HighFIVE: Tim Harris
H5 Episode 39 / Fall 2020 / by Katie Newell
Life has served up numerous obstacles for Tim Harris, a fixture on the courts at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.
You won’t hear this retired military man complaining, but you will hear how those challenges prepared him to be a positive influence with a mission to spread the love of God and spirit of kindness both on and off the tennis court.
“I got into tennis at age 34 when Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon. At first I did it to attract the girls,” he joked, “but then I really fell in love with hitting the ball back and forth.”
That love and the friendships he’s made keep him returning every day to clean the courts and hit some balls. He is known locally as the Mayor of Memorial Park.
“It’s because I talk a lot. Really a lot!” he explains about the name given to him by tennis friends somewhat facetiously.
If you spend time talking with Tim you realize he has a lifetime of wisdom to share about faith, spreading love, staying positive and having fun.
“There’s just no room for negativity.”
Tim had several reasons he could have gone down a negative road. As a child and one of eight siblings, he spent years in the foster care system, his sisters and brothers separated from each other.
Living in terrible circumstances, he said while he didn’t understand faith, it was all he had to hold onto.
“I literally prayed for a way to get into a better life,” he said.
Having served in the Army as a young man living in Huntsville, Alabama, Tim reenlisted with the hopes of traveling the world. For fifteen years he traveled through Europe, meeting people and gaining a global perspective- one that included understanding the racism in America.
Retiring with the military, he had the opportunity to come to Colorado.
“I fell in love with the people, the beauty, and realized this was a place I could play tennis.” Tim said.
Now a foster parent, with four adult children of his own, he knows that taking care of the courts at Memorial Park help him make and keep connections to people.
He’s also been coaching tennis for Special Olympics for five years and loves to be involved.
“I want to spread my love for God, and spirit of kindness,” he said.
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