Columbus Republic 23 Mar 2006 Melvin Harrison Jr. Columbus Melvin Harrison Jr., 79, of Columbus died at 2:55 a.m. Monday, March 20, 2006, at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility. Mr. Harrison was a teacher at Columbus High School until 1956, guidance director until 1965 and assistant principal until 1972. He was named principal of Columbus North High School in 1975. He was a graduate of Columbus High School, a 1950 graduate of Purdue University, with a degree in trade and industrial education, and a 1957 graduate of Indiana University, with a master's degree in science and education.He was past president of Columbus Kiwanis Club, worked for years for the American Heart Association, served as fund drive chairman for Bartholomew County Heart Association and as chairman of Lake Central Region of the American Heart Association and chairman of the board of the Indiana Heart Association. Throughout his teaching career, he was active in many educational associations and was past president of Indiana Personnel and Guidance Association, Indiana Deans and Counselors Association and Indiana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He also was past director of Bartholomew County Mental Health Association, Bartholomew County Red Cross, Junior Achievement, Columbus Jaycees and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. He also was a charter member of Asbury United Methodist Church and was chairman of the church's first building committee.He received many awards and honors for his dedication to the community and to education including Columbus Exchange Club's Golden Deeds Award in 1981, the governor's Youth Service Volunteer Award in 1982, Columbus Education Association's Friends of Education Award in 1984, and many others. A World War II veteran, Mr. Harrison served with the Navy from 1944 to 1946. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Asbury United Methodist Church on 27th Street with the Rev. Joe Kamman officiating. Calling will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Inurnment will be at Asbury United Methodist Columbarium. Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church. Arrangements were made by Hathaway-Myers Dignity Memorial Chapel on Pearl Street. Born in Columbus Sept. 17, 1926, Mr. Harrison was the son of William Melvin Harrison Sr. and Mae Lambert Harrison. He married Ruth Dinkins July 21, 1946, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ruth Dinkins Harrison; a son, David Carter (Barbara) Harrison of Little Silver, N.J.; grandchildren, Angela Jo Harrison of Indianapolis and Geoffrey Carter (Niki) Harrison of Fair Haven, N.J.; and great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Carter, Taylor Meredith and Morgan Kathryn Harrison, all of Fair Haven, N.J. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, M. Thomas Harrison; and a sister, Edna Mae Baxter.