Sheldon J. (Shelly) Harris, a distinguished alumnus who graduated in 1944, began his higher education at the University of Illinois, continued at the Merchant Marine Academy, and finished with a law degree from Creighton in 1951. His law career has been primarily real estate law, business formation, corporations and business and estate planning. He is a member of the Real Estate Hall of Fame, past president of the Omaha Jaycees, a member of the Nebraska Bar Association, the Omaha Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. His volunteer career emanated at least partly from his membership in the Omaha Jaycees and the Rotary Club and included organizing one of the first health fairs in Omaha. He helped to form the Omaha Zoological Society in 1952 and served as its first secretary and president. Their original goal of improving the Riverview Park Zoo included formation of a Children’s Zoo that would improve or secure a new zoo. It would be an understatement to say that the Society succeeded. Sheldon’s other volunteer activities include being appointed to the Nebraska Investment Council and his twenty-five year membership on the Board of Goodwill Industries, helping them grow from two to twelve buildings.
Sheldon passed away in 2008 at the age of 81.