~This symbol follows the story in each chapter

 

 

Chapter 5 - Simply Enthusiastic

The Early Years: School & Karate

 

Noah

Who knows what future days may hold?
Why look ahead when the future is now?
Grasp this moment and the next like gold!
Don’t wait for wind; make some of your own -
Unfurl your sail!

 

Uncle Po Po, a.k.a. Uncle Jimmy (Noah’s 24^th Birthday Celebration, June 25, 2005)
Recently I have had pause to consider my nephew’s greatness. Make no mistake about it; this was a great, great man. Ethics, courage, humor, hunger, intelligence, charity, orneriness...he had a profound sense of destiny; but, what really set him apart was his complete lack of cynicism. He was enthusiastic about everything life had to offer. And you wonder, how can that be? My nephew was not just a magnificent representation of himself and his country, but of his special, genuine community. Your community stands for something. He is a part of you, and you were a part of him. Celebrate him and cherish what you have, and he’ll look down from where he is today and he’ll say, “Awesome!”

 

U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal (Congressional Record, June 29, 2005)
...I first met Noah several years ago when he served as an intern in my Washington office. I had been told that he was someone special, and after meeting him, I certainly knew that to be true... To be a friend to people from all walks of life, to excel in everything he undertook, to dare to dream big dreams takes someone special... His courage, his self-discipline, and his compassion should be a standard for us all...

 

~ Noah Bruce Lee Harris
Before Noah was born, we always sang to him, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are gray...” We struggled with all the things that most young families do, money, bills, time; but we lived out in God’s little acre and we consciously understood that just as the fertile ground would yield yummy, homegrown tomatoes, right intention would nurture a life full of gladness. We wanted Noah to be able to flourish with each passing moment, growing his confidence in the abundance of the universe just as we were becoming more confident about our own ability to build and provide.

 

Like Adam Smith, we had faith in our own will to develop ourselves in every way; we wanted to embrace the blessings of life. To us, Smith’s “invisible hand of competition” had to do with self-improvement. We felt that our self-interested yearning to go back to nature would be our contribution to humanity, that every day in every way, we could make life better. Ticklebug Creek in many ways is our Walden Pond where we gratefully relish the warm embrace of Mother Nature and find it to be an apt environment in which to explore and expand a reverence for all of the moments of creation that we share.

 

More of Noah and Mom’s Morning Prayer
Thank you for the abundance of time, energy, and resources with which to seek first the kingdom of heaven and be the servant of the will... to take care of this body, the temple of God and my soul...to be totally humble and rest in the assurance that all things are perfect...

 

~ Noah never missed a thing we said; so although sometimes we struggled to blend our wills—Granny said we were both “hard-headed”—we were determined that his childhood was going to be all things positive. To be good stewards of this precious gift of life inspired our decisions; naturally, we wanted Noah to see the light. Around the kitchen table we were like the Three Musketeers; we held spontaneous “Saturday” discussions that sometimes lasted all day and led us to explore our minds, expand our imaginations, and process our feelings. We often repeated the ancient saying that the eyes are the windows of the soul. We had learned that if the window to the inner being is clouded, dirty, or marred in any manner, the light will be deflected and diminished, so we tried to clean things up from the inside out. We wanted to help keep Noah’s twinkling eyes transparent, and as a result, he became very conscious of how he used his word.

 

Master Sgt. Randy McAllwie (The Big Bad Dawg of UGA ROTC)
Noah was a quiet soul with a peaceful and calm presence, pleasant to be near. I never saw him yell. His frustration was always turned inward, seeking his own perfection. He was a self-motivator. Noah knew the way to succeed in life was to care, to place something or someone above yourself... he followed the leader’s acumen that you can always get what you want if you help enough other people get what they want... He pulled us along toward his success with simple words and gestures that made us feel important...

 

~ Ashley remembers that when Noah prayed for something, he always ended by saying, “... in right action.” He had big dreams, but he never wanted to override the positive forces that he felt were always working for the greater good. He got better at finding himself and that made him confident and compassionate. Alyssa seemed to capture his intent in the deeply feeling words from her poem, “Your Words in My World,” “...Your face appears in the sunshine, parting the clouds.” Noah always wanted to light up the room, fill his friends with hope, and convince everyone in his considerable sphere of influence that the glass was at the very least half-full. In our home, we were always searching for the truth, seeking it through affirmative prayers of gratitude and surrender. One of our most treasured expressions is, “When a door slams shut, God leaves a window open—find it.”

 

From: Noah’s Ellijay Optimist Club Winning Speech, 8^th Grade
...Listen to me, and I promise that I will listen to you, and together we will create the miracle that will be the beginning that has no end. Even if we are wrong sometimes or we misunderstand, let’s pledge to keep listening. We may stumble, we may ramble, we may hear our voices crack, but if we keep listening long enough, we’ll create the dream that so many have died for, the dream of being heard and understood. Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” I’d like to conclude by restating, “To speak is human, to listen divine.” Thank you for listening to me.

 

~ Mom: BFF (Best Friends Forever)
Rick encouraged our conscious deliberation by saying, “Thoughts we entertain become our words, our words become actions and through the law of cause and effect these create the circumstances and quality of our lives.” I remember telling Noah the story I told my students when I was demonstrating the power of positive thinking and, conversely, the damage that negative intent can impose. I demonstrated that spoken words don’t evaporate into thin air; rather they go directly into the language center of the brains of everyone who hears them, including the speaker’s. I’d start by saying, “So, if you could win a million dollars for not thinking of blue, you might say to yourself, ‘Don’t think blue.’” Then, I’d ask them to close their eyes and I’d intone, “Don’t think blue.” When I asked who’d just seen a patch of sky, most hands would go up and the light bulb of understanding would come on; they’d just lost their million dollars because of poor word choice. Noah was saying, “Think Green,” long before it became popular. When something was stressful or confusing to Noah, Rick said, “Let’s put this in the light.”

 

Lara Oakes Pulliam
I remember Noah...being like sunshine... that smile was so beautiful and warm. I remember passing Noah on campus one day, almost not recognizing him, as I had not seen him in a while and he was in military attire. We hugged and stopped and talked for a while and he told me about joining the military and how excited he was... The last time I saw Noah was tailgating after we had both graduated. I got so excited, gave him a big hug and he introduced me to his girlfriend, Ashley. He told me that he was leaving in January for Iraq and truly seemed to be excited about serving his country...

 

~ Back in 1981, the most popular boys’ names were Michael and Christopher; “Noah” wasn’t even in the top 100. However, it was our only choice as it first came in a beautiful dream, and then shortly we found out it was the name of Rick’s grandfather on his dad’s side. Rick never met Grandpa Harris and hadn’t known his first name. When we told his Mom, Geri about our choice, she was so delighted that it immediately stuck and was a source of wonder at family gatherings. Noah grew up hearing about the family history as well as the etymology of his name. He knew that according to the Bible, his namesake lived to be 950 years old. As a small child he always puzzled over that one but, more important, he grew to enjoy that Noah was Hebrew and Greek for a lot of great words he thought were very important like “rest,” “comfort,” “motion,” “hope,” “blessing,” “father”... “faith.” He embraced all of the meanings of his name including the story of the Ark. He loved that Noah cared so much that he sacrificed everything to save the animals and maintain the balance of nature on the planet.

 

Marilou Braswell (UGA Cheerleading Coach)
I used to always sing to him, “Noah built an Arky Arky...” It was my joy to coach and love Noah while he was at UGA. His eyes sparkled when he smiled and he had a heart for people. He and Laci (Marilou’s daughter) were close friends ever since Noah’s prom. He was always a part of this family; I loved him very much.

 

 

~ Rick and I first decided that his middle name would be James after my father, and then we thought about Arthur after Rick’s father; we loved Uncle Carson’s name, too, because he was named for Rick’s beloved Papa Carson Green. When we realized there was no equitable way to choose, we came up with an alternative. Noah could pick his own name when he was sixteen. Though ultimately he decided that he liked just plain, old Noah Harris, the name game was a source of great entertainment for many years. Of the scores he contemplated, the one about which he was most serious when he was five caused many a raised eyebrow. I’ll never forget the day he told me he had decided, “I’m going to be Noah Bruce Lee Harris.”

 

From the first movie, Fists of Fury, our peaceful abode was frequently shattered by flying feet and hands and the loud, “Kee-yah!” Karate is one of the many reasons that Noah’s going to school in Ellijay was a match made in heaven—from day one, but kindergarten also marked the advent of a 13-year odyssey, during which we shared the peaceful 20-mile commute to and from school, watching the seasons unfurl across the rolling terrain... from lusty, humid, green-festooned summer, to blue skied, scarlet autumn blessing the vast fields of golden rod. We loved the way the leaves flew away like flaming birds of prey only to curl up and dry into winter gray that lay heavy at the base of the purple mountains’ majesty... and then spring would come...

 

Noah (“Spring Buds drip From Trees...”)
I am the wind that blows through the trees.
I am the melody on which dance the leaves,
Up through the clouds I go,
Tracing valleys and hilltops I do not know.
On my shoulder a bird doth glide,
Secrets carried on my crest that others did confide.
The only thing I know not to be a lie,
The wind I am and wander the Earth do I.

 

~ Being his confidante during those years will always be the hallmark of my life; by virtue of sitting side by side for at least 60 minutes a day, Noah and I talked about everything. We shared each other’s successes, failures, dreams and fears, laughing, crying, planning, and dreaming. Most of the time it was dark when we piled into the orange bug; and often we reached town as the sun was “pinking” the night, having been the only car on the road. Except for getting caught in a snow storm one time and a sad event that involved a small flock of guinea hens, it was uneventful, but significant. An extension of our experience in nature, we daily agreed that “Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.”

 

The first time I picked him up after Miss Marsha’s class, he did a double take when he saw a feller not much bigger than he was walking down the street in a clean, white karate uniform. The way Noah’s eyes widened as he opened his mouth into that questioning intake of surprise let me I know I was never going to hear the end of this. Noah had been taught that if someone else could achieve the impossible, he could too! Kind of like riding a bike or throwing a rock over an electric wire, he was excited someone at his school was going to karate.

 

It wasn’t long before he was telling us, “It’s real Tae Kwon Do, just down the street from the school, and Ben Kiker is great. Everybody says he is the best of the best of the best. It’s just $25.00 to start.” “Who is Ben Kiker?” I asked. “He is an awesome Tae Kwon Do teacher. Mama, can we please just go check it out?” At the time, I figured, “Why not?” We went to the studio just to look around and Noah became obsessed. Rick and I told him, “Son, you know the drill. If you want something extra and it’s not Christmas or your birthday...” With the most sincere and guileless smile, he interrupted, “I’ll give you my whole piggy bank.” He was five years old.

 

Matthew Starks (Ellijay, Ga.)
I had the pleasure of growing up with Noah. Along with my twin brother, Mickey, Noah and I would go swimming at the river almost every day... I had the pleasure to eat with Noah the day before he left Ellijay for the last time. We had a good time as always, but we talked a great deal about his mission over there and Noah's stories made the war even more real than ever. He had a mission, and for the ones who knew Noah, we can tell you, when Noah got something in his mind, he followed it to the end.

~ That year, we were “running on fumes” broke. Rick had just gone back to work after five years of one salary and we were still digging out, but we scraped together the coins in all our piggy banks and Noah went to karate for the two-week introductory offer. The white uniform became his most prized possession. We all loved the studio, but we knew we couldn’t afford to continue, and sadly Noah did too. On his last day, Noah executed an exceptional armpit fart for Ben when he was supposed to be completing a silent, honorable bow. Ben cracked up, but I thought to myself, “Uh-oh. Noah’s gonna get kicked out of his last lesson.” Ben looked over at that moment and asked to speak to me after class. I thought he was either going to tell me that Noah needed to wait another year to start or that I’d have to start paying the regular fees.

 

I was prepared to answer and explain we couldn’t afford to sign Noah up for karate right now, but maybe we could do it later. Before I opened my mouth, Ben made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Talk about invisible hands! Talk about Carpe Diem! Before we left that day, I had my own uniform, and I was going to become the kids’ karate teacher as soon as I was ready; in return, Ben would negotiate finances so that the whole family could attend. Rick talked to Noah very seriously, “If we do this, you have to be grown up about Tae Kwon Do. If Mom is going to commit to being the teacher, there will be no off days.” Noah gave us the secret family handshake and said, “I promise; this is my greatest wish.” Although during his elementary school career, we frequently used that statement to remind him to be careful what you wish for, and he learned it is o.k. to “want” to quit—just don’t. He mostly enjoyed being the youngest member of the Harris branch of United Karate.

 

 

Angie Clark Cheshire (GHS Class of 90)
Mrs. Harris and Noah used to pick me up and give me rides to school many years ago as they passed by my house. Those are my first memories of Noah, a small child who was always more than willing to give up his front seat and climb in the back of the car so that I could have a comfortable ride to school too. From what I understand, his character never wavered from that generous spirit... Several years ago, I met up with him in the GAP one day while shopping....I was in awe of what an amazing spirit he had. I wasn’t even sure that he would remember who I was – and yet, he treated me like a member of his own family... his passion for life and goodness was infectious... he had a contagious smile. When you saw Noah, he always made you feel good on the inside...

 

~ Perhaps he learned the best lessons of life from the not-so-invisible hands of Ronald Watkins who became a lifelong friend and mentor to so many young people across the mountains of North Georgia because, in addition to his fierce fighting style and flawless nunchuk form, as head karate instructor, Ronald was never afraid to stand the kids up and teach them discipline. Mr. Watkins taught them all about the strength that comes after weakness leaves the body and the mind; he and the other black belts always kept up with what the kids were doing outside of the studio. Sometimes Noah didn’t feel like karate, but he learned about commitment and paying sweat-equity dues. At the time, Rick was the real fighter of the family, but Noah and I learned a lot as well. Side by side we confronted issues—me, a deeply hidden fear mentality and Noah, his need to understand discipline and confront physical suffering. Ben told everyone, “No matter how good you are, you will hit ‘the wall of pain.’” Ben taught us to be wise in that knowledge and, no matter what, to avoid a fight at all costs, because once committed, the warrior must fight to win. We loved every minute of it, and we paid special attention to Ben’s favorite, Psalm 1, because, to Noah, it seemed to describe his own front yard.

