So Sorry Mel and I go back many years . He was a great friend and help out when I really needed help. I will truly miss him .

Howard Kenyon

The single best sales manager and salesman  in our industry , I may have been the CEO but he was  the one in charge > His salespeople were his children  and he made sure they were well protected 
   I miss him 

  I just heard about Mel's passing today.  Mel was my sales manager for Falcon Bay Sportswear,  and he hired me when I needed the job.  He kept in touch with me in California for many years.   He was the nicest sales manager that  I served under-- for the 40 plus years that I was in the apparel business!    I had travelled Iowa for several years in wholesale menswear--so we had much in common.  God bless you.

I started working with Mel and the Falcon Bay gang after leaving Career Club shirts in 1999.  Mel was always interested in helping us and his dedication to the company and the sales group was second to none.  He was always ready with a helping hand.

Everyone can tell you where they were on the morning of 9/11.  I was with Mel Harris leaving Minneapolis that morning on our way to Des Moines.  A little over an hour into the trip Mel got a call from Janet telling us of what was happening.  I was really worried because I had a son flying a plane into NY that morning around that time.  Janet made sure we know what was going on as she had a TV and we just had the radio.

We will all miss Mel because of his friendship and his concern for us.  I will miss the emails I would get from Mel.  He could find and send out some of the funniest emails around.  He told me once he had groups set up that, depending on what he was sending, would depend on what group got it.  I laughed about that statement a lot.

We will all miss Mel, his friendship, his help, and his true concern for all his friends.

Janet and family, my sympathy, prayers, and condolences go out to each of you.

Wayne Davis  


It was a true pleasure working closely with Mel , never have i met a man more dedicated to his  company  , his fellow workers and his sale team , while never forgetting the importance of  and a strong bond with his wife and family , We were much more than just fellow workers we were friends, I was honored  when I was invited and attended his daughters wedding  , 
  I will miss my friend , as will the industry that he so loved and all the friend's he made , His accomplishments in developing a  highly specialized  category  is legendary  and we all thank him for it.
    Mel rest in piece    , Janet and family my love to you 
      Richard , Cathy  Di Rosa and family 
  

I worked for and with Mel for many years at Block and Falcon Bay.  And after those years we kept in touch.....I always enjoyed those conversations.  I’ll miss those talks.  He spoke often about his children with great pride.  And he would point to landing Jan as his wife to prove what a great salesman he was.  Rest In Peace my friend.

Mel and Jan were our next door neighbors for 12 years. They welcomed us to the neighborhood when we moved into 3600 Skyline Drive. 
We could not have asked for better neighbors! Alan and Mel shared emails too,  even to very recently. Mel always found the funniest emails to share!
I loved to bake and would take over goodies at Christmas when the family was home. Their favorite were my homemade salted nut roll bars. 
Our deepest sympathy to Jan, Brian and Roxanne and families.
Alan & Karen McNeese

Brian
My thoughts and prayers are with you and  your family

I’m so sorry to hear of Sonny’s passing.  He often mentioned the days when he worked for my dad on the farm, as a teenager.  So sad to lose another of our old Weldon school grads.  My sympathy to all the Harris family.  
Joyce

Roxanne,
I am so sorry to hear about your father's passing.  I know how close you were to him and your mom.  Your family is in our thoughts and prayers as you mourn his loss.

Karin and Scott Bennett

SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT MEL.
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, A FELLOW TRAVELER,.
i.VE KNOWN MEL SINCE 1957. THAT WOULD HAVE MADE HIM 21 YEARS OLD AND A SALES MGR. FOR BRODY DRY GOODS
IN DES MOINES.. MY WIFE AND I OPERATED A DISCOUNT JEANS STORE IN LINCOLN, NE. UNTIL WE RETIRED IN 1984.
WE ALWAYS DID BUSINESS WITH MEL. HE TOOK GOOD CARE OF US, AND WE ENJOYED HIS FRIEND SHIP. HE EMAILED ME REGULARLY. LOVE AND PRAYERS, MAX HAMILTON



Dear Janet, Brian and Roxanne,

I send my deepest sympathy and condolences, and will keep your family in my prayers. 

Mel was my favorite boss ever! And Block was my favorite job. Mel hired me in 1992 when I lived in Albany NY, to move to the Mid-Atlantic region. I found out that there was already a salesman in the territory that Mel was planning to hire. He interviewed me as a courtesy to Reggie White, who had recommended me for the job. So I was so surprised when Mel called me about a week after my interview, to inform me that I got the job. I was so shocked and excited. Later I asked Mel what tipped the scale in my favor, when common sense was to hire the other guy.  Mel said, “Steve, the other guy came to the interview wanting to know what Block could do for him and you came showing what you could do for Block. I liked your approach better.” That has stuck with me all these years and I’m so indebted to Mel for that decision. I left Block and joined Falcon Bay, again Mel hired me. That became my second favorite job, mainly because of him. We’ve kept in touch via email all these years since Mel retired. I always looked forward to his emails. He will be sorely missed! I have so many fond memories of Mel, but the above is my fondest.

Respectfully,

Steve Williams 

Brian and Roxanne, and Janet,

Sally and I are very sorry to learn of the passing of your Dad.  We were all such good friends over the many, many years.  He and I had an excellent working relationship in our working years at Block.  He and I shared many conversations and working hours together trying hard to contribute in everyway we could to help make the Company successful.  Everything we did was not perfect or successful, but many things we did worked well.  As you know , much of our work was done by phone with him in New York or Des Moines or on the road somewhere.  When in Wilmington he and I spent much time together working on various items.  We had such  a good relationship in working together that it carried over to a warm friendship that has survived many years long after I left the Company.   I am very sorry today to know I have lost a friendship that has probably lasted at least 49 years.  That is a long, long time to know and be in touch with a person.

Sally and I hope each of you finds continued success in your lives and know that you have many wonderful memories of your Dad that will sustain and be with you forever.  May you find happier days ahead in your lives and families.  We also hope your Mother will have peace in her heart.

With our sympathy and condolences  and  our warm friendships,
stay healthy and stay safe.

Joseph & Sally Pace
Winnabow, North Carolina

OBITUARY

Melvin "Sonny" Harris

September 1, 1936 – April 4, 2021

McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary & Resthaven Cemetery

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