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This news was submitted by Rene Henry ’54.
Jerry Harris and Joe Agee ’52, M.Ed. ’56 were the closest of friends, fraternity brothers in Sigma Nu and teammates. They both died the same day, May 5, 2024. Jerry was captain of the incredible 1952-53 basketball team that pulled a stunning upset in Blow Gym on Feb. 19, 1953, upsetting No. 18-ranked Duke 85-82 with only seven players! This has to be remembered as one of W&M’s greatest basketball victories. Read more in the full obituaries of Joe Agee and Jerry Harris (also copied below), along with a story about Joe’s legacy at William & Mary.
Claude Gerald “Jerry” Harris
Jerry then attended U.S. Marine Platoon leaders training camp at Paris Island, South Carolina, during the summer months. He reported for active duty after graduation and in February 1954 was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California and the “seas beyond” as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his two-year tour of duty was complete, he and Ann returned to the East Coast and settled in Norfolk until relocating to Virginia Beach in 1974. He held a series of jobs in the building business. In 1963, he joined Sicash Builders as a field superintendent, eventually becoming a partner of the owner, Marvin Simon. Their successful business relationship evolved into a close friendship.During his work years, he was elected to two terms as president of the Tidewater Builders Association, and was appointed by the late Gov. John Dalton to two terms on the Board of the Tidewater Community Colleges. Being one of the founders of the Diabetes Institute of Norfolk, now the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center, was one of his proudest accomplishments.
Jerry was an avid golfer for many years at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club and as a founding member of the Bayville Golf Club. As a builder, he was instrumental in the construction of Bayville Golf Club’s iconic clubhouse. He enjoyed his golf at the Legacy Golf Club in St. Lucie West, Florida, where he and Ann had a winter home.
He was also an award-winning painter and bird carver, receiving many prizes and awards in various states. In his retirement years he enjoyed giving demonstrations of bird carving at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum at the Oceanfront and later at First Landing State Park. His paintings and his birds can be found in homes and art shops far and wide.
Besides his wife of 70 years, he is survived by his son Scott (wife, Connie) of Virginia Beach, son Brent of New York City’s Brooklyn borough, twin grandsons Jackson and Gerald (wife, Bryceleigh). He was amazed and felt blessed to live long enough to see and know five great-grandchildren; Kipton, Anniston, Inslee, Wilder and Lennon. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews that loved him dearly.
He was predeceased by his parents, his younger brother John, and his sister-in-law Betsy.
The Harris family would like to acknowledge the support and care they received from Cheryl Fuller, Darnell Thoroughgood, Silver Bunn, Simone Bunn, and Jacky Smith. Without them these last few years would have been infinitely more difficult. The Harris Family is also thankful to Bristol Hospice who sent Christen, Mandy, Heather, and Betsy to care for Jerry. The support and care of these individuals was extraordinary and we are immensely grateful. A special thanks is also owed to Mike Lewis and his crew.
Memorial gifts may be sent to CHKD, Cape Henry Collegiate, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (fightcffoundation.org), or any other charity.
Joseph S. Agee
Joe was born February 10, 1931, in Portsmouth, Virginia, growing up he was a member of the Boy Scouts, played baseball, basketball and pool, where he could be a bit of a shark. He would have his brother watch the door in case his father came looking for him at the pool hall. He was extremely close with his brothers, Jack and Jim, and his sister, Nancy. He missed them and spoke of them often.
Joe received a scholarship to the Norfolk Division of William & Mary for basketball and baseball, and moved to the main campus after his sophomore year. He enjoyed a full career as an athlete at William & Mary. He would share many memories from college, one of his fondest was the day he caught a foul ball over the head of his mentor’s infant daughter, saving her life. Joe has the distinction of earning a spot in two major college Halls of Fames: William & Mary and Old Dominion University, formerly the Norfolk Division of W&M, and the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. After graduation he was recruited by the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Team which he declined. Instead he enlisted in the U.S. Marines, heading to the Korean War. He remained in the Marine Reserve for 30 years retiring as a full colonel.Joe taught history and coached at Warwick High School, before becoming a professor at William & Mary. He taught all upcoming elementary school teachers the art of physical education for the elementary students. He coached basketball, baseball, football and (was the very first, to save the sport from being removed) soccer. Throughout his time at W&M, he found great success as the coach of the men's golf team. His teams won 14 tournaments, including Virginia State Championships, earned NCAA regional bids, won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Championship and were the NCAA District Champions. The golfers accounted for 14 individual medals and won three state titles. When Plumeri Park, the new baseball field was opened, a former player had the home dugout named in Joe’s honor. Though he retired years ago, many of his students called and visited regularly.
