Newport has many successful businesses, such as Harris Ford, which have persevered through the rough times of economic downturns, as well as flourished in times of questionable economic stability. The businesses owned by Benjy Harris have done both, persevered and flourished. Benjy Harris is a smart, humble businessman with a willingness to work hard and a good-natured demeanor that has customers always returning to do business. He is often visible at any one of his businesses, which include Harris Ford, Quick Lane, Neighborhood Cleaners and T & T Fireworks (when in season). If the day is a casual Saturday, Benjy sometimes wears a ball cap and khaki shorts, looking younger than his years, making it difficult to distinguish him from his young adult children. Kimberlie, his wife of close to 30 years, is rarely without a smile on her face or a quick hello to make everyone feel at ease.
Benjy Harris grew up in Tuckerman, one of seven children. He graduated from Tuckerman High School in 1980 and continued his education at Arkansas State University. After Benjy graduated from ASU in 1984, he managed the Roadrunner on the corner of Hwy 367N and Airbase Road and bought it six months later. From that point, it is obvious that Benjy found his calling in business. He built Neighborhood Cleaners, which he still owns today. The largest business decision was the purchase of the Ford Dealership from Joe Taylor. He renamed the dealership Harris Ford and grew the company, which has a new building on the interstate, exit 85. Many of the former Taylor Ford employees still work for the company today.
Kimberlie Bookout Harris graduated from Beebe High School in 1983 and attended Arkansas State University. After graduating in 1987, Kimberlie took a teaching position at Tuckerman High School and taught from 1987 to 1999. During her time at THS, Kimberlie met Benjy. The couple were married in 1989. After the birth of her second child, Kimberlie left teaching to be a stay at home mother. She returned to the workforce as a Counselor at Newport High School in 2007, retiring in 2014.
Benjy and Kimberly have two children, Tyler and Tara. Tyler, the couple’s oldest, is 26 years old. After graduating from Newport High School in 2009, Tyler attended Southern Methodist University as a Presidential Scholar and completed his degree in 2013. Tyler decided to further his education at Vanderbilt Law School, graduating in 2016. Since October 2017, Tyler has worked at Jones Day, a Corporate Real Estate group, located in Dallas, Texas.
The couple’s youngest child and only daughter will turn 21 years old this year. She graduated from Newport High School in 2015 and is currently a junior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Bumper’s School of Agricultural. She is set to graduate in May 2019. Both children love Newport and have fond memories of their childhood in Jackson County. Both were actively involved Newport High School, especially FFA. Even today, the two remain close to the teachers and people who most influenced them growing up. “So many teachers contributed to our children’s successes,” states Benjy and Kimberly. “Newport has been great to us, being loyal patrons of our businesses, as well as help mold our children to navigate the world successfully.”
Benjy and Kimberlie wanted the children to understand business and hard work from an early age. The two siblings, Tyler and Tara, own T & T Fireworks. The business is open during the 4th of July season, enabling the entire family to fellowship with local families, interact with community members and allow Tara and Tyler to gain business knowledge. The profits from the business are used by Tyler and Tara to supplement educational expenses. Benjy and Kimberlie use the time selling fireworks as a way for Kimberlie to see and catch up with former students, as well as the opportunity for Benjy to interact on a more casual level with customers and friends. It is definitely a social event.
“Newport is our home and the people of this community have supported us, our children and the businesses,” states Kimberlie. “Even though neither Benjy, nor myself graduated from Newport, we have spent countless hours cheering for Greyhound teams in all areas from Mock Trial, Quiz Bowl, FFA Livestock shows, and countless other events. We are proud parents of two Greyhound children and their friends.”