-Conference Basketball Player. He attended Wake Forest University, where he was named co-captain of the Football team and all conference, 3 years in a row. Harris was also named Honorable Mention All-American 2 years in a row and participated in the 1st Gator Bowl in 1946. He is now shrined in the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame. Harris was a teacher and coach in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg County area for 20 years. In 1947, he was a teacher and coach at Thomasboro High School before taking a position at Harding High School the following year. Harris remained at Harding as a coach/athletic director until 1967 when he was appointed to athletic director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School System in Charlotte, eventually retiring after 40 years of contribution to high school athletics. Harris was instrumental in the success of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and was a member of their Board of Governors and participated as a coach on different occasions. Harris was awarded the National High School Athletic Association’s National Athletic Director of the Year Award and the District III Southeastern Athletic Director of the Year in 1977.