 

Psalm 1:1-3 (Ben Kiker’s United Karate Trademark)
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

 

~ Karate fit in with the atmosphere of our house. Everything was always growing and under construction, the floors, the muscles, the mind, the spirit. You couldn’t walk through a doorway without having an inspired kick come whizzing by your head. Rick often chuckles about how little Noah practiced high round kicks by kicking him in the butt. One time while sparring in class, Noah saw Rick knock me down; and then he saw me pop back up, swinging. Rick and Noah would go at it in the living room until I’d get after them with the broom because I wasn’t willing to let them break the few lamps we had. Even though he was just a little kid, Noah was getting really strong because on days when he didn’t have karate, he was bouncing on that trampoline. One day while cooking dinner, I looked out the kitchen window and saw him fly upside down and land on his neck. He bounced right up, but it looked so dangerous that I screamed and Rick came running. When we went over to the trampoline, Noah jovially showed us an even more spectacular stunt. It looked like some kind of rodeo-clown gymnastics. It suddenly hit me that there was something wrong with the thudding sound I heard whenever he pulled a front flip on the ground. Also, I didn’t want him to grow up to be a house wrecker.

 

Barbara Scohier (Mother of childhood buddy, Jason)
“Lucy, I hate to tell you this, but you’ve gotta come over now. John and I are mad! Jason and Noah have broken the back out of my couch.”

 

~ When I fussed to Ben in front of Noah about his insane antics on the trampoline, expecting Ben to straighten Noah out, I was surprised that he said, “Gymnastics is the perfect complement to karate.” Noah laughed as I was about to roll my eyes and reiterate our already packed schedule and tight finances when Ben suggested that I bring him to Miss Kim, the gymnastics instructor who used the karate building on Wednesdays. It was just $25.00 dollars to start! Instantly, Noah deflated just thinking of his piggy bank. When we got to the first class, he balked because he was the only guy and all the little girls were dressed, well, like girls, and he didn’t like it. Ironically, to him, it was all about cheerleading, and he didn’t want to have any part of it. He didn’t want to be seen with them, but after meeting Miss Kim, he decided that it might be o.k. and we told him if he wanted to get on the trampoline again, he’d listen and learn proper technique. Miss Kim had arranged for her students to ride a bus to the studio, so I didn’t actually watch the classes, but I noticed that on our trampoline, Noah was starting to look like a real gymnast and the front flips stopped because he said, “Miss Kim says I can’t learn those until I’m in the advanced class.” Pretty soon he was doing back handsprings and then came the all-important back tucks. The girls giggled when Noah did his thing, but he realized they were just smiling out loud, and he stayed friends with many of them for all of his life; and when he got to high school, he found out they were often cheering for him.

 

Brigitte Toon (Bobby Toon’s wife and incredible, unofficial “mom” of Bayonet Company) He brought the best out of people... a true American Hero. I am so thankful to have seen him during his R&R. I remember hugging him and he felt so strong and invincible. I didn't want to let go. I know I told you, it felt like he was holding a piece of Bobby (Major Toon) in his heart. I don't know why, but I felt so protective of Noah. It may be because of the wonderful way he had with children. He was at our house one night and found out that Daphne (our middle child) was cheerleading at her school. He talked to her about it and promised tumbling lessons when he got back. You wouldn't believe how excited she was. She called her friends and poor Noah didn't know it but he had a bunch of young girls waiting for his return... I think she saw Noah as the big brother she never had.

 

~ Noah made a big deal out of inviting me to come early to his last Miss Kim session because he was working on something special; I had to take off early from GHS to get there and was still a little late. Was I ever shocked! When I walked into the studio, he had just started his running approach to an aerial. To an uninformed mom, it looked like this: charge as hard as you can and throw your head at the floor while throwing the force of your legs up over your head. If it works correctly, your head hovers above the floor lifted by the force of the spinning legs. WOW! I covered my mouth as I shrieked, but Noah just popped up and smiled, like “That’s my Momma.”

 

He was always fearless about trying new things. When he was a small child, we had to explain to him he could not sky-dive until he was 18 (which he did with Mike Jung and Mikey Bramlett). I remember how as a ten-year-old, he looked up at me and asked, “Aw, come on, Mom. You’ll sign for me, right?” He was shocked we wouldn’t because he knew Rick and I agreed some things are better learned young, like bike riding and language acquisition. We made sure he could count in Spanish at the same time he counted in English. Whenever we met people from another country, he would always ask them how to say something special in their language. He loved to recite, “En el jardin de mi vida, tu eres solamente en flor.” (In the garden of my life, you are the only flower.) To him learning new things was just part of life and he was eager about everything. That day in the karate/gymnastics studio, I just smiled, quietly relieved, when he said, “Miss Kim says I’m doing good and I should be safe now. What do you think?”

 

Capt. Bobby Toon (June 25, 2005, Noah’s Birthday Celebration)
This community created what Noah Harris was as a man.

 

~ When Noah was only six, on a plain, old regular Tuesday at school, I was called to the office to take a call from the elementary school secretary. When I answered, she informed me that Kathy Overstreet, better known as Ms. O, was on the line. Noah was feeling sick to his stomach. Luckily it was my planning period, so I hopped in the car and within minutes, I was helping my sick little boy buckle up. When I told him I didn’t have time to take him home and get back to class by the bell, he assured me with a sweet little smile that if I would buy him a Coke with ice, he could sit at my desk and sip it and probably be o.k. I asked, “How about something caffeine-free?”

 

As I pulled into the DQ on the way, he asked innocently, “Does Coke have caffeine in it?” I laughed and asked him if he was already feeling better. He said, “Much better now that I am out of my classroom.” “What? I thought you loved Ms. O!” I was just about to pull a 180 and take him right back to Ellijay Primary when he said, “I do love Ms. O, but, Mom, this girl threw up on the carpet right next to my chair, and the smell made my tummy really hurt.” I sighed with patience, remembering that he had issues with “up chuck.” As Noah hardly ever missed a day, I got him a Sprite, squeezed his hand, and headed up the long drive to the high school.

 

We hurried to my classroom as I had to be super-prepared for certain classes, and the next was eleventh-grade English, after lunch. It was full of “almost graduate” juniors who were well aware that all they had to do was pass my class and they’d forever be finished with reading and writing (1987 Georgia graduation requirements called for three units of English). It was not an advanced class, but I was friendly with my students and assured them that, if they would work with me, we’d get the job done. I was determined to help them develop communication skills that would enable them to improve their BQ, EQ, IQ, and HSQ, my terms for body, heart, mind, and spirit.

 

As they filed by me at the door, many of them smiled and waved at my little curly-headed friend. Noah obviously didn’t feel up to par, but he kept weakly peeking over his folded arm pillow and struggling to smile now and again. When the bell rang, I started as always like a drill instructor or a P.E. teacher. I loved my subject and I knew how to “dish it out.” Emphasizing performance, I always broke the class into small chunks that revolved around writing, speaking, and literature. It’s my philosophy that anyone who can speak and write logically as well as have awareness of the great thoughts of culture will be able to matriculate successfully. I always told my students, “I want you to be able to claim your American birthright as a strong citizen-leader.”

 

JK DeLapp (Sig Ep brother)
I was a SigEp at Georgia with Noah... I can remember on a number of occasions, just because he was so massive, that one of the guys would try to take him on... They'd talk the talk and try and walk big—Noah would just say, "OK," and then kindly whup their tail. And he'd almost always thank them for trying... He was always very popular—not to mention a great dancer... Noah was always very kind to me. All of us were very friendly... I'm not sure if anyone ever noticed—but... I don't ever think I'll forget just how important he could make you feel in a quick, two-minute conversation.

 

~ We might have been discussing Benjamin Franklin’s “healthy, wealthy, and wise” formula or “The Declaration” because I remember the desks were arranged in a circle so the students could communicate, verbally spar, or just toss ideas around. I’d always tell them, “You can pass on the discussion once in a while, but you have an opinion and if you’ll express it, it will grow.” The discussion was just beginning when, suddenly, I saw across the room a student I will call Roger make a face at a student who was sitting near where I was standing. Call him Shannon. As Roger’s face seemed more silly than menacing, I was caught off guard by Shannon’s reaction, and before I could stop him, Shannon had leaped into the center of the room and challenged, “Well, bring it on!” Roger’s sarcastic smile morphed into the teacher-dreaded sneer that says, “Here I come!” and he launched himself into what instantly turned into a grappling ring.

 

I’d been teaching karate for a couple of years and knew how to manage an altercation fairly well; but when the guys fell to the floor and tied up in a double headlock, I couldn’t get them apart. I actually knocked on the top of Roger’s head with my fist. The other members of the class were egging it on, “Get him, Roger!” “Bust him, Shannon!” Noah’s presence in the room had been forgotten by all, including me as I tried a tack that had worked in other fights of pretending injury. I used my best, pained falsetto, “Ouch!” You’re hurting me, boys!” At that point, Noah leaped to his feet and yelled ferociously, “Roger, you better not hurt my Mommy!” The class went silent... And then everybody started laughing, including Roger and Shannon. We laughed ’til tears ran, and then Noah and I took Roger and Shannon to the office to “process” the situation in front of my favorite principal, Lex Rainey. He couldn’t understand, “What was so funny about a fight in your classroom?” I always rather enjoyed making him scratch his head.

 

Noah kept his head up in watchdog position for the rest of the day and quietly helped me pack so we could head for home. When we got in the car, he patted my arm and asked sincerely, “Mom, do you want me to come to school with you tomorrow?” Oh, he was a perfect Mama's Boy, my dream child, my best friend and protector. As my sidekick, he kept refining his vision. Then, later, when he was in high school, I realized that, in fact, I was his sidekick through the science fairs, term papers, football, wrestling, drama rehearsals. We were always together, carrying equipment, book bags, and kids who needed a ride home. Noah never questioned our will to help the community, and when he was older, he only asked, “Miss Mommy, what can I do?” because he had learned to love serving and had developed an appreciative heart.

 

Noah (handwritten 1992 card, returned, summer, 2005, by Mr. Dan)

Dear Mr. Dimmock,

   It’s been a long, hard year. Before it’s over, let me say, “Thanks!” I’ve had a lot of fun times. Your class was interesting. This is one year I’ll never forget. I really appreciate all you have done for me.

Your Loving Student,

Noah

P.S. I learned a lot and I’ll always remember you.

 

~ God Works in Mysterious Ways
When he was 10, he had his brown belt “working on red.” We all were devoted to the three-a-week practices which caused me to miss a lot of after-school functions such as basketball and wrestling. We’d be at karate while those events were going on, and when students would ask me to come see what they were up to, I’d say, “What day is it?” One Wednesday right after school, the same Roger popped into my classroom at just the right moment. You never know when the invisible hand is going to give you just the little touch. He said, “Ms. Harris, please come see us wrestle. No one in Ellijay cares about what we are doing. We just get no respect.” Noah piped up, “Can I roll around on the mats, too?” Roger laughed and told Noah that he could help set up. They were already out the door by the time I said, “Okay, you guys go on and I’ll be there when I finish these pa...!”

 

Noah had a ball that day. He joined the team effort of rolling out the mats and then he wrestled with the guys before the matches. He enjoyed just having a good old time with the high school guys and making their eyebrows go up when he showed them his full “Bruce Lee” split. They actually got out folding chairs, and he showed them that he could go beyond a full split to what looked like pain to them. They told him that he’d have to wrestle when he got to high school, and he ate it up, grinning from ear to ear. As the first match started, I sensed a change come over him. He almost knocked me over when he jumped up and yelled, “Go, Bobcats!”

 

 

When the 103 took the mat, he went ballistic. He re-enacted every move using me as his opponent. He had me in a headlock a couple of times and was hollering like his life depended on the outcome. To him it was like each of his new friends was putting his courage on the line for the Bobcats, and it meant something to Noah. By the time the match was over, I was exhausted and though I can’t remember who won that day, I knew a wrestler had been born. When Coach Mark and Coach John came over to thank us for being there, Noah asked, “Coach, can I do that?” There was only an eighth-grade team in the middle school at the time, but Coach Mark laughed his famous, face-splitting, joyous exhalation and Coach John said, “Well, it’s the end of the season. We only have a few practices left, and you’re only in fifth grade.” I held my breath as he continued, “But if your Mom doesn’t mind, you can come by tomorrow and see what you think. Bring your shorts to the field house when you get off the bus.” We let him skip karate for two weeks.

 

Neil Gary (Noah's 189 weight class, Marine, "Hoo-ah" role model)
... Noah was a fierce opponent... building the state champ teams we have today. He knew the petty stuff wasn’t important. He put himself in a position to make a difference for his community. He went the distance. He would want us to look at ourselves... ask, “What can I do?” Individuality is important, but sometimes you gotta care about the people next to you.

 

~ The next year, when Noah was in the sixth grade, he wrestled for the middle school, but he was so small that they didn’t even have a weight class for him. He spent a lot of time on his back, but he was tough and each week he’d charge out onto the mat and learn a little something more. The coaches kept coaching, Rick and I were in the stands cheering, and little by little, Noah started doing better and he started growing; it wasn’t long before he learned his way around the mat. Sometimes he would get frustrated, but we rode that wave together because we didn’t want Noah to be the kind of guy who wouldn’t come back if he ever got beaten. We’d tell him, “Sometimes, you’ve got to lose your way to success. Just keep working.” Noah learned that competition made him strong, and he always had his friends, the cheerleaders bracing him up if he ever got down. Even his chief baby sitter, Rodney, was a wrestler at the high school. They’d use the good ole trampoline to drill and practice tricky moves; and then one day, when he was in eighth grade, Noah ran into the house and said, “Hey, Mom, look what I can do.” I squealed as he swept me off the ground and up over his head never realizing at the time that he would someday spend a lot of time throwing people in the air. Although he always used his Tae Kwon Do skills, especially the discipline that he had learned, he slowly withdrew from karate and from Steve Calhoun's trumpet instruction even though as the band director said, "Noah was a good little trumpet player."  In that one afternoon he had received a nudge that pushed him in a new direction; he traded everything to don the Purple and White and become a Gilmer wrestler through and through. Oh how he loved being a Bobcat. Ronald and Ben weren’t thrilled about it, but they said, “As long as you are wrestling, it’s okay.”

 

Ronald Watkins (Karate Instructor and Chairman of the Gilmer County BOE, Noah Harris Center Dedication)
Noah was my karate student; he grew up in karate and I didn’t realize that I was teaching a future hero. He was the kind of kid, when he got involved in anything, he always was trying to do the right thing. We didn’t realize that when his Uncle Jimmy brought the flag to us in Gilmer County from New York City and we had the big ceremony after 9/11 to honor the fire fighters... we didn’t realize it would cost us so much. We didn’t know Noah would give his life, but we all knew he never wanted to be a spectator. He always wanted to be a part of the right thing. That’s why he joined the Army.

