William C. Harris (1906-1963)
As an early transport pilot and commercial aviation executive, Harris led the American Airlines operations in Providence from inception in 1936 until he retired in 1962. He learned to fly at Harvard University in the late 1920s, and went to work for Curtiss-Wright Flying Service in Boston, piloting a Ford Trimotor to and from Nantucket. Before joining American in 1935 he was a sales representative selling the helicopter forerunner known as Pitcairn Autogiros. Born in Falmouth, MA, he was a long-time Barrington, RI resident.
