Dale Harris believes his decision to attend Faulkner University in 1987 was “the providence of God.” After suffering a knee injury that sidelined his dreams of playing college baseball, Harris was still offered a position on the Eagles Baseball Team by Coach Tom Fletcher. That gesture, he says, taught him more about life than just the game itself.
Some of Harris’ closest friends at Faulkner were fellow baseball players, including Steven Hayes, Sam Weldon, and Shane Reynolds. For them, teamwork was paramount.
In addition to athletics, Harris found the academic environment at Faulkner equally impactful. His Bible class with Professor Wendell Winkler, in particular, helped solidify his faith. Harris recalls studying the book of Jeremiah and delivering a two-minute sermon. His classmate and teammate, Eric Thornton, initially struggled with his presentation but was encouraged and mentored by Winkler, which ultimately led Thornton to become a gospel preacher.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1991, Harris went on to earn a master’s degree at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). He worked in Faulkner’s Admissions office with Keith Mock and collaborated with Dr. Dave Khadanga and Gerald Jones in the College of Business. Harris also worked as an educator, teaching fifth grade in Talladega schools, and later worked with Matt Wallin at the organization House to House, Heart to Heart. Today, he is in the healthcare field with McKesson Corporation Pharmaceuticals.
While Harris maintains many connections to Faulkner, perhaps his most meaningful is his wife, Sheri Bauer Harris, whom he met while attending the university. The two were active together at University Church of Christ and Inner City Church of Christ.
Sheri’s path to Faulkner was also influenced by sports. “During my senior year of high school, I attended a teen singing event with my youth group and parents in Tennessee,” Sheri recalls. “Andy Johnson, one of the youth song leaders, talked about Faulkner and their softball team. My dad and I looked at each other, and the rest is history.”
Sheri visited Faulkner for a tryout, and everything fell into place. She is grateful for the opportunity to play softball at Faulkner, which allowed her to receive a Christian education and ultimately meet Dale. She graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree and is now a stay-at-home mom to their three children, whom she has homeschooled for most of their school-aged years. She also works as a math tutor at a private school.
The couple continues to support Faulkner in various ways, including holding a Lifetime Alumni Association Couple Membership. Their son, Andrew Harris, a 2023 Faulkner graduate and current student at the Jones School of Law, also holds a Lifetime Alumni Association Membership.