 

Noah (7^th grade, Creative Essay)
I will never forget a match that I fought in Fannin County. I was all pumped up and all I could think about was winning. I was ready to wrestle that day, but I was worried because I had an orthodontist appointment. My mom had to drive fast to make it on time. My coaches and team were about to give up on me when I finally arrived. Coach Snider came to talk to me about the match. He said I would be wrestling their best guy and that he weighed 125 pounds when I only weighed 111. That made me nervous. I decided to get warmed up and keep my muscles loose. I did all my stretches and jogged in place. I was ready to win. After a few people on my team wrestled, it was my turn. I went out onto the mat, shook hands, and heard the sound of the whistle echo in the gym. We moved around the mat and I shot for his leg. He cross-faced me and got two points. I did a reversal and got two points. He got up and away and got one point for the escape. I shot again and took him down, and that was the end of his points.

 

~ Noah experienced the same kind of family-style teamwork in each Gilmer County classroom he entered. Knowing he was the son of a teacher and had a daddy who expected him to do his best probably caused him to be more aware of his teachers’ feelings, but I think it was more that all of his instructors, without exception, loved him and his classmates and did their best to nurture all the children. That’s just the way it is in Ellijay; and most folks are like us: They have a moment when they experience the understanding that a great little mountain town can provide an education that goes beyond excellent statistics into the realm of exceptional quality of life.

 

 

When Noah was in seventh grade, he was enjoying his second year of the “MAT”—the Multi Age Team—a sixth- through eighth-grade “loop” that was an experiment; but it certainly was not an accident the kids loved it because they always seemed to be doing some interesting project. Noah had the same teachers all three years, and they got to know him so well they were able to build on his strengths and push him through his weaknesses, always with kindness and the utmost concern for his development. The day I knew that Gilmer County had taught him to become a joyful problem-solver was the day the little Civic had a flat tire on the way home from school, almost at the county line.

 

Like the punctured tire, I started to deflate; I was kind of whining as I got out of the car and started to remove the strange-looking metal pieces from under the carpet in the hatch. I knew it would take me three hours and several broken nails to figure out where the jack was, put it together, and then change the tire; and I had to get home and back to school to a meeting in one hour. Then, I felt Noah sort of “hip push” me out of the way and start assembling the jack. I remember how he pushed what Mikey called his “mushroom head” hair cut behind his ears and went to work at what looked like world-record speed; I started to time him as he removed the lug nuts. To my astonishment, we were back on the road in less than five minutes. I said, “Honey, where’d you learn how to do that?” and he looked at me quizzically and then patted me on the head as he so often did, saying, “Poor Mommy. It’s just basic physical science.”

 

Noah (MAT Journal, May 3, 1993, “Cumberland Island, Close to Nature”)
...I jumped up when I heard the phone ring at 5:45 a.m. It was Mr. Hyde; he was giving us our wake up call. I was on my feet and running, getting ready to go to lovely Cumberland Island... Sea gulls screamed harshly and swooped in the air; I knew it was going to be a great day... the wind was blowing in my face, the salty blast streamed into my lungs as the birds’ cries shattered the chugging of the boat...stunned by the beauty of nature...

 

Times Courier—(June 8, 1995, the caption under the class picture)
The EMS Multi Age Team (MAT) and parents honored Nancy Gheesling and Gary Hyde for “three years of inspired instruction.” The teachers were presented with plaques that featured the following inscription: “In order to become an eagle, you must first learn to fly. Thank you for challenging us to find our wings. We are ready to soar!”

 

~ Noah had such great training. He considered the adults in his life to be the greatest of American leaders, and he wanted to perform well for them. As his wrestling coaches were also football coaches, it was just part of a time-honored progression that he join the eighth-grade football team. Noah’s experience with football had consisted of he and Rick tossing the ball back and forth in the yard, so he was “green.” He didn’t even know what position he would play. Not wanting him to get hurt, his dad encouraged, “Son, you could be a great kicker; you have great legs!” All he told us was when we asked was, “I’m having fun and I think I’m doing pretty good.” Even better, Robby Long, Mikey Bramlett, Brian Heaslip and a bunch of his friends were on the team. Were we ever surprised when at the very first game of the season on almost the first play, Robby stepped up and threw a 63-yard bomb which Noah caught as he was stepping into the end zone. I didn’t even bother to put my hand over my mouth. We found our voices and learned how to yell, “Go, Bobcats!”

 

 

It was a great time and we never wanted the season to end, but one afternoon found us at the last game at Dawson County Middle School. Though it was a cold, sloppy day, the Bobcats added another victory to their winning season. Noah was excited because he made his first interception. All during the overcast afternoon, as a typical mom, I had been concerned because our guys had to stand in a big mud puddle that covered the visitor’s sideline. I kept feeling sorry for how wet they must have been, and I was actually glad when the game was over and the Bobcats single-filed onto the field to shake hands with the Tigers. We were all ready to head for the car to follow the bus back to the school.

 

That’s when we saw a crowd of Bobcat purple running back toward the sideline. Just as I thought to myself, “That’s odd,” the first Bobcat belly-flopped and slid about twenty yards down the middle of that ugly trench, turning it into a brown spray of celebration; he was followed by a half dozen others in slippery, rapid succession. The crowd erupted into laughter as the coaches turned and started blowing whistles and hollering for them to stop. I knew that those guys were going to be required to run some “hard yards” and “pay the piper,” so to speak. As I strained to distinguish the leader of the pack, I couldn’t see his number, but there was no mistaking that mud splattered grin. Noah often led his buddies to victory, but more important, he led them to celebrate life.

 

Earl Leonard (Noah’s Philanthropic Mentor, a.k.a. “Papa”)
You want kids like Noah to enjoy opportunity. You know they can make a difference.

 

~ The Philanthropist: Faith Is a Decision.
Our family is famous for giving funny or pet names to things. We’d be always speaking with crazy accents and made up-words, and Rick has a habit of capitalizing on his Viet Nam hearing. Noah heard a lot of “malarkey,” and always laughed about it, especially when his dad expressed his own pronunciations, calling common items like the dormitory, the “dohmitory.” There was that one time in sixth grade when Noah was really mad because he lost a spelling bee when he got the word “asparagus” and we had always pronounced it as-per-gras. However, we always told Noah the truth when he asked a question. When he said, “Mom, what’s that called?” or “Dad, what’s that mean?” we always gave the correct word or definition.

 

Once when he asked the meaning of a word that I felt was too mature for his age, I said something like, “Son, that one’s kind of rough. Can you wait until next year?” Perfect child that he was, he acted like he was agreeing. I remember how he smiled and said, “O.k., Mommy, I can wait. I’ll just ask you again later.” What I hadn’t realized was that he had discovered that Granny Peggy’s ancient black dictionary would answer questions about words that Mom would not. One day he charged anxiously out of his room with his finger stuck in the big, old, battered lexicon and he asked, “Mom! How do you pronounce this word? Phila ...nthra ...pist? That’s what I’m going to be when I grow up. It sounds like a great job.” I said, “That word is philanthropist.” I looked at it as he read aloud, “One who loves people and works and sacrifices to increase the well-being of humanity.” I smiled as Noah asked, “How do you get that job?” I think I may have said something like, “You just do it.”

 

Sam Snider (Noah’s Head Wrestling and Track Coach)
My greatest memory of Noah is how he treated little kids. Noah made my children and Coach Pettit’s children feel special. Our kids were eight to 10 years old and they would tag along to practice and camp. Noah always took the time to show interest in their lives. My sons have learned from Noah’s example and are able to show kindness to other young kids...

 

 

~ Rick
“I will never do for you what you can do for yourself.” I remember saying that to Noah over and over when he was young and impressionable because I wanted him to be strong and independent and able to accomplish realistic goals. Noah had a tree house, right across the creek. When I built it, the trees were small, so it wasn’t dangerous, just a simple triangular deck with railings to keep him from falling out and a roof to keep him from getting wet. It was his own special spot and a little kid magnet because it had a wooden ladder that was great for climbing. As he grew up, the woods became his neighborhood, and he and his buddy Alex roamed all around to places I hadn’t even gone.

 

One day when they were pre-teens, they wanted to build their own tree house, something that was between their houses. We lived on the east side of the ridge, and his family lived on the west, and so they wanted it in between. Right down at the lower end of our property was what we called The King Tree. This old maple must be about 200 years old; its four main trunks are covered with some kind of blight which has formed huge knobs all over it; and it was “Perfect!” according to Noah and Alex. At that time, I had a lot of work going on, and although he said, “Come on, Dad, let’s build that tree house,” I just didn’t have the time as I’d had when he was a toddler and we seamlessly had worked and played. When he was younger, everything had been an adventure with chopping wood equal to playing ball.

 

I pointed to the woodpile and said, “Listen, guys, there’s the wood you can use, pressure treated. It’s scrap, but still good.” I gave them an old hammer and a box of nails and said, “Have at it.” They did. From a distance I kept an eye and ear out, and periodically walked by and gave them a pointer like, “It would be advisable if you put a support under that section.” From time to time, they would come back and ask me what to do about some aspect they couldn’t quite fathom. To this day, pieces of their work still grace the gnarly branches; it’s nothing fancy, but they took my advice and did a good job. They played in The King Tree a lot, but agreed unanimously the best part of the tree house was the fact they had worked together and built it with them leading and me guiding.

 

Donald Slakie
I will always remember the day that Alex and Noah met... Amicalola Lodge had just opened. We were visiting for the first time. As we walked through the lobby, I saw you guys. We said our hellos and Alex and Noah made eye contact and I could see the immediate connection between the two. Sort of like two old souls meeting up again after a lifetime of separation. From that moment on, for the next four years, Alex and Noah were inseparable. It was always, “I’m going over to Noah’s,” or, “Noah’s coming over.” They spent hours, days, weeks, and months “playing hard” as Rick would say. I remember stringers of trout arriving at the house after Noah and Alex had “fished out” the pond at the base of the falls. Large bass from Dale’s Lake, forts built in the woods. Alex and Noah swinging on a tire rope hanging over the side of the mountain, on and on... I remember Noah’s last words to me as we left the party at Christmas last year. He said, “I’m happy that Alex is doing what he loves and tell him I support him totally.” Know that the world was made a little bit better place by your loving son.

 

~ I really loved that part of being a parent. As Noah grew, he started to stand on his own and become independent, but I guess because we had spent so much time together, he always came back to me when there were things he didn’t understand. At one of our very first armchair conversations out in my office, I could see that he was struggling with a confidence issue, maybe it was something about karate or wrestling or school, and I wanted him to have internal tools to call on when I wasn’t there with him. I always did my best to keep an eye on his progress, especially when dealing with the challenges of self-perception. At an early age, he began questioning his self-identity and grappling with the whole idea of “Who am I and why am I here?”

 

I taught him early that thoughts entertained in the heart can become reality. So he knew the importance of keeping only good and constructive thoughts in his mind. He used positive affirmations to keep his mind focused and to help him through troubled times. I feel blessed that he always listened so well and I was able to help him develop a spiritual perspective regarding life as well as an orientation to the teachings of Christ. I wanted him to know that we are both human and divine. We are here to live and to learn, and the struggles we encounter are for the purpose of edifying our souls. I always tried to help him keep his ego in balance by reminding him that the ancient teachings referred to the ego as the “counterfeit spirit.”

 

In this early stage of his development, I particularly enjoyed reading him the story, What Men Live By by Leo Tolstoy. It is a beautiful story of struggle, faith, and love that would always help Noah to feel secure in his own sense of destiny. He struggled, even when he was young, to overcome his weaknesses and to maintain a positive attitude about his progress so he could build a confident self-image. I wanted him to be able to deal with whatever challenges arose, and learn not just about facts, but about truth. As soon as he was old enough to understand, I told him that I was going to help develop him into a kind and gentle warrior.

 

At one point, he experienced being challenged by an older guy who was a bully. It shook his confidence, so I had him practice a two part statement that we fell into yelling each morning as he left with Lucy for school. I’d yell from the house as he walked away, “Are you a winner?"  And he would yell back, “Yes, I am a winner and I’ll tell you why. I have faith, courage, and enthusiasm.” I knew that if he could handle his challenges as a boy that he’d be prepared to face the more subtle and potentially devastating struggles that were bound to come as he grew. I didn’t want him to develop character flaws so I taught him to stay flexible and adaptable, and to avoid struggling against the challenges. I showed him how to gather his internal power and resources by “letting go and letting God” and how to move to a higher level and solve the problem there. We worked on his internal building blocks that would become the bricks in the wall of his leadership; he wanted to become a man of service, one who could take responsibility and lead from whatever position he happened to occupy.

 

Joe McCutchen (Newsletter)
Noah had lunch with me recently and he told me about his current tour of duty in Iraq as a lieutenant and platoon leader. He is excited about being in the Army infantry and fighting for the people of Iraq. Noah was a star football player and state wrestling champion in high school here in Ellijay; he is also a graduate of the University of Georgia. After he finishes his army service, Noah plans a career in real estate and politics. I hope I live to see Noah Harris elected President as he is a fine leader and a great American in every way.

 

~ One of the events I have looked back on often was when the GHS football coaches asked me to join their staff just as Noah entered high school, his ninth-grade year. This was volunteer work of motivating the team and watching over the young freshmen and sophomore players. At the time, I had a manufacturing consulting business which taught American manufacturers how to incorporate the principles of Lean Production, the Toyota manufacturing system. Part of the training for employees was motivational and performance oriented, so I brought these skills to the team that year as their motivational coach.

 

As any dad would be, I was excited to be there as my son began his high school football experience. The year of his middle school football had whetted my appetite to help him in whatever way I could. As it turned out, this particular year there were a couple of tough guys in the junior and senior classes who liked to pick on the younger players; I had to work overtime to keep everyone busy. When they weren’t practicing, I made sure that we were involved in something so no one had time to get into trouble. Every afternoon, I would give a little pep talk before the players went out to the field to get them fired up, and then I would encourage them all through practice and hang around on the sidelines so the guys would keep their minds on task.

 

If there was any lull in the activity, the older guys would start getting into shenanigans and pulling pranks. So, I was there to intervene. It was a rare experience for me, and I cherished the time I spent with Noah, seeing him develop on the field as he also got to see me at work; it was a new perspective for us both. We found that during the season our relationship as son and father got pushed to the background because I did not treat him differently from anyone else. He watched as I became buddies with some of the older guys and worked with the “roughest, toughest” guys in the school to keep them out of trouble and try to give them a sense of personal responsibility. I could feel his respect for me grow; I was no longer as square as he thought I had been.

