The Tuscaloosa City Council honored James I. Harrison, who has served as a founding member of the Success by 6 educational initiative and supporter of the Tuscaloosa Pre-K initiative.

With the room filled with Harrison’s family and friends, Mayor Walt Maddox unveiled the road sign that would name a parkway in his honor. The sign was presented to Harrison and his wife that would name a parkway in his honor.

“I didn’t know I was being honored tonight,” Harrison said. “I was very surprised.”

Maddox said Harrison was the type of person who never wanted any recognition for the support and the things he did to help the Tuscaloosa community.

“My friend told me that we were coming to see the mayor about a pre-K education program, and I walked in to a room of my children and grandchildren for this special occasion,” Harrison said.

The ordinance renamed a portion of 37th Street and 37th Street East that lies between Greensboro Avenue and Hargrove Road East.

Harrison started in Tuscaloosa when he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University. He transferred to another college, but ultimately came back to run his family’s drug store.

Harrison holds honorary doctorate degrees from both the University and Judson College, and he established the UA Teaching Excellence Fellow.

“I will have to get used to having a parkway named after me,” Harrison said. “It will be a big adjustment for me.”

Maddox presented Harrison with the parkway sign after reading a brief Bible verse that spoke about charitable giving.

“Harrison has done great work with the Tuscaloosa Pre