$10,000,000 Business Turned Over To Church

1953

PENDLETON. Ore. — A pious businessman and his wife said today they gave their $10,000,000 lumber business to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church because they "wanted to do right by God."

Clyde H. Harris, 62, and his wife, Mary, said they felt God helped them build up the firm since it was only a small box factory 40 years ago.

"God expects his share of a man's income," Harris said.

The entire assets and plant of Harris Pine Hills, Inc. was turned over to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Wednesday. W. H. Branson of Washington, D.C. world president of the denomination, said it was the largest gift ever received by the church, which has a program reaching into 179 countries.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris joined the church a short time after they were married 38 years ago in Milton, Ore. She was a co-owner and officer in the business.

They said the firm was the largest manufacturer of unfinished furniture in the world, shipping 2,000 pieces a day. It also manufactures and sells 50,000,000 board feet of lumber and 5,000,000 fruit boxes a year.

The firm has 700 employees, 600 in Oregon. It has small assembly plants at Chicago Heights, Ill.; Alexandria, Va., and Cleburne, Tex.

—The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, January 28, 1953, page 11.