 

Keyla Richards Manning (UGA Cheerleading Buddy Forever!)
I smile every time I see Noah's big smile in my mind.... Noah and I always connected... You guys are amazing parents and I know you already know this, but there was NO one in the world more special to Noah than you guys. And he always talked about how awesome you both were. I am very close to my parents as well, and it was great to share with someone about how cool your parents are!

 

~ I remember an incident that took place one afternoon that involved one of the senior guys who was known to be a tough guy, but I was friendly with him because he was kind of the jokester. Anyway, as we were walking off the field from practice, headed to the field house; the joker came up behind me and jumped on my back. He was gonna take me down, just having fun; but he was kind of pushing the envelope, being a little too familiar, having fun at my expense and checking me out at the same time. Well, my karate training kicked in from somewhere, because without thinking, I immediately reached up and got my hand under his arm, right at the elbow, and I pushed his arm up and ducked my head out from under.

 

Then, I slid my hand down his arm and grabbed his wrist and did a little pirouette and took him down to one knee. Next, just for fun, I acted like I was going to kick him in the face just to let him know what could have happened if I had wanted to unleash. Then, I laughed and gently “side-kicked” him on his way; he shook his blonde head and laughed and had a wide grin on his face, but you could see it was a big surprise! He couldn’t believe I’d taken him down so easily, and the rest of the guys saw it too. I heard a lot of whoops and hollers from behind. That day, I earned my credentials with the guys because no one ever messed with me again. Noah was there as always, taking it all in.

 

Noah (high school journal affirmation)
I will organize my notebooks, focus, pay attention to teachers; pretend I am in college; study hard @night, test or not. Stop watching TV, read: The Magic of Believing, Think Like DaVinci, An Incomplete Education, Time Management for Dummies. Carry a notebook with me to jot down ideas. Get up with the alarm clock every morning, start budgeting, make lists, learn to shop, learn to do my own laundry, clean room, keep it organized. Start managing my time and scheduling. Become cost conscious. Start a tithe and don’t touch it. It’s time to grow up; be mature, be friendly and sociable; don’t be obnoxious... be funny, not annoying. Say mantra/prayer 20x a day. Run or work out everyday; do sprints and lift hard. Be compassionate, stay full of energy, happiness, power, wisdom, and strength from the time I rise until the time I go to sleep.

 

Allen Fox (Gainesville, Ga.)
Noah was someone that you are blessed to come across once in a lifetime. While I only spent a summer with him in Washington interning for Congressman Nathan Deal, he made a lasting impact on my life. He had such an energetic personality that was welcoming to everyone he came across. He was wise beyond his years and I can remember his words about serving something greater than yourself...one of the most honorable people I have encountered. The student body of UGA, our military forces, and mankind can learn something from the example that Noah left us. I know I have.

 

~ It was great coaching: the Friday night games, walking out onto the field with the guys, and being there to encourage and watch as Noah began to play. He didn’t see much action that first year, so we got to spend a lot of time together, and I could observe him in practice and get to know him as an athlete along with his friends. He definitely showed me that he understood there is “No ‘I’ in Team.”

 

Noah (ninth-grade football, riding the bench)
My position? I charge up and down the sidelines and shout, “GATA, GATA, GATA!”

 

~ To this day, I see those players and they still call me coach. That was around the time when Noah first called me a name that stuck and made sense to him and his friends. When I would get a certain look on my face and start to deal with the inappropriate behaviors of the players, Noah would say, “Look out! Here comes Armageddon.” It would break the tension, but he was right. I was never afraid to bring it on if I thought the guys were out of line, and he was never afraid to crack a joke to ease the tension.

 

Lt. Josh Baine (UGA ROTC Buddy)
I knew Noah from the UGA Army ROTC program... He and I sat together our senior year at the military ball. His presence livened up the event. I just recently returned from duty in Kuwait... I had seen Noah at Camp Doha, Kuwait, in early June. He was returning from his R&R. The aerial point of debarkation is located at Camp Doha, so everyone that is heading “up north” to Iraq passes through. I saw Noah at lunch one day and we spoke briefly after an excited greeting; it is so great to see a familiar face overseas. The next morning we ran into each other at breakfast. I sat with him and some other guys returning from R&R. We talked about ROTC and what other students were up to. I remember him telling me why the 3rd ID had green name tapes and green backing for his rank and branch, usually used for the Battle Dress Uniform, while tan is the norm for the Desert Camo Uniform, that it was begun as a mistake since all the tan was gone and they were forced to use green backing. It quickly became a tradition...some of the guys we were eating with were making fun of that... Noah and I just sat there and laughed. He was always easy-going and made friends anywhere. The pictures in the AJC were fitting of Noah—smiling and looking like he was enjoying himself (in Iraq)...

 

~ On this one particularly important Friday night, I took a seemingly shiny galvanized bucket to illustrate my pre-game message. Except for me, no one knew the bottom of the bucket had just about rusted out. I said, “Listen, you guys are a team and you build your power as you work together and solidify; but if you get people who are working at odds with the team, it decompresses you as a unit.” I filled the bucket with water and said, “Now there’s a team, one cohesive unit, but if you get somebody who is not with the program, it’s like a hole in the bucket.” I pulled a screwdriver out of my pocket and rammed it into the bottom of the bucket three or four times and just stood there holding the bucket, watching their faces as they watched, all eyes just glued, watching as the water flowed out into the locker room. Some of them were probably thinking, “Man, he just ruined a good bucket,” but it made the point, and they always referred to that lesson with phrases like, “No more leaky buckets!”

 

It really made a point with all those guys who still call me coach, the ones who really didn’t need the lesson; and it revealed to me the ones who weren’t really listening. Noah watched it all, knowing that some guys just weren’t going to listen, but he darn sure was going to improve the way he did. I think that year he learned that we can become friends with the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. Through the thrill of success and the agony of failure, he became determined to be who he was. It certainly enhanced our armchair talks because he was confident I was going to help him stop the leaks in his own bucket. He told me or his mom just about anything and everything. Sometimes, it was just a matter of listening and telling him that what he was going through was okay, just a phase, not permanent, just his individual destiny unfolding. I told him that if he would think of it as a phase, he could work his way through it and figure out what had to be done in order to be successful and to move to the next level of growth.

 

Lt. Gerson Ramirez (Noah’s roommate in Iraq)
His politeness, charisma, and Southern hospitality immediately made me feel welcome to the company... He was continuously helping people solve their problems, as well as taking care of his platoon... I remember him helping some of his soldiers to get back in shape during his personal time. Noah was big on getting buff and most often he would flex his muscles in the room and say in a loud voice, “I’m getting swoll.” He gave me lots of nutrition tips and ways to stay in shape through workout routines. He was always on me about having too much sugar, and often talked to me about the importance of good nutrition. Noah was popular here, especially in the mail room where he was always getting tons of boxes that would fill the entire room. He cared very much for his soldiers and was eager to get out of the gate and lead them in missions... Noah passed the way heroes do in combat, fighting with his platoon, leading from the front—A True Warrior.

 

~ Once, when he was doing really well, I could tell his ego was swelling. Since I didn’t see the relationships he had with people at school, I didn’t have insight into how he was perceived. This gave me a unique perspective and clarity, and I could tell when there were things going on with him. I could tell that his head was swelling and I detected bravado in his voice with the undertone of his bragging, and I flat called him on it. “You’ve been reading your own press, haven’t you?” He looked at me with surprise and wanted me to explain. “You’ve done really well in sports and school, and you’ve even read about your achievements in the paper; and if you read your own press, you’re gonna start impressing yourself, and that means your ego is coming out of balance.”

 

That opened up a whole conversation. I told him that it was his life, his choice, his decision, but if he wanted to have a clear perspective about life and himself, he needed to subdue his ego/personality and to quiet its “chattering mind.” The "mind of the ego" is self-interested and self-indulgent; it keeps us from hearing the holy promptings that guide us from within. I reminded him that whenever we do anything, we need to do it in conjunction with God. He got that; and even though he often said he was glad he had me around to keep him in check, this time he got it enough to manage himself from then on. He always worked hard to make certain his ego never reared its ugly, arrogant head in the way it had that one time. And besides, he didn’t want to see Armageddon rear his ugly head either.

 

Noah (High School Journal)
The Magic of Believing is a book that made a great impression on me because it taught me the power of belief and thought, and that everything created or invented in this world originated from thought. It gave me an understanding of the tools I have with which to create my future and make my dreams come true. It also helped me understand that there are unlimited possibilities for the future and that with the correct attitude and determination, I can fulfill my destiny and make a positive contribution to any situation or environment in which I find myself.

 

~ Mom
It was great to watch; he just got better and better, more and more positive in thought, word, and deed. His eager heart became graceful and his personality was not just courteous, but truly cordial and light-hearted. Rick only had to remind him a few thousand times to live as a verb instead of a noun; but even when he was in middle school, we could see that the understanding of his mind was starting to saturate his heart and he could see that it was good to believe life is not a destination, but rather an attractive, winding road he intended to explore, taking all of his friends with him, planting seeds of joy along the way, and lighting torches of hope in the dark shadows. He was growing strong and he loved God, his family, his community, his country, and work/play. Noah was simply enthusiastic in a Carpe Diem kind of way; yet, I remember that it started in high school; when people complimented him, he always said in a soft, humble, almost nonchalant voice, “I do what I can.”

 

Joshua Carswell (Ellijay, Ga.)
Although I only had the pleasure of knowing Noah for a very short time, he was a senior my freshman year, I was lucky to have been able to share a class with him. Noah possessed so many positive qualities that I am unable to list them all, but from day one in that class I was immediately affected by his contagious personality. Noah's sincerity and generosity are two of the qualities I most remember him for. Noah would routinely stop by my desk to ask how I was doing and to offer an encouraging word. One day, while doing homework, I opened one of my books and a piece of notebook paper fell out and written in bold print were the words "THE SKY'S THE LIMIT." I asked Noah about it the next day and he just smiled... When a person thinks about all the qualities a man should possess, first, they think of dedication, then loyalty, generosity, sincerity, humility, diligence, intelligence, sensitivity and courage; then they think of Noah Harris.

 

Father Knows Best (Many newspapers, television, and Internet)
“Noah was the most contagious person I’ve ever met in my life,” Rick Harris said. “Five minutes with him and he’s your friend for life.”

 

 

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Chapter 6 - Simply Passionate

Football, Wrestling, Drama

 

 

Noah (Journal Entry 2001: “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven...”)

Remember Africa. Those with nothing, no food, no water, hopeless; yet, they still smile. How could I ever not smile, not be so happy? I am alive. I live in America. I have water whenever I need; I have food. Education. The list goes on and on. How could I ever be down? I know what I was put here for. Help others. I will politically and financially use my influence to change the world. Bring happiness into others’ lives. Make each person I see feel special. I will always capitalize on all opportunities to positively influence others’ lives. Worry about what I am giving and not what I am receiving. Act locally. Every moment ask myself, “What can I do to make this better?” Remember Africa.

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt (World War II)

He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die

That freedom might live, and grow, and increase in its blessings...

Freedom lives, and through it, he lives –

In a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

 

~GO BOBCATS!

When Noah got to high school, it seemed he “hit the ground running” and spent every moment expanding his conscious awareness and becoming more positive, confident, and cheerful. Growing like a tenacious tree that has been planted in perfect soil, Noah sank his roots and spread his limbs. “What can I do to get involved? How can I help? Let’s have fun!” was his wide-open, discover approach to situations and people, and so Noah never met a stranger. If he didn’t know you, he just always assumed you were family of a friend.

 

Noah Maxim

A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.

 

At the dentist's office:

Misty: “I loved the way Noah was so friendly.” Lori: “Yeah we always loved it when he came in after school because he made sure that he smelled good just for us... even put it on his appointment card to remember that special cologne.” Misty: “There was nobody in Gilmer County who didn’t know Noah. He was just like that, so friendly.”

 

Elene Rivers (GHS Library Assistant)

Noah ALWAYS went out of his way to make the day better for ME.

 

 

~ The benefit of attending a small-town school in a close-knit community is that if you want to participate, you can, because there’s always room for one more on most of the rosters. The coaches knew that Noah came into the ninth grade kind of scrawny, but they signed him up for weight training, and from then on, it seemed we had to buy Noah new pants every few months. He literally became so famous for splitting them that I always kept a spare pair of sweats on hand just in case he decided to pull a toe touch for the cheerleaders. At one of his tenth-grade wrestling matches, a lady sitting nearby pointed to him and said, “I hope my son doesn’t have to wrestle that guy in purple. He’s got legs like tree trunks.” It was true, he was getting huge, but it didn’t slow him down. Noah was growing in every way; and like a well-used knife blade, he just seemed to want to shine in use. He was into everything, trying it all on for size, looking for the perfect fit.

 

Linda Miller (GHS Drama Coach, Princeton reference letter)

...He writes poetry; he dances; he plays football; he takes top honors across the state in wrestling, and he stars in every major theater production while maintaining honor student status. When Noah commits, he is mind, body, and soul 150 passionate percent committed. He does not comprehend, “I cannot; I will not; I quit.”

 

Stephanie Rittenberry (Ellijay, Ga.)

I met Noah my freshman year in high school. He was a sophomore, and one of our mutual friends introduced us...on Homecoming night, I was on the court, and Noah came to my house after the game. Before he left that night, he kissed me and I thought I was in love...things did not work out for Noah and me, but we always remained friends... I would like to share one more thing with you. I baby sit for George and Kim Ralston and they have two children. They named the youngest child Noah after your Noah. Kim said that when she was pregnant with her Noah, she used to read the newspaper and your Noah was always in there for the things with school, like sports or academics or drama. Kim said that she thought, “Oh, what a nice young man. I think I will name my child Noah.”

 

~ Not everything fit perfectly. As a matter of fact, Noah went into permanent “retirement” from golf after his ninth-grade season, and with good reason. He confessed, “I don’t like golf because you can’t ‘smash’ the ball.” However, he continued to find his way in wrestling; and in football, he switched from the sidelines to the middle of the field, playing fullback and linebacker. He successfully transitioned from the MAT Team to advanced college prep classes, and for leadership, there was student senate and Beta Club; he also attended FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, so he could get what he called his “spiritual dose.” He was very busy, but there was room for one more “awesome” thing: drama. Who would have ever thought that the karate kid would find an outlet for his performance spirit through the GHS theatre program? He did, and so did Mrs. Miller! Honestly, he never got home before 7 p.m. the entire time he was in high school, but every day when he rolled up to the house and piled out of the car, he would go straight to his room, sit at his desk by the window that overlooked the creek, and do homework for one solid hour before eating. Then, we’d share a family dinner, and he’d go finish the rest of his work.

