William Neal "Bill" Harrison was born on October 23, 1933, in Dallas, Texas.
Harrison earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Texas Christian University and studied creative writing at the University of Iowa.
Harrison started teaching at the University of Arkansas's department of English in 1964. He established the creative writing program in 1966. In addition to writing eight novels, Harrison wrote numerous short stories and screenplays. His most famous work is the screenplay for Rollerball, which is based on his short story, "Roller Ball Murder."
Harrison was awarded a Columbia School of Journalism prize in 1971, a Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in 1974, and a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1977.
Harrison passed away on October 22, 2013.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Bill Harrison and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Barber shop owned by Bill Harrison's father, Samuel Scott "Red" Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Bill Harrison's parents, Mary Cook Harrison and Scott Harrison, on their honeymoon
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Bill Harrison, age 9 months
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Bill Harrison's school photo from John H. Reagan Elementary School; Dallas, Texas, 1943
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Bill Harrison, Dallas, Texas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Bill Harrison (2nd from right) with his cousin (on left) and parents, Mary and Scott Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Bill Harrison with his mother, Mary
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Bill Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Bill Harrison's parents, Scott and Mary Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Bill Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Bill Harrison and his mother, Mary, (on right)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Bill Harrison's mother, Mary
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Bill Harrison (center)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Bill Harrison (right) with his cousin, Jimmy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Bill Harrison and his parents, Scott and Mary Harrison (on right), with other family members
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Bill Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Bill Harrison in high school photo
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Bill Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Bill Harrison's parents, Scott and Mary Harrison
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Bill Harrison (2nd from left) and Miller Williams (standing) with other members of the University of Arkansas Creative Writing program
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Members of the University of Arkansas Creative Writing program: (front row) Bill Harrison, Carolyn Forche, and Jim Whitehead; (back row) Miller Williams and John Clellon Holmes
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Bill Harrison (seated) and Miller Williams of the University of Arkansas Creative Writing program, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Bill Harrison in Africa
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Bill Harrison in Africa
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Bill and Merlee Harrison with their children, Sean, Laurie, and Quentin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Bill Harrison with his children, Sean, Laurie, and Quentin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Bill Harrison with his granddaughters, Rachel and Leslie
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Bill and Merlee Harrison on their 50th wedding anniversary, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkanasas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Bill Harrison, Fayetteville, Arkanasas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
