ANGUS D. HARRISON JR's Obituary
Mr. Angus D. "Gus" Harrison, Jr. was born in Miami July 26, 1926, just two weeks after Coconut Grove Bank opened it's doors. Harrison entered the Navy V12 program at Miami University (Ohio) and served 23 years attaining the rank of Commander, serving in both World War II and Korea. He then joined Merrill Lynch, eventually working in Havana, Cuba where he learned the spanish language. In 1972, Harrison returned to his hometown and joined the Coconut Grove Bank. Over the years, he took on increasingly responsible roles as EVP, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board.
"Mr. Harrison put a premium on the safety of bank depositor accounts and that was reflected in consistent five-star ratings" said Charles D. Umberger, President & CEO of Old Town Bank. "Gus was known among Florida bankers for running a tight ship. He was respected by employees and well liked by all his customers." Umberger was President of Coconut Grove Bank, working closely with Harrison for a number of years.
Once a month for many years, Mr. Harrison walked through the Grove to classical music station WTMI-FM where he would record the radio commercials that put his "little bank in the Grove" on the map. "Gus knew how to speak from the heart directly to the people. He was a folksy, genuine guy and employees and customers really trusted him. Of course, he didn't let them down" said Howard "Woody" Tanger, owner of Beethoven.com and WTMI-FM.
When it came to business advice "Gus always reminded me to encourage employees, give them the tools and stand out of the way" said long-time business associate and friend Robert Poller. "Gus was so very proud every time an employee bought a new car or a home or had a baby because he knew the bank was really building a community, not just generating profits."
And it's not just the community and his employees who looked up to Harrison, it's the entire financial industry. "I come from a family of Florida bankers and Mr. Harrison was known as a model banker" said Stephen W. Armaly, Senior Vice President at Executive National Bank. "Across the state, many of today's bank leaders got their start working for Mr. Harrison."
"Gus was genuinely interested in everything around him" said Poller. "He enjoyed boating and the Florida outdoors and travel and meeting new people. He was as kind and respectful to the many people he met in his travels as he was to his biggest customers like Ryder and the Pepsi Bottlers."
In 2003, Mr. Harrison was named Chairman Emeritus.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Earl Harrison and children Deborah Harrison White, Jeffery Harrison, Gregory Harrison and Angus D. (Tripp) Harrison, III; and grandchildren McKenzie Caroline and Spencer Banks.
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