Ashlei Elizabeth Perry...Noah meant so much to so many people... he touched the lives of so many.  I remember one day I was practicing for lit meet in front of your class (Lucy's) and Noah was there.  I remember how nervous I was to perform in front of him because I looked up to him so much for his work in the past.  I did my piece and later Noah was critiquing me and was so sweet and gentle in his suggestions to me, and I remember how at ease he made me feel...He always had such a warm presence and a gentle spirit, and the way he lit up the room was amazing; his smile could make you forget your worries... 

~ We never had to force him to stay on track because when he was a little boy, attending a Gilmer High School graduation ceremony, he had asked, “How come the students sitting up front have a shiny thing around their necks?” When he learned that it was because each had maintained an “A” average, at that moment, Noah Harris decided he was going to wear gold when he graduated. It became a “Team Family” effort and everybody was involved. It was “one for all and all for one” and a whole lot of fun. One time Rick was finishing the paint on one of the sets just as the audience was entering the theater; and one summer, Noah’s spotting partner couldn’t make it to a mandatory lifting session, so he asked Mama Lucy to spot him. It was a hilarious workout until he put so much weight on each end that the bar was bending in the middle and his mom got kind of freaked out. With sweat streaming down his face, Noah had to explain another simple physical science lesson to keep the workout on track. Whenever he went to an out-of-town wrestling tournament or drama event, or even on a family trip, Mom and Dad did the driving so that he could study or memorize lines. Pop Pop still laughs about the vacation in Florida during which he was running dialog lines with Noah the entire weekend.

 

Linda Miller (college reference)

Several years ago, I asked Noah to accept a lead role for which he would only have two weeks to prepare. This meant that he would have to learn almost 100 pages of dialogue over his Thanksgiving holiday. Noah pulled it off! Most students would have thought I was crazy to have asked for such a feat, and few could have gotten the job done in such short time with so few rehearsals, but willingness to confront the difficult stands out as one as Noah’s strongest academic traits. He welcomes what is most challenging; he is fearless when faced with difficulties. Noah is inherently a team player and enjoys being part of something larger than himself.

 

Noah’s bio on The Boys Next Door program

Noah Harris (Norman Bulansky – an over weight, handicapped man who constantly deals with being taken advantage of and with his developing affections for a mentally handicapped woman), a junior, has performed in The Lottery, Noises Off, Heaven Can Wait, Cahoots, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Slow and Steady. Noah believes that theater has helped him communicate more openly with others. A Four Star International Thespian and the 1997-98 Governor’s Honor Nominee in theater, Noah says that theater is an important part of his life. His other interests include football, wrestling, running track, hiking, swimming, rock climbing, reading, spending time with his friends, and going for long “rides” down dirt roads. His awards and honors include first place in many wrestling tournaments, first place in the Amicalola Electric Washington Youth Tour Essay Contest, Mr. GHS, and participation in the Foreign Exchange to Russia. He would like to thank God, his parents, his friends, his Pop Pop, and his Grandma (Geri/Crickett) - “I know you are with me,” as well as Coach Snider, Coach Mark Pettit, Coach John Petitt, Coach Wingo, Coach Mandeville, Coach Stowe, Coach Thompson, Coach West, Coach Dubose and Coach Abbott.

 

~ Just as he stress-tested his opponents and the furniture in his home, Noah was always out “to push the envelope.” Because of his other athletic achievements, many people forget that, for a while, he was one of the first of a crop of solid GHS pole vault competitors. However, about the time he hit 12-feet-6-inches, he got so big that he snapped his favorite pole, landed funny, and realized that a 189 wrestler had better protect his knees. He didn’t quit track, but stayed on the ground, running the 100, many relays, and throwing. Anyone who saw it remembers the time a female cheerleader on the North Forsyth County track team challenged him to a back handspring duel. On that sun-drenched spring afternoon, she went first, hitting an impressive six consecutive; and then the hometown crowd, including Coach Snider, stopped what they were doing and counted for Noah as he hit “...six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven.” Then, he fell flat on his back and everybody laughed, especially the astonished cheerleader from Forsyth.

 

Michael Britton (Blue Ridge, Ga.)

I knew Noah as an opposing wrestler from Fannin. I remember his focus and strength during the match, and his kindness and friendship after the match. The strength, kindness and inspiration he gave to the world will never stop touching our lives.

 

~ While at GHS, Noah practiced his philosophy, “100 percent, 100 percent of the time.” The results were mostly good although there were quite a few contusions, finger jams, and abrasions. Some people might call his style “learning the hard way,” but he seemed to enjoy knocking off the rough edges and polishing his vision. On the weekends he wasn’t wrestling or rehearsing, with his ever-present journal in his backpack, he was out in the mountains with an older drama buddy, Daryl Clark, kayaking and mountain climbing; and he spent a lot of time up on Bear Creek, biking through the purple rhododendrons and mud bogs with Brian Martin and “Heaslip,” Noah’s nickname for his buddy Brian. 

 

Mikey Bramlett (He always had Noah’s back!)

We knew that Noah was going into politics...we had ruled out anything national because of our “extra-curricular” weekend activities. People in Georgia might understand and think it was funny we had to hike five miles in the dark on Rich Mountain because Jason Walker hit a pothole so hard on Mountain Town Heights that it ripped apart a wheel and the front drive shaft... we weren’t being destructive; we were just having fun. We knew better than to tell Rick about the time Noah took the Corolla up there to a camp out...with me riding the roof.

 

~ Noah was a genuine student, in the sense that he was always interested in learning and broadening his understanding; and he was calmly fierce about going after goals. He started applying for colleges and scholarships when he was in the eleventh grade; and he kept the guidance office busy sending his transcript to every school he thought might be a perfect match for him and his talent, goals, and vision. Of course, he told everyone he wanted to play football, and a lot of schools looked at him and he looked at them, but after he was accepted at UGA, he pretty much made up his mind. He wanted to stay close to home and maybe walk on for the Bulldogs.

 

Noah: (Wallet message from Sun Tzu, Art of War)

I need to always have a purpose to focus on to keep my attention off myself.

 

Noah and Mom and Dad

“I’m going to take the SAT one more time.”

“Son, you’ve already taken it three times, and you’ve been accepted to Georgia; Princeton already acknowledged and accepted your scores.”

“I know, but I just think I can do better.” And he did; that fourth time earned him a presidential commendation.

 

Nancy Spears: (Senior AP English instructor and Beta Club sponsor)

I find that Noah is a leader in class discussions; he will support an unusual view of a topic to encourage debate. Often, Noah’s open approach to thinking about literature inspires other students to be more expressive with their thoughts. I look forward to having Noah in class....he is loyal to his friends and to his team. I have seen him go out of his way to help a friend or the team, even to the point of putting himself in a more difficult position...

 

Noah (Senior poem, untitled)

To walk a path so strongly my own,

Against all obstacles and hurdles in the way,

One in which destination and outcome are unknown,

Struggles outside, but the main is within and won’t go away,

I must proceed, eyes focused ahead, with no fear.

No matter what, I’m not alone;

I walk with the one who will always be there.

 

Al Summers (Times Courier Editorial)
I personally knew an American Hero. I shook Noah Harris’ hand. I could call him by name. He addressed me using “Mr.” and “Sir.” He was always smiling. When I was a kid, it was a big thing to go around school and brag about who you knew or who you met. Meeting the governor or a sports celebrity gave you exclusive bragging rights for a week. As I have gotten older, “bragging” has given way to “having the honor of meeting or knowing.” I knew Noah, and it was, indeed, an honor to know him. I remember Noah “The Night Train” Harris as a dangerous running back in the Gilmer High School backfield. My good buddy David Westmoreland bestowed the “Night Train” label on him when he and I used to do Bobcat football games on WLJA on Friday nights. (Dick “Night Train” Lane was a standout for the Detroit Lions. He was a hard hitter on the gridiron.) I even made a cassette tape of “Happy Go Lucky Local” (AKA “Night Train”) from the “Back to the Future” soundtrack and we played it when Noah scored a touchdown. We wore that tape out. Even then, Noah was special. When the Cats needed tough yardage, they looked to big #27—and he delivered. He was a high school state wrestling champion. I kidded him once that he should wear a mask and have himself introduced as “The Night Train,” hailing from parts unknown, but if you must know it is somewhere between Bucktown and Noontootley (North Georgia locales). If his size and prowess didn’t intimidate his opponent, then the fact that he was from “parts unknown” might. He gave me that big smile of his. He accomplished all of this while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average and graduating from GHS as an honor graduate...He did not talk the talk. He walked the walk.

 

 

~ Lucy: Mrs. Miller’s “Freshman”

Anyone who came to our house around Christmas had to sit down and watch my all-time favorite movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Noah could sing all the words of “Buffalo Gals” and he knew most of Jimmy Stewart’s lines and performed them frequently. Because of his gymnastics background, he brought dimension to the GHS stage; he wasn’t afraid to roll around, teeter on the edge, or take a fall. He was excited when he was accepted into theater, but he got a lot more than he bargained for because one teacher who was determined to compress Noah’s enthusiasm into humble, focused passion was Mrs. Linda Miller. He was the first ninth-grader she accepted into her program, and she made sure that he knew who was boss when she intentionally branded him “Freshman.”

 

Mrs. Miller (Her assessment of Noah’s interpretation of Nicholas Nickleby)

Noah, my grandmother always told me, from whom much has been given, much is expected. You have a gifted ear for dialects, intensely focused energy, a voice that is heart-breakingly beautiful. We must cut 2:30, so tighten up, tighten up... TIGHTEN UP!

 

~ It kind of shook him up that some of the older students didn’t even seem to know he had another name than “FFRREESSHHHMAN!” and that he had been designated the unofficial pack animal for carrying flats, props, and anything else someone older didn’t want to carry. Sometimes he would get in the car after a rehearsal and start to grumble, but then he’d get to laughing about something that had happened and he’d return to the clear understanding that Ms. “M” loved each and every one of her kids in a tough way that guaranteed growth. Noah said many times, “Mrs. Miller is like me, all about the body, heart, mind, and soul.” He loved the challenge. It was new territory, but he took to it like he went after everything else. When he ended up with a leading role in the comedy Noises Off because another student had to back out at the last minute, we were so excited at his good fortune. During the rehearsals, as he struggled to get into character at the level of the older students with whom he was working, everybody could see that he had caught the bug and that Mrs. Miller had become his second Mama.

 

Orphans

Linda Miller (1998)

As an English teacher of 23 years, I can speak strongly to the outstanding qualities that Noah Harris possesses as a student...with 60 points, he attained the rank of Honor Bar Thespian; but Noah topped even that honor to become the only 100 point Honor Bar Thespian I have coached in 23 years. To translate, this represents over 1000 hours of theater work. Countless shows, late hours, long hours, I have worked with Noah under every imaginable condition. I have seen him at his best; passionately struggling with characterization, confidently portraying this work on stage, and interacting with other students encouraging their best work... I have seen him at his worst; frustrated, hungry, exhausted, angry, or working with people who had not earned his respect. In short, I feel I know him almost as well as I do my own children. The two words that come to mind when I describe Noah are “diverse” and “tenacious.” ...During one of our Christmas shows (Noah’s tenth grade), Noah called on a Friday afternoon from out of town to tell me that he had a good chance of placing first in a two day wrestling tournament. It was with absolute resolve that I decided if he did not return for the Saturday evening show in which he starred, I would willingly cancel the show and return the ticket money rather than force him to choose between theater and wrestling...On Saturday, I was awed when he rushed to greet me, just a little late for “make up.”

 

Vince Little (Times Courier)

Victimized by his own versatility, Harris had already been cast in the lead role of Heaven Can Wait which was staged Saturday evening at Gilmer High School as the grand finale to the annual “Light Up Ellijay” celebration. The presentation itself conflicted with the finals of the wrestling tournament. “I was a little upset because I believe I could have beaten that guy (from North Hall),” said Harris. “Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to face him later... At least the wrestling meet took away all my nervousness for the play.”

 

~ When Noah looked at his name on the finals brackets at that tournament, I could tell that the sweet smell of victory was fogging his heart and mind. He was deeply conflicted, almost in physical pain because he saw that the matches were scheduled to begin at the exact moment the curtains would open on Heaven Can Wait. We were at North Georgia College in Dahlonega, an hour-and-a-half drive from the stage and needed to leave immediately, but I wanted him to make up his own mind. I deferred to Noah’s coaches and Pastor Frank Colloday who happened to be there to support everyone. Noah hadn’t won a big tournament since the eighth grade, and he really wanted to take his shot at this one. He was struggling, but suddenly, his face brightened, “Maybe the guy will agree to wrestle early.” I wasn’t going to be the one to dash his hopes, and neither were the coaches, the tournament director, or Frank. They told him, “Go for it.”

 

It was comical watching from across the gym as Noah tried to talk that guy into wrestling early instead of getting an automatic forfeit win. Noah was animated, but the other guy’s body language and hand gestures demonstrated that he thought Noah had lost his mind. He wasn’t going to give away a free tournament victory because Noah had to leave. Noah was always learning that the true spirit of competition is when you compete with people and not against them. I remember the pride I felt as Noah shrugged, laughed, and shook his opponent’s hand. I knew he had made his decision as he turned and jogged toward his bag of equipment. He gave everybody one of his famous bear hugs, and then we ran for the car. It was a tough choice, but a good one as Noah starred in nine plays and even portrayed a back-flipping squirrel at the annual children’s play; he loved the way his antics made the little kids squeal with delight.

 

That night, everyone loved Noah as the angel quarterback, “Joe.” It was perfect type-casting because “Joe” was a muscle-bound nutrition nut, like Noah, famous for his food concoctions. Noah was no stranger to Joe’s “...whey, alfalfa sprouts, and spinach,” and his favorite line from the play seemed to fit his lifestyle. “Every question of life is a probability until the outcome.” I’ll always remember that “Joe” told his true love, just as Noah always told Ashley, “There's nothing to be afraid of.” It was a personal best kind of experience that he carried in his conscience just as his role as Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker taught him to study and listen to our culture's heroes.

