Ralph Brooks and the Harris boys

In 1958, Ralph Brooks, Superintendent of the McCook School system, as well as the President of McCook Junior College launched his bid for Governor of the State of Nebraska. The prospect of a successful Brook's campaign was said to be somewhere between slim and none. Brooks' only foray into politics had been an unsuccessful run in 1942, for the Congressional seat in the old 1st District, against Carl Curtis. Coupled with his political inexperience was the fact that he was running as a Democrat, and the Governorship of Nebraska had long been a Republican stronghold-and the incumbent, Victor Anderson was popular and thought to be unbeatable.

But Ralph Brooks was nothing, if not optimistic. He had the support of two of Southwest Nebraska's leading Democrats-Frank Morrison and John T. Harris. Morrison was a politician himself (though in 1958 not yet a very successful one). These two had important contacts throughout the state. Brooks was quite well-known, through his work with the Lions Clubs. He had made many speeches throughout the state on behalf of the Greater Nebraska Club, and above all, he was a skillful orator and a tireless campaigner.

All this resulted in Brooks becoming Nebraska's 30th governor. It was only after the news organizations began to report Brook's victory that John T. Harris realized that there had been no provisions for a victory celebration upon Brook's return to McCook.

Harris hastily organized a respectable homecoming in McCook for the new governor and brought him back to McCook in the Harris private plane.

John T. Harris Jr. (known as J.T.) and Bill Harris, a younger son both worked as bus boys and bell-hops at the McCook Keystone Hotel during their high school and Jr. College days and professed experience in "Food Service."

That, along with their family connection, was enough for Gov. Brooks to hire them as stewards in the governor's kitchen while they attended the University of Nebraska. J.T. worked at the Mansion during his last semester at the U., in 1959. Bill followed him, working at the mansion from the fall of 1959 until Brook's death in 1960.

Bill and J.T. both remember their days at the Governor's Mansion as a very interesting and pleasurable experience. Their quarters were in the northwest bedroom, on the second floor-a spacious room, with its own bathroom, in which the fixtures were equipped with gold handles (well, they looked like gold).

Although the mansion had been completed in 1957, during Gov. Victor Anderson's term, the Brooks were the first family to live there. Anderson was a native of Lincoln and preferred to live in his own home, using the new mansion only for ceremonial purposes. Moving into a new house, Mrs. Brooks was busy during the first months making sure that every day essentials for living were available.

Bill Harris was living in the governor's home on Halloween, '59. That Saturday, the Cornhuskers ended Oklahoma's 74-game winning streak in the Big 8 Conference with a stunning 25-21 victory in Lincoln. (In those days the Big 8 was referred to as Oklahoma and the 7 Dwarfs).

NU Coach Bill Jennings was a likable fellow and a great recruiter, but not known as a winning coach -- compiling a 15-34-1 record from 1957-1961 -- but he had a knack for pulling off a few good upsets, and the 1959 win against a vaunted Oklahoma 11 was one of the biggest.

After the game, exuberant Husker fans tore down the goal posts and formed a parade, which proceeded down O Street, to the encouragement of a happy throng lining the street, ending up at the Governor's Mansion to make a gift to the governor.

Bill Harris, who had been at the game, hurried home and was beside Gov. Brooks, on the second floor balcony, when the students arrived with their prize. The governor, magnanimous as always, was up for the occasion. After a short impromptu speech lauding the impressive victory, Brooks gravely accepted the goal posts on behalf of the people of the Great State of Nebraska.

(Note: One of the goal posts was diverted to the ATO fraternity house, where enterprising frat brothers sawed the cylinders into two-inch segments, filled the circles with plaster, printed "NU over OU, 25-21, 11/31/59," and sold them as souvenirs.)

Brooks was never really satisfied to be governor of Nebraska. He always thought on a national scale and believed he could do more good in Washington than Lincoln. From the beginning of his first term he began to plan his bid for the Senate in 1960, after a two-year term as Governor. He would again face his old nemesis, Carl Curtis, but he felt that he had learned enough about Curtis that this time around he would be able to defeat the little Fireball from Minden. But this was not to be.

In the summer of 1960, Brooks launched into his campaign for the Senate. His old friend, Frank Morrison, from McCook began his campaign at the same time to fill Brook's governor's role. Just after he had begun his campaign Gov. Brooks suffered an apparent stroke. Nebraska citizens were aware that the governor had been ill, but few were aware just how serious his illness had been.

The stroke did not diminish Brook's ability to think, and his oratory skills were as good as ever, but he required a heavy brace around one leg, and was in extreme pain most of the time.

After the stroke, Bill Harris' duties changed a good deal. He was still occupied with food service, but Bill had added duties as the governor's messenger between the mansion and the statehouse, and with the chauffeur, he assisted the governor up and down stairs (no elevator in the mansion), and accompanied him on speaking engagements.

Brooks refused to let his affliction be seen by the public. He was still a fiery speaker, though he now leaned more on the podium when he spoke. When the speech was over he strode from the stage with great vigor, brimming with confidence. What the audiences did not see was that he practically fell into the arms of his aides, completely exhausted, and then had to be virtually carried upstairs to his quarters, wracked with pain.

Ralph Brooks died in September 1960, before completing his first term as governor. With Gov. Brook's death, Bill Harris' duties again changed dramatically. Others were involved with the business of helping Robert Conrad complete Brook's campaign for the Senate. Bill Harris was busy helping to move Mrs. Brooks back to McCook, so that Lt. Gov. and Mrs. Dwight Burney could move into the Governor's Mansion for the remainder of Gov. Brook's term. (Note: Brook's Executive Assistant, Robert B. Conrad, who had lost in the primary to Frank Morrison for the governor's office -- was picked by the Democratic Committee to complete the campaign that his boss, Gov. Brooks had begun. He was game, but it was a doomed campaign.)

Bill Harris' association with Ralph Brooks and Frank Morrison certainly gave birth to a lifetime interest in politics. In the 1980s, Bill served as a legislator in the Nebraska Unicameral for four years, after which he served as mayor of Lincoln for another four years.

Today, no longer an aspirant for elective office, he is still an avid observer of the political scene. Politics is the favored topic when the Harris brothers get together, and Bill is a regular at daily coffee shop sessions in Lincoln, and enjoys the political joustings, where current and former politicians are frequent participants.