Longtime Gainesville businessman dies

GAINESVILLE - A longtime Gainesville businessman, Mike Harrison, owner of Harrison Oil and Tire, died Tuesday following an extended illness.

Harrison, who was 71, was a second-generation owner of the firm, which was founded by his father, and has been in the family for more than 80 years.

After graduating from the University of Georgia, he joined the Army and served as a 1st. Lieutenant in Korea. Once he returned home, he was promoted to Captain, and commanded the Gainesville Army Reserve Unit for three years before retiring.

Harrison then worked with his father in the family business and eventually became owner and president when his father retired, and he remained an active part of it until his health prevented him from going to work everyday.

During his career, he was an active participant in professional associations including: a member and President of the Georgia Tire Dealers Association, member and President of the Atlanta Metro Tire Dealers and member and board member of the Georgia Oilman's Association.

Harrison was long active in the Boy Scouts, the First Baptist Church on Green Street and the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, where he served for eleven years on the Board of Directors. During that time he was Treasurer and President for several years.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 Thursday at The First Baptist Church.

(A full obituary is posted on the AccessNorthGa.com Obituaries Page.)