Helen Keller

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

~ If I had to pick a favorite Noah performance, it would probably be “Norman” in The Boys Next Door. Because Noah was physically fit, Mrs. Miller adjusted his character so that the 35-year-old Norman had cerebral palsy as well as the mental age of a five-year-old. Noah had to study hard for the performance, and he got into character by putting rocks in his shoes and spending time with Ms. Rhonda Pavlosky’s special kids (Gilmer High School). I knew all the work was worth it when my good buddy Louise Newberry (GHS math teacher) cried from the moment he walked onto the stage until the very end, even through the funny parts, because he hit the nail on the head and his performance spoke to her, as it did to all who saw it, about the dignity of humanity. It was beautiful. Ironically, it was from that play that many of his buddies picked up and used the nickname “Fatboy” because he had to wear a body suit to create a heavy look. Noah never minded and even used it as a source of humor for the rest of his life. He told me many times when he finished a two-mile run during Ranger Challenge at UGA or training at Fort Benning, he crossed the finish line laughing, “Fatboy, coming through.”

 

Noah (As “Norman Balansky” in The Boys Next Door

Hello, My Name is Norman Balansky. Welcome to my home....Doughnuts! Everybody... Free doughnuts!

 

Louise Sweat (Drama patron, Gilmer County teacher, Lucy’s friend)
It was a privilege to have known Noah even though it was just from the audience. The Boys Next Door was my favorite. I’ll never forget the poignancy of the dream sequence (Noah showed off his ballroom dancing skills). Noah had such talent. My favorite memory of Noah: He was on break from college and came by to see a rehearsal of Pygmalion. Linda (Mrs. Miller) invited Noah to come on stage. I heard him, in his wonderful unassuming way, telling the young men to remember they were of the upper class and to show their posture and bearing.

 

~ As the only 4-year senior drama student, Noah had the honor of directing and starring in a play of his choice. He chose Orphans because the cast was small and seemed easy to direct, and he had always wanted to play the part of “Harold.” To him, the role was huge in the sense that Harold was drunk in one scene, tied up in another, died of a gunshot wound, but was fatherly, humorous, and wise throughout. He asked me to help him with it, and we loved the tender warmth of how three unlikely characters grew to be a family; the only hard part was helping Noah to cut the swear words out of the script. There was never any “cussing” on Mrs. Miller’s stage.

 

Melinda Bailey Abercrombie (GHS cheerleader and Noah’s female lead)

I thought of all the times we stood on the stage together. I thought a lot about how, as “Alice,” I crawled up into his lap and cried on his shoulder as “Harold” passed away in Orphans. Harold taught Alice so much, and Noah taught me so much, too.... He was always a leader and an example for others.

~ In retrospect, of great comfort to me is the memory of one of his roles, the sudden remembrance of which always stops me in my tracks; I have to shake my head sometimes when I remember that he played “Job” in the competition play JB. During the course of the play, McLeish’s healthy, affluent, charming character, true to the bible, undergoes a mighty test of his faith in God and goodness as he loses all worldly possessions, suffers having family members torn from his grasp, is tormented with horrible skin afflictions, and finally blown up. At the time, I remember, Mrs. Miller told Noah it was up to him to make the audience believe that a “...gorgeous hunk” of a leading man understood such suffering; and she also told him it was his job to “believe” for the audience so they would experience the courage and integrity that JB found in his faith, that God can always be found in the love humans share with each other. I’ve thought about it long and hard; no matter what any critic could ever say, I am sure that Noah pulled it off. In the drama section of the 1999 Gilmer High School annual, Noah quotes Muhammed Ali, "Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them--a desire, a dream, a vision."  

 

A Real Love Letter from Justin Myrick

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Harris,
One of the most memorable moments of my life came in the summer of 1997, when my Ellijay Church youth group went to SuperWow. I think we had about 25-30 of us on that trip, and the week was designed to help students learn more about God, how they can know Him, and tell others about Him. I know that was the design, but I don't remember anything about those large group meetings or preaching times. But what I do remember has carried with me ever since. One night after large group we all got together for a fun activity, and I believe we chose ultimate frisbee. It started off fun just like any game with teenagers would, but as the game went on, so did the competitive drive! I don't know exactly what caused it, but I distinctly remember two young men nearly in a fist fight and us all having to hold them back: Chris and Noah! They never threw a punch but boy were they angry! The game phased out and it was clear to everyone they were both still furious with one another. Well shortly after our youth pastor, Tim, gathered us all up in a big circle.  It was quiet and he wasn't talking. We were all curious what was about to happen. Tim then brought out a bucket of water and a few rags, and set it all in the middle of the circle. We sat and listened to Tim challenge us to follow the example of Jesus and wash each other's feet. He walked away and sat in the circle himself. Then there was silence. It was awkward for sure, and I was starting to think we would all just be sitting there staring at a bucket until Tim called it a night.

 

Then came the unexpected. As nearly everyone was probably thinking how silly this idea was, a young man stood up and began to make his way toward the bucket. It got serious real quickly because that young man was your son, Noah. It got serious because Noah had earned respect of his peers and was looked up to by so many. And it got serious because everyone was wondering whose feet he was going to wash! Noah slowly took that bucket and a rag and then did something I'll never forget. He walked right up to Chris, took his shoes and socks off, and washed his feet. In that moment he literally washed the feet of his enemy. They were furious with one another! Noah displayed an act of humility and love that to this day I don't know I've seen a better example.

 

God has reminded me of this moment often over the years, and I'm forever grateful for that. I'm forever grateful for Noah, and that day he showed me how to humble myself and consider others better than me. He showed me in that moment how to love those that may not love me back and are possibly even angry with me. He showed me how to do what God is asking all of us to do regardless of what others may think, or how silly it may sound or look. He showed me that life is always better when you obey. He showed me that the way of Jesus is unlike anything the world has ever seen, and it's powerful. We all watched as tears flowed from Chris and Noah's faces. No words needed to be spoken. They forgave one another and were brothers once more. Noah inspired everyone that day, and it was clear, as student after student followed his example to wash another's feet. I'm not sure who else remembers that night, but I'm serious when I say it has had the most significant impact on my life. Noah did that... Love, Justin

 

From Noah’s favorite Poem, “Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson

My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.

 

~ King of the Prom
People laugh when they hear that Noah may have been the only student at Gilmer High School to attend all four proms, and that he was crowned Mr. GHS his junior year. He could roll in the mud, bust the seat out of his pants, and handle a nail gun, but he never minded dressing up and displaying his refined side; and he loved to boogie. The first two proms he attended with one of his best buddies, the Bobcat, Amy Sanford. He really admired her insane cheer antics, and she inspired him to reach beyond the traditional role of the academic athlete on campus. He was excited to celebrate life and sought out the same kind of people, so it was natural that he and Amy connected.

 

I remember the day I was walking from my classroom to the car where he was supposed to be meeting me for the ride home. There he was, sitting on the sidewalk in front of the school, in a big circle of prom workers with both hands full of pizza. It was a “set up” because as soon as I came into view, I was overwhelmed by a gang of juniors asking me, “Please, Mrs. Harris, can Noah help? We need some muscle to finish these decorations. The prom is in two weeks and we’re behind.” Amy, the Bobcat, was right in the middle giggling, “I’ll bring him home. Don’t worry.” I was outnumbered.

 

When Noah got home, he burst into the house; he could barely contain himself, “Mom, Dad, I’m going to the prom with Amy! She needs a date, and I need to dance. Okay?” I was just about to launch into my top ten list of why he couldn’t go when I was outvoted again. We all loved Amy, and Rick felt that if he had been invited and accepted that it was time to let him grow up a little bit. He had a “life of the party” experience with Amy, so they went as friends again the next year. Noah was always serious about girls, but he was never serious about “getting serious,” and since Amy felt the same way about dating, they had a great run.

 

Noah’s true love, Ashley, remembers that when they met at UGA, she was impressed by Noah’s joyful, animated dancing. All of her friends always wanted Noah to come to their parties because he loved to whoop it up with happy folks. When they went out on the town, Noah made them feel safe and, for all his exuberance, being a gentleman was important to him. He was taught by Rick to feel protective of women in general. Ashley laughs about the time they were out on a double date in Atlanta, and Noah didn’t like the way Ashley’s girlfriend’s date was behaving. Ashley says that all of a sudden, Noah turned to the guy and said, “You have three seconds to apologize.” Then he started counting like a referee in a boxing ring, pointing, “1... 2...” and, of course, before Noah got to three, the guy said, “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

 

Noah (Affirmation for Interacting with UGA Cheerleaders)

C and S – Celebrate and Serve!

 

~ Sometimes Noah got the order mixed up. He’d celebrate before doing the service, but his heart was in the right place. Though he didn’t know until the last years of his life that he was going to be a warrior for America, it was always obvious that he believed in the concept of being a hero and following a high code of ethics. I will always remember how Noah would pop into my busy, noisy classroom, and if he couldn’t get my attention, I’d hear, “Lucy... Lucy... Miss Mommy!” And all of my students would start laughing and then get quiet because they wanted to hear our personal business. Sometimes he needed money or that spare pair of pants; and it was always, “Whatcha got to eat, Mom?” To this day, I make sure I have a jar of peanut butter and a box of crackers in the closet whenever I’m with students because Noah taught me to never allow hunger to become an impediment to learning.

 

Noah was a big, tough guy, but he always hugged and kissed me in front of anyone, or he’d sneak up behind me and kick the back of my locked knee so that it would buckle, and he loved to put me up over his head for a laugh. I will always cherish my memories of him, as Mrs. Miller put it, “...going down the halls, scooping up kids and making them feel good about themselves.” He always crooked his elbow so that I or one of my friends, or one of his friends could link arms and lean on him; and he was so busy that he didn’t even have time to be concerned with disappointments. He just kept following his bliss and pursuing his interests. He won the state science fair because he was concerned about water, resources, and mountains. We always taught him that if you pull your weight, great things will happen.

 

~Ambassador Noah

“Mom, I’m going to Russia this spring.”

“What? Who said so?”

“Mrs. Ross. She says. I told you about it last summer. Remember that water-treatment camp I went to?”

“The one that fit between wrestling and football and kayaking with Daryl? I had to wash your clothes twice to get out the red clay stains.”

“That’s the one. We were in the river every day. Anyway, I went to that camp because I won the state science fair. You remember the macro-invertebrates?”

“I remember you chasing me around the yard with a giant crawdad.”

“Yeah. That was awesome!”

“Is this something about Coca-Cola?”

“That’s who is funding the trip. I’ll be a youth ambassador.”

“Wait a minute. Where?”

“Don’t worry Mom. Dr. Stallings’s going to tell you all about it.”

“I thought you said Sandra Ross.”

“Dr. Stallings is the one with the plan.”

I tried to look excited for him as thought to myself, “That’s what I’m afraid of.” I’d heard the good doctor espouse to teachers and kids alike, “Don’t talk about it; do it.”

Noah said, “He believes in American kids touching science and the world.”

The next day, Mark Stallings walked into my room as he often did, but this time instead of telling me the latest early Internet joke and laughing his head off with that booming, hall-echoing mirth, he said, “So, this is what you’re going to do.” Talk about cut to the chase, but that was his way and probably why he got so much accomplished. He got you to agree and moved on to the next play before you even reached for the penalty flag in your back pocket.

“What!?”

“You are going to host a Russian student in your home for three weeks in November, and then in March, Noah is going to his house in Russia.”

“In our little house? The only spare room we have is Rick’s office.”

“Perfect! This is the chance of a lifetime you know. Noah’s going. He made up his mind when I said, ‘trip.’”

I fought the urge to cover my mouth with my hand as I mumbled, “I know.”

 

Russia Group

Lex Rainey (Noah’s high school principal and lifelong friend)

In high school, you seldom see a student who crosses the boundaries of theater, athletics, and academics and not only excel but become the leadership, the heart and soul of each of these groups. Whether he was pinning or leading, Noah was there, ready, willing, and out front. He kept you on your toes. In conversations, Noah had a way of looking at you with that twinkle in his eye, and you’d leave and wonder, “Now what is he up to?” At the same time, he knew his boundaries and his expectations and what his parents’ expectations were. He knew that others counted on him, and as always, Noah was there and delivered the very best.

 

~ I was the one who got him all excited about the verse from Tennyson’s Ulysses: “I am part of all that I have met; yet all experience is an arch where through gleams that un-traveled world, whose margin fades forever and forever when I move.” I wanted him to be passionate about moving into a broad experience of life, but on this one, I worried about what my meticulous, mountain-hermit husband would have to say about having a student in his office in November. Rick had already agreed that a former foreign exchange student, our old friend Akane, could have his office over the Christmas holiday. Akane and Taka Miura, of Toyota City, Japan, spent their honeymoon at our house over Christmas vacation that year. My worries were needless, and it all worked out.

 

Before we knew it, Misha Stukalo had taken up residence in the office, a tall, lanky friend for life with an easy smile and the desire to go into business so he could help Russia’s economy when he finished at the university. I remember how Noah and I and the other sponsors took Misha and the other members of the Russian entourage to every place we could think of they didn’t have in Russia. They all loved Six Flags, Underground Atlanta, and UGA; but the place we went to most was Wal-Mart. They loved to just wander up and down the isles for hours, picking up items, whistling at the prices, examining gadgets and products they’d never seen.

 

Noah (Essay on the UGA application)

...the one experience that daily inspires me to strive to be the best student and citizen I can possibly be was the Ecobridge Youth Ambassador Exchange with Russia. When I first got involved with the project, to me it was all about testing water and getting to travel to a distant land... I was anxious about how it would turn out... For three weeks, Misha Stukalo was completely dependent on me for everything... we spent a lot of time together and traveled many places. The barrier of language was a bit of a struggle, but we managed to overcome it with gestures and smiles. He became a part of every aspect of my family’s and my high school’s life; and our experience together impacted everyone. Students and teachers would ask him questions until he was completely worn out, and then I would take him home and feed him his favorite American foods, potato chips and bananas... My adventure in Maikop will live forever in my mind. I spent time roaming the halls of the Russian schools, eating exotic foods, and sharing the freedom of America with others who I could tell were excited to hear about it. The people that I met were some of the most hospitable in the world, and I know that this boy from the mountains of Georgia will always be a part of their memories. I am proud that I was a positive ambassador of America and that I helped others in my community and on the other side of the world to have the chance to see that people are more similar than they are different... In my own small way, I feel that I have contributed to world peace, and it is my commitment to continue to do so.

 

~ The other top priority for the Russian students was wanting to see American football, and Noah was quite a star with them because he was on the team. He kept trying to tell them not to expect much, that he rode the bench a lot because he was only in tenth grade and didn’t play as much as the older guys with more experience. They didn’t care, they just kept chanting, “Noah, Noah, Noah!”

 

Belva Kinney (Gilmer Granny)

...Aaron Wood’s grandmother...I can’t get this young man (Noah)...out of my mind. Noah probably didn’t know that he was a hero before he went to Iraq...He was Aaron’s hero when he took him under his wing in school and football.

 

~ On the Friday night Misha and his countrymen attended, the whole town was really excited because if the Bobcats won this game, they would officially have the best winning season record in quite a while. It was a long shot because the other team was looking to win the area championship. However, it had been raining and the Bobcats were in high spirits, “...trying to plug the holes in their bucket.” The first score went to Gilmer and the crowd went wild, but the other team scored quickly. We yelled our heads off as possession went back and forth until right before half time; the score was tied seven to seven and the other team was on the ten-yard line pushing for a touchdown. It was looking grim, but undaunted, the cheerleaders and the Bobcat crowd rumbled, “GATA, GATA, GATA!” The Russians yelled, “Noah, Noah, Noah!”

 

Touchdown #27

Suddenly, as if to answer the cheering, Noah charged from the sidelines into the game, and I thought to myself, “Hmm, maybe a trick play.” When the referee blew the whistle to start, almost immediately the quarterback of the other team fumbled the ball, and there was a mêlée of white and purple jerseys scrambling. Then, a lone purple jersey popped up and started running toward the Bobcat goal line. I listened for the whistle and watched for a flag, but none came. We were all cheering ecstatically, and when the runner got into the open field, I knew by the slightly pigeon-toed galloping gait that it was Noah. Followed by a pack of purple jerseys that kept running interference for him, he ran unobstructed toward the goal line and we cheered louder and louder because everybody could tell that with each step, he was running out of gas.

 

The Russian kids were going nuts as Noah seemed to get taller and taller as he ran. We all knew he was sucking wind, and for a moment we thought he might not make it when he seemed to stumble in a hole, but he regained his balance and finally crossed the goal line, 81 yards for the touchdown that sealed the deal. It destroyed the sails of the other team and they just never got going again. Coach Thompson said, “Way to go Noah, but my grandmother runs faster than that.” We all laughed, and Noah later explained that he knew the Bobcats were behind him but he was unused to running that far with the ball in a game; he just ran with all his heart.

 

Noah

I saw the ball pop out and I thought about just falling on it; I knew that’s what I was supposed to do, but I had such a clear shot on the ball. I thought to myself, “Why not pick it up and run?” The whole way, I kept thinking that I was going to get outrun; so I didn’t pace myself and when I finally got into the end zone it was all I could do to keep from falling down.

 

Original Noah maxim:

“Shift Gears and Floor It!”

 

GHS 1998 Football program

Noah Harris, Senior, FB, LB 6’, 200lbs.

 

~ We always had a good laugh about those statistics because when he was in high school, he was 5’10” and weighed more like 180. The funny thing is that people believed he was a “beast,” and by the time he was a senior, everywhere he played, his reputation had preceded him.

 

A. SCOTT (Dahlonega, Ga.)

I played football against you and one time I was unlucky enough to meet you on the mat (not fun).

 

Coach Thompson (Times Courier)
Former GHS head football coach Mike Thompson remembered Harris as “one of the most well-mannered, very determined young men I have ever had the chance to be around. He was very optimistic about everything.” Thompson added, “Noah was the type of person who liked to help people...He was a special person.

 

~ The fumble recovery story had some profound ramifications. The next week when Noah went to an Ecobridge luncheon at the Coca Cola Company in Atlanta, during introductions, Lex Rainey told the jovial sponsor about Noah’s exploits in the previous game; an instant friendship formed that lasted throughout Noah’s life. The day Noah met the senior vice-president of Coke, he knew he had met a great human being, and from the tenth grade forward, it was his goal to first follow in those footsteps and then to try to fill them. He was so excited when he got home, “Mom, I have met my philanthropist role model, Mr. Earl T. Leonard.” At the time, we didn’t know who Earl was, but we soon heard Noah calling him “Papa” in phone conversations, and we could tell Noah had met a counselor who really cared about developing leaders with vision. Mr. Leonard was that “perfect” stranger who always fed Noah’s huge appetites for food and fellowship. They’d meet at a nice restaurant where Earl would open doors and show Noah parts of the world he had not seen as well as soften the stark reality that his wise advice sometimes delivered.

 

Earl was able to nudge Noah toward a higher vision as well as challenge him to work hard on developing precise decision-making tools and rigorous goal-setting practices; it was Earl who taught Noah to network and listen to each individual he encountered, that true leadership arises from strong relationships which in turn create environments in which seemingly impossible dreams can be made possible. That’s why he sent a young man from a small town in North Georgia to serve as an ambassador to Russia.

 

Noah (e-mail to Dr. Chris Cornwell, Terry College, about Earl)

The reason he is such a great mentor isn’t just the opportunities and connections he has provided for me, but rather the example he has set. During the time he spends with me, without realizing it, he pours out his wisdom and knowledge in a totally selfless manner.

 

~ Earl taught Noah that the children of the world were all his sons and daughters and some day they would be Noah’s. It was kind of like Noah had been accepted into a finishing school, and we were so glad Earl took the time to put his footprint on the back of Noah’s neck and confirm for him that a true leader serves, not for the love of success, but as a result of unconditional love of his fellows. Noah valued their relationship so much that Earl was the one who was able to help him through some tough issues. When Noah went to a pre-qualifying, football combine, and the trainers told him that although he was exceptionally strong, pretty quick, and had a great vertical jump, all he qualified for at most big schools was “tackle dummy.” Undaunted, Noah went to Papa for advice, “Mr. Leonard, I think I should walk on. What do you think?” Earl was the one to help him see the big, reality picture, “Son, you have a lot of talents that you are going to use to help a lot of people, and I want you to graduate from UGA with your teeth.”

 

Noah, “From Russia with Love”

Hi Guys,

I had a safe and very interesting trip over here. I didn’t sleep for the first 40 hours of the trip. The flight to Moscow took about ten hours; then we had a 24 hour train ride, and finally ended up with a six hour bus ride. Misha has extremely nice parents and a big, beautiful house. They seemed to enjoy all our presents. You don’t have to worry about me being hungry. I have been fed so much food. They offered me caviar, but you know about me and fish. Caviar is only 120 dollars for 500 grams... I miss you guys a lot, but I have made so many friends on this trip. I am having a great time. I LOVE YOU! Try not to miss me too much! Love, Noah

p.s. To prove authenticity: Garlic Fart (Secret Family Password)

 

Rick to friends

“He never missed an opportunity to be a wise guy and crack a joke. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

 

The Stukalo Family (Friends for Life)

Hello Rick and Lucy,

We want to thank you for such a good son. This fortnight which we spent with Noah will forever stay in our memory. Due to Noah and Misha our families became closer. Due to children such as our sons our Earth becomes a general house. We will miss Noah because he is one of us now. He is a part of our family. Many things in our house remind us of him. Sometimes my Mum cries. Today at the market, several salespeople asked us, “Where is that American guy?” Noah was really popular here and many people are proud of saying that Noah is their friend. You brought up a beautiful child. He is so sympathetic, tactful and he represented his country really good and now people in Maikop love America because they’ve met Noah. Unfortunately it is just our dream yet to see you and Noah again.

We are always pleased. Our house – your house.

Your friends, the Stukalo

 

Janine Donaldson (Ellijay, Ga.)

I sat here reading this guestbook today and thought what a testimonial this all is...both to Noah and his wonderfully strong family. I remember Noah helping out with the foster children’s parties; he always had so much fun with the children. My girls went to school with Noah; they were always talking about him and his kindness...and his cut ups too...and his achievements after High School just kept getting better and better...he was and is an inspiration to many of today’s youth. All the ribbons just took my breath....

 

Noah (Senior pep rally speech)

This is the last homecoming game I will ever play at Gilmer High School. It’s made me realize how fast it all goes by and how important each moment is. Tomorrow night, we are going to introduce North Forsyth to this region—we’re going to introduce them to the hard-hitting Bobcats, and we want everyone to come out and support us, especially you seniors because you never know what tomorrow holds. You gotta live each moment like it is your last. Let’s make tomorrow night a night that we’ll never forget! Go Bobcats! Go Bobcats!

 

Heather Glass (AJC Blog)
I used to work with 1st. Lt. Noah Harris. I worked with him while we were at the Gap Outlet in Dawsonville, Ga. He was just about to go into UGA and also cheer for them. I only knew him for a short time, but he was the most kind and caring person that I had ever met.

 

Ellijay Football Program 2005, Dedication

Noah Harris, a son, a student, a Dawg, a soldier, a friend to all, An American hero.

 

~ Noah had some experiences that shook him a bit, like staying up almost all night to finish a science fair project, accidentally blacking Coach Wingo’s eye at wrestling practice, telling his dad he’d gotten a speeding ticket, recovering from a torn ligament that almost sidelined his career...enduring the pain of his Grandma’s passing on.

 

Brian Heaslip (MAT Team, wrestling, sleepovers... partners in hilarity)

That time that Noah had to lose ten pounds and keep it off for three months...it was awful. I remember sitting at Fudrucker’s eating a giant hamburger because I was under-weight, and Noah kept groaning and staring at it while he ate lettuce leaves.

 

~ Noah never seemed to struggle for too long over things that he couldn’t control, but the one thing he would lose sleep over was that he couldn’t stand to be out of balance with one single person. If he felt like something was out of sync, it just drove him crazy. He even worked on making friends with this one older guy who needled him, calling him the same demeaning, unrepeatable name. The guy harassed Noah in the halls when no one was looking and kept asking Noah to come meet him after school. Gilmer High School coaches were always clear, “If you get in a fight or break school rules, you don’t play.” How long Noah endured the bullying in silence before sharing it with us, we don’t know, but in tenth grade, he finally couldn’t take it anymore, and it all came spilling out in a burst of grief and anger. It seemed to help just to get it out in the open, so we could “...put it in the light.” Everybody knew the guy was a bully.

 

Noah asked the question, “Do you think it would really mess me up if I just met him and fought him one time?” The way he cocked one eye and pursed his lips showed that he knew the answer to that one before asking. “So, what should I do?”  “Son, you are doing it; just keep on keeping on.” It was a struggle we shared on many a drive home, but that’s what he did; he kept his cool and claimed his integrity. Of all the stories about Noah and high school, I guess the first part of the state champ story is the one that best illustrates Noah’s true grit. He learned that when the going gets tough, you don’t change the channel!

 

Mark Millican (Times Courier, February 19, 1998, “Noah Harris Runner-Up in State Championships”)

It was a titan struggle between area champions that was decided in the closing seconds. Nathan Barnes, a senior from Cook County... came from behind to tie Noah Harris at the end of regulation and then score the first points of overtime to prevail in the Class AA championships. It was a crushing end to the Bobcat junior’s quest for a state title, but the match provided hundreds of wrestling fans at Westminster High School with one of the best matches of the finals. It was one of the only two OT bouts in the state championship round. “It was a great match and some excellent wrestling,” amplified Coach Mark Petitt. “We thought Noah had it all the way up to the end.” Harris scored on an early takedown and had a 4-1 lead after the first round, but led only slightly after two, 7-6. With just 30 seconds to go in the third round, he had built a 10-6 lead. But the GHS stalwart was assessed a two-point penalty, and with just seconds left in the match, Barnes scored two points to tie it up on a reversal. Moments into OT Barnes scored two more points on a takedown to win by sudden death and take the 189-lb. championship. “Probably neither one of them has had to go that hard for that long in a match this year,” Coach Petitt elaborated. “It was awesome,” echoed Coach Sam Snider of the Saturday fight. The loss was his (Noah’s) first this season against 36 match wins.

 

 

~ My indestructible buddy was so worn out after that match he could barely walk. As all the coaches said, “He left it on the mat.” His dad had to cut his neoprene knee braces off so he could get into his purple warm-ups and make it to the award stand in time to receive his second-place medal. It was a difficult moment for Noah and heart-wrenching for all who witnessed his defeat. After many years of preparation and a perfect season, in the last ten seconds of regulation and the first ten seconds of overtime, Noah suffered an immense loss. That was one long ride home together and, for the first time ever, few words were spoken. There were no tears, no regrets, only the huge silence of total exhaustion.

 

We were all kind of quiet for a week or so, and Noah took a few long rides all by himself which was unusual, but soon the demands of track, his impending senior year, and the looming college decision blended with his exuberant portrayal of Norman Balansky, and Noah was laughing again. That’s when he started singing the silly rhyme, “Fatboy on a diet; don’t try it,” whatever that means. We also held many calendar sessions, shifting our long-awaited, once-in-a-lifetime, Grand Canyon family vacation because Noah won the Amicalola Electric Essay Contest which earned him a trip to Washington, D.C. The status quo of managing a packed schedule was a relief, and though we later came to understand that Noah actually considered that loss to be one of his greatest life lessons, at the time we were all glad that he seemed to live with it so well. It was at least a year later when he revealed that one of those lone rides had taken him to the top of Amicalola Falls where he had released his sense of loss to the tumbling waters.

G. Nixon Bunch IV (Times Courier)
When I was a freshman in high school, Noah always looked after me, making sure I wasn't picked on or into something I wasn't  supposed to be in.  I always looked up to him and respected that he treated me like a friend and not like an under-classman. I was always the small kid, real skinny and not athletic at all, but all of my friends(including he) were on the football team. One day when I was a sophomore, he came to me and said, "I have a position on the football team that would be perfect for you, our Manager; and I want you to be a part of the team!" He knew that I didn't want to play, but I wanted to be a part of the team. For the next two Gilmer Football seasons, I was the Manager, a.k.a. the Waterboy... ha ha ..or Lil Nicky to most people. I loved it! I was able to be with my friends, travel to the away games on the player's bus, contribute to the team, and most importantly, I was able to witness the halftime speeches. And man o' man, I wouldn't trade anything in the world for those minutes. I got to witness Noah, the Petitts, Coach Mark West, Wesley Tankersley, and a few others give some chilling, hair-raising, emotional speeches brought straight from the heart. I remember Noah standing up and giving a speech during one halftime and going around in a circle pumping each individual player up! It was amazing to see the intensity of the sport through my very eyes in that locker room. I tell people still to this day, that I'm very blessed to have had the opportunity to be even a small part of the team. Thank you Noah Harris! I love and miss you brother !!

 

~ After a summer of travel, first to our nation’s capital, then with the family through the geographic wonders of the Four Corners area of the Southwest, and through his usual assortment of football and wrestling camps to which he added trips to Atlanta to “pay to get tortured by Arturo,” Noah was ready for anything, and he kept his platter full of activity. He was captain of the football team, rehearsing for JB, applying to colleges, studying for AP English and the rest of his classes, and maintaining his service commitments. It hit him that this was his senior year when he was nominated by his peers for six of the twelve senior superlatives, Best All Around, Most Attractive, Most Athletic, Most Popular, Most School Spirit, and Most Talented. As each student can only be awarded one, Noah was very happy to receive Most Athletic. He enjoyed each and every senior activity, including “layout” days because he wanted to spend as much time as possible soaking up the atmosphere of his beloved mountains. He was happy and nostalgic at the same time, giving friends and teachers alike his 13 Hugs treatment. I had always told him that 13 was the recommended daily dose; Noah quickly adopted giving everybody he could the full requirement “just in case.” He was so at ease it seemed as though he had already moved on to the future, until one day he caught a whiff of unfinished business that was floating in the air of the training room in the gym. I’ll always remember the intensity of his focus when he said, “Mom, today I went into the gym, and I smelled wrestling.” I remember asking him if that was a good thing or a bad thing. With an edge in his voice he said, “It’s awesome.” He had already been working his victory plan, but from that moment on, although he continued to barrel down the field as the Night Train, maintain his academic rigor, and honor theater and all of his commitments with a senior passion, it was obvious to me and Rick that he had one thing on his mind.

 

Sam Snider (Noah’s wrestling coach and mentor, ETC-3 Video, “Heroes of the Heart”)
Noah was a leader of men. He led by example and by words. Noah placed the team above himself. In 1998 Noah lost the state finals in an overtime match. Noah then began to work beyond the call of duty. He would spend time at practice sessions (with Arturo Holmes, Atlanta Coach) and then share what he learned with the entire team... because he wasn’t selfish. Entering the state finals in 1999, our team needed Noah to win by pin for us to receive the 4^th place team trophy (a first for Gilmer). When Noah realized this, he focused on securing the pin for the additional points needed for our team’s success... He was wrestling a Division I football prospect for the state championship. Coach (Mark) Pettit and I told him, “Noah, just go out there and win the match, don’t worry about the pin.” After he wrestled around with the guy and scored six or seven points, he looked over at us and winked. At that point we said, “Well, go ahead and pin him.” He did and the team walked away with a fourth place trophy, the first team wrestling trophy for the school.

 

Noah (After the 1999 State Championship)
Actually Patterson (his opponent) was a lot stronger than me, but I just settled down and waited for an opening; and when I saw it, I went for the PIN! It was awesome.

 

~ IDWIC and 13 Hugs, Rick and Lucy

Dear George and Laura,

Noah was a strong person because he endured many challenges and overcame difficult setbacks. Many people know that he was state champion in wrestling his senior year in high school and that he pinned his opponent in the second round of the finals. However, most have forgotten that, one year earlier, during his junior year, he lost the same type of final match by one point in over time. Instead of succumbing to the painful emotions engendered by the disheartening loss, Noah redoubled his efforts, changed his strategy, learned new moves, and adjusted so that he could ensure a victory for himself and the Bobcats. The result was that he and the team experienced Gilmer High School’s very first area championship as well as his state championship... the team continues to rack up championships and shows no sign of stopping.

... We will never forget that Noah understood the “Art of War.” He learned from experience that if you believe in your vision, you endure negativity and explore weaknesses with calm resolve, but you never even consider giving up; you regroup, get stronger, and stay tough...Now, more than ever, we must all commit ourselves to fulfilling the vision of justice that is the bedrock of the highest dreams of all people who cherish and yearn for freedom. George, when you said of our troops and our struggle in Iraq, that it was, "...the greatest force for human liberation the world has ever known," we knew that the first George W., Abraham, Noah, and many other spiritual liberators were shining down on you from heaven. We just bet that Laura and your whole family were so proud. P.S. Though we still have mighty issues to work through, America is still one nation under God and the symbolic Statue of Liberty to the world.

 

Coach Snider (Times Courier)
I think the world of Noah Harris... his greatest desire was to serve our country. During his senior year, he juggled acting with Mrs. (Linda) Miller (GHS drama teacher) and our demanding wrestling schedule, and he succeeded at both of them... Last spring, Noah sent his old wrestling shoes to school by his mom. They were the ones he wore when he won state. He wanted to see if some kid who could not afford shoes might want them in order to be able to wrestle. Those shoes had to hold some important memories for him and he was willing to give them up so some other athlete could wrestle.

 

Noah’s Prayer delivered at the 1999 Wrestling Awards Banquet

Most gracious Father...Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to come together in your name. We thank you for the blessings of this day, for the successful season we just finished, and for our friends that are here today to share our celebration. Lord, bless this food we are about to receive so that it may nourish our bodies. In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Ray Broadaway (1999 Executive Secretary, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association)

Dear Noah,

Congratulations are indeed in order for you. You have been selected the 1999 Georgia Athletic Association’s Male Scholar Athlete of the year. I am sure you realize that this is a very big honor... The GACA is proud of all the young athletes from throughout our State, and we are especially proud to be able to honor the outstanding Male and Female Scholar Athletes each year. It takes a lot of determination to participate in sports and at the same time do an outstanding job in the classroom.

 

 

Noah’s Letter to the Times Courier at graduation 1999

Dear Editor,

I want to extend my gratitude to the many teachers and community members who have supported me throughout my career as a student and athlete of Gilmer County. The awards and recognition I have received would not have been possible without the positive support of a great community. Thus, my awards are awards for the community. As I close my senior year, I just want to say to all who live in the beautiful town of Ellijay and Gilmer County, a place I am proud to call “home”; “Thank you!”

 

~ Rick: GO DAWGS!

When Noah was a junior, I thought he actually might take a shot at college ball. He was always making big plays; on defense he was impressive as linebacker and fearlessly hungry to smash anyone who tried to step beyond his position. He was fast and powerful in the short bursts and was known for knocking the ball out of the quarterback’s hands. After he would thoroughly flatten his opponent, he would offer him a hand up. He learned early from me that there was no reason to be mean or ungentlemanly in a sporting event; even if others lost their cool, he would maintain his poise. On offense as fullback, he could be counted on to make yardage every time he carried the ball and, quite frequently, he would break for the big yardage gains. From this position, he was always looking for the open field. Although Noah  wasn't quite as slow as Coach Thompson’s grandmother, he was often caught from behind. What his “fleet of foot” opponents quickly discovered was that, although they had caught him, they could not bring him down. I have seen him carry as many as five players down the field with him. He was exciting to watch.

 

When he took over punting duties, I heard someone in the stands yell, “Hey Noah, are you gonna pop the popcorn too?”

One play I’ll always remember was when the quarterback, John Henry, turned around and said something to Noah. The next thing I knew, the ball was snapped and Noah charged his opponent and absolutely flattened him leaving the field wide open for a successful quarterback sneak and a touchdown. It was amazing. Later when I asked him, “Son, what did John Henry say to you?”

Noah replied, “Monkey, monkey.”

“Well, what’s that mean?”

“I can’t tell you, but you saw what happened to their linebacker.”

 

We still entertained the idea of college ball for a while and I even made a #27 highlight video tape we sent to some colleges. But as time went by, it seemed as if the door to college football and wrestling seem to slowly close. UGA had just dropped its wrestling program and he still hadn’t gained the size he needed for college-level football. He knew the drill: Doors have closed, so now we start looking for the open window.

 

It was a surprising turn of events that revealed the path of his unfolding destiny. At a Gilmer basketball game through some coaches he knew, Noah met a girl who was determined to try out for cheerleading at UGA. She told him the university was always looking for guys, and she needed someone to practice with before going. He got excited and, at the time, they thought they might try out together. Anyway, he was going to help her do the various stunts and routines; he went and stunted with her one time in Gainesville and found out more about cheerleading. He knew very little, especially about what male cheerleaders do.

 

He went over for a second workout and got stood up. He waited and waited because standing someone up was not a concept he had ever entertained. Eventually, he called me and told me what happened. Since my goal was to see him graduate from college in one piece and to be involved in something that inspired him, I encouraged him to try out for cheerleading. If I had known the stress cheerleading was going to put on his shoulders and knees and how many times his nose was going to get broken (eventually he had nose surgery), I might have thought differently. I thought this would be a good way for him to stay in athletics, and as it turned out it was a terrific experience. In our discussions prior to going, we pretty much assumed he might not make it because he was starting out with zero info, but kind of like the fumble pick up, it looked like a good shot, and he was a seasoned athlete who had a lot of confidence from his successes in Ellijay.

 

John Rock (Times Courier, May 13, 1999)

The Times Courier has decided to start a new tradition which will hopefully continue well into the next millennium, the naming of a boys and girls athlete of the year... While there may have been several athletes that deserved the award in any other year, the selection of Harris was an easy one for the 1998-99 school year... led the Gilmer wrestling team to its best season ever...first ever wrestler to go through an entire season without losing a match... one of the few players on the football team that played a majority of the plays on both offense and defense...second leading rusher... second leading scorer... Harris also took over as punter early in the season and averaged more than 30 yards per kick.

 

~ We found out UGA had a weekend tryout that was to take place in April on a Friday and Saturday, with the finals on Sunday afternoon. The way it worked out, Lucy was on a trip with her students, so Noah and I went over on a Thursday and checked into our motel. Even though it might have been a long shot, Noah always wanted to give it his best shot. For dinner we walked next door to Applebee’s and, as so often happened with Noah, we met up with a bunch of people who were there for the tryout; some Noah knew. We ended up having dinner with a bunch of folks, had a real good time, then headed to our room and got rest because the tryout started early with weight and endurance testing and a timed mile run.

 

We went over to the Coliseum and athletic field that was soon to become a big part of Noah’s UGA home; it was a beautiful, blue-sky sunny day. I watched the whole thing as the male cheerleaders started showing the new guys the various stunts and lifts they had to learn as well as the basic simple things like how to clap. Anyway, I watched closely as Noah went through the routine of learning the lifts and the fight songs and all the motions they needed to perfect. I sat on the sidelines as I had so often in the past and kind of took a broader view of what was happening. That night when we went back to the inn, I knew what Noah needed to work on and that he needed to practice while it was fresh in his mind.

 

It hadn’t really occurred to him all that was involved, but through his own athletic experience and the many drama preparations he had gone through in the past, he had no problem watching himself in the mirror and talking to me about how to hold his hands and body. It was just like forms in martial arts or executing a take-down. From wrestling, he had learned practice, practice, perfect practice. Arturo Holmes had made him drill the same move for eight hours one time. Consequently, he knew the importance of refining the little extras, like snap and extension and posture. Noah always said, “100 percent, 100 percent of the time.” So, he practiced and we stayed with it until he felt he had it down.

 

 

On Sunday afternoon, the tryouts were held in the Coliseum in front of a panel of judges; I saw individuals come out and demonstrate their skills. Also, they did routines in groups and showed their tumbling expertise. I started to think that Noah was looking pretty good when I heard the crowd gasp and applaud at his tumbling routine which ended with a full, back, layout which he had learned on his trampoline and perfected with Ms. Kim. They also had an interview. Lucy caught up with us from her trip just as Noah was demonstrating his stunt skill with an older girl. Lucy surprised herself when she screamed as he threw Erica Pope up in the air and caught her. Lucy had seen Noah and his athlete friends endanger their lives many times, but she’d never seen him toss a girl and have her land in a standing position on his up-stretched palms.

 

It was interesting being on campus seeing all the parents and their kids trying out. I’d always been in the stands cheering for Noah, but this was a whole new world for all of us. Well, after it was over, the head coach announced the time that they would post the results which was several hours later, so we took the opportunity to support one of Noah’s favorite pastimes, eating in restaurants. When we got there, some of the other cheerleaders were already there and they all spoke very encouragingly to Noah, but we still had no idea what to expect as this was our very first family adventure at UGA. Gilmer High School wrestling, football, track, and drama competitions we understood, but Lucy and I were confident that Noah would at least be an alternate. Noah and I pretty much took it all in stride, but by Lucy’s excitement, you would have thought that she was the one trying out.

 

Noah’s Cheerleading Interview Practice Notes

(Smile!!!) I want to be a Bulldog cheerleader because I feel the experience I have had as a team player through high school athletics and drama will combine to help me make the kind of valuable contribution I want to make to Bulldog Cheerleading. I am accustomed to physical challenges and I love to perform. It sounds like a lot of fun and I will embrace the broader exposure to campus life. Being surrounded by talented, high achievers will give me the chance to blend my past experiences with high goals for a cooperative team effort dedicated to cheering the Dawgs to victory! I am used to working hard to inspire others. What an opportunity!

 

~ When we got back to Stegeman Coliseum, we stood outside among a group of very nervous people, listening to the speculation, anxieties, and fears. At the appointed hour, an assistant to the coach walked out to the glass window, taped up the list, and quickly left. We later learned there was always controversy since there was extreme disappointment for some hopefuls and jubilation for others. That night, as the individual competitors searched for names on the list, we witnessed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We watched as Noah took his turn, and were relieved by his smile; he made the cut and was immediately embraced by all the guys on the squad and some of the girls. He was really happy, but as it was all so new to him and he didn’t really understand what a big deal it was, he just took it in stride that he’d gone from Bobcat athlete to Georgia Bulldog! And we loved to hear him bark. He had a great, big, “Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof!”

 

Amanda Biffle (Atlanta, Ga.)

I can honestly say that Noah was one of the few people I went to high school with that I will NEVER forget. His personality, his heart, his attitude, and his will to succeed inspired me to be a better person. In school he would always tell me, "You are a beautiful, intelligent girl...why would you ever sell yourself short?? You should always know that you can do whatever you want...you can be whatever you want, if you just put your mind to it." He would have been a great father, a great husband... All the people he touched in his time here are grateful to have known him.

 

Noah (GHS Senior Journal)

Watch me as I disappear,

Leaving soon, within the year.

Pushing away from my mountain town;

I won’t let anyone pull me down.

Watch me as I conquer the top.

When I get there, I won’t stop.

Through clouds and sky, I will go -

Who knows how far my thoughts 'll flow?

Toward my visions, hopes, and goals,

For sparkling stars I'll cast my rope.

Swing ahead, my heart’s on fire.

My Athenian quest—will never tire.

Over canyons, forests, 'cross raging streams,

Through books and words, I’ll chase my dreams.

 

Next: Chapters 7-8