Denton Benjamin Harris

Denton Benjamin Harris died peacefully on February 26 at his home in Atlanta at the age of 90. Denton was born in Parkdale, Arkansas on July 20, 1925. He was the son of William Thomas Harris and Lelia Mae Crass. Both of his parents were sharecroppers and Denton was born in the middle of a cotton field. He grew up in Monticello, Arkansas, and at 18 years old he was drafted into the US Army Specialized Training Program. During WWII he served in the 86th Infantry Blackhawk Division in both the European and Pacific theaters. Denton attended Missouri Valley College on the GI Bill and graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA. In 1948 he married Carolyn Christiansen, an Atlanta girl he had met four years earlier when she was 14, and he was stationed at Fort Benning. In the 1950’s Denton founded United Publishing Company, a national publisher of five trade magazines with offices in Atlanta and NYC. In addition, he established Southern Exposition Management as well as Convention and Show Management Companies, producers of consumer and trade shows. He was instrumental in originating and coordinating the Atlanta Greek Festival. In 1984 Denton co-founded and served as Chairman of Metro Bank which later merged with Regions Financial Corporation. He taught Evening at Emory classes on communication through writing and speaking for business and personal success and wrote numerous articles for magazines and newspapers. Denton was past president of Stuckey’s National Franchise Association, Northside Kiwanis, Sherwood Forest Civic Association and Director of Verified Audit Circulation Company and the Hobby Industry Association of America. He was a life deacon at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church and was instrumental in the building of the Family Life Center where he and Carolyn volunteered for many years. Denton was predeceased by his brother Walter Harris and his parents, William Thomas Harris, Lelia Mae Crass and Earl Crass. He is survived by Carolyn, his loving wife of 67 years, his two daughters and their husbands, Kristina Lynn and Leonard Sinclair and Terri and Greg Weinzierl. Denton was proud of his family: Alyssa Davis, husband, Joe; Peter Weinzierl, wife, Meagan; Andrew Sinclair, wife, Hattie; Jessica Emanuels, husband Gino; Nancy Weinzierl; David Weinzierl; two great grandchildren, Thomas Weinzierl and Henry Sinclair, sister-in-law Carol Christiansen, nieces, nephews and cousins. Special thanks to caregivers, Betty Beard and Monique Cover and the Lenbrook community for their love and support. Funeral service will be Wednesday, March 2, at 12 o'clock at Second - Ponce de Leon Baptist Church with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Denton to Second - Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. Denton will be remembered for his ready smile and his desire to connect with others by expressing interest in where they were from and where they were going. He will be greatly missed by his many family members and friends.