The Fayette County Development Authority announced Monday that Hollis Harris has been chosen to fill the unexpired term that Fayette County Commissioner Jack Smith left vacant when he ran for political office.
The Development Authority is made up of a nine member board of directors with representatives from the city of Fayetteville, Peachtree City, the town of Tyrone, the Peachtree City Airport Authority, and five at-large appointments.
"We are excited to have someone with Mr. Harris' vast industry experience join our board. His background and influence in the community will be a compliment to the broad and diverse professional expertise that comprises our board," said Randy Hayes, Chairman of the Fayette County Development Authority Board of Directors.
 Hollis Harris, a native of Carrollton, Georgia, attended Auburn University from 1949 to 1950. He joined the Army in 1951, served as battery commander in Germany during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. Harris returned to Georgia in 1954, and began work with Delta Air Lines as a transportation agent. He later became head of the Aircraft Engineering Department. His steady rise in the corporation in key management roles continued and, in 1987, he was named president and a member of Delta’s Board of Directors. In 1990, Harris joined Continental Airlines as Chairman, President and CEO. He resigned from Continental in September of 1991 and became Chairman, President and CEO of Air Canada in 1992.
He was appointed chairman, president and CEO of World Airways, Inc. in 1999. He moved the headquarters to Peachtree City and led the restructuring team in providing several straight quarters of profitability before he retired in May of 2004.
In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the field of aviation, Hollis L. Harris was enshrined into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.