A founding, and an award winning member, of one of his favorite causes: the OWJ, a service fraternity that provides scholarships to W&M students working in the food service industry, as he did himself. OWJ is The Order of the White Jacket, the color jackets athletes were required to wear while they served food as part of their scholarship. Joe was a lifelong member, and past president, of the Colonial Capital Kiwanis, a member, and past deacon of the Williamsburg Baptist Church, a charter member of the Colonial Williamsburg Dancers and an ACC basketball referee, refereeing major college games, including prelims of the Super Bowl.
Joe received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award the year he retired. The Sullivan Award is voted on by the students, selecting a meaningful member of each staff, faculty and the student body, who exemplified all the positives in people: heart, mind and helpfulness to others. In 2012 he received the Alumni Medallion, presented by the William & Mary Alumni Association, as an acknowledgement of his commitment to the college, leadership and exemplary professional life; it is awarded annually to only three alumnus.
He met the love of his life, Eloise, on the steps of the Sunken Garden and they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this April. They enjoyed many years of travel and very happy summers on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. They kept in touch with college friends and reunited annually, usually involving William & Mary where Eloise and Joe continued to be very active. They were selected to be grand marshals of the Homecoming Parade in 2010.
On and off the field, Agee was a mentor, a confidant and most of all a friend to anyone he met. He was a staple in the W&M and Williamsburg community. He has left a lasting commitment and love for his alma mater, family and friends. His advice embodied this sentiment: "Always meet people halfway and help them out if you can. Oh, and stay out of trouble," he added with a wink.
Pops is survived by five grandchildren: David (Rachael), Jennifer, Kristen, Natalie and Ava, two great grandchildren: Matilda and Miles, grand dogs: Carlie, Riley and Tinkerbell, a very special niece, Kathy Savage, and dear friend Lorraine Schubert.
Donations: To mail a donation check to William & Mary, please add Fund #1668 on the memo line.
Mail to: William & Mary University Advancement
Gift Administration
P.O. Box 1693
Harlan, IA 51593-1993
Class Notes Archive
From Anne Harris:
Dear Classmates,
How fast the years have gone as we say goodbye to yet another one. I am sure you share my amazement that we have become octogenarians in a blink of an eye. It is so easy when we think about our alma mater to put ourselves back on campus, living our first taste of independence. After having been in touch with many of you, I am convinced that the W&M experience is a treasured one that never leaves us. I am, like you, one former student who feels fortunate and grateful to have spent four years at this honored institution. I am also happy to have been a classmate of you all, even if we did not know each other well. Each and every one of you contributed to the collegial and stimulating atmosphere that was our college life. I hope I valued it then as fully as I do now. I really think that I did. William & Mary is a special place for all of her students as well as for those who only know of the vaulted reputation she enjoys. Throughout these last 65 years, whenever someone asks where I went to college, without fail, their response is one of great respect hearing the name William & Mary. I know we are all proud to be able to claim that distinction.
Our ranks have certainly thinned, and infirmity has slowed us down, and so it is not surprising that interest in sharing news with the magazine has become difficult to come by. For those of you who have been in touch over the last years that I have been your reporter, I thank you. But now, I do feel it is time for my efforts to come to a close as well. If anyone out there would like to take up where I leave off, please contact Claire De Lisle at alumni.magazine@wm.edu.
It has been my pleasure to keep our class on the pages of our magazine, with or without much news. It is startling to see how close to the first page we are today! We were a small class in an era that is long gone, when attending college was nowhere near as common as it is now. Because of that, I think we had a special regard and appreciation for the college opportunity and our time there had a cohesiveness that was unique. So much has changed that it makes me thankful we had our turn in a gentler age as the Class of 1953.
I leave you with my very best and fondest wishes to all.
“I wrap my memories about me like a well-worn quilt, warming me against the iciness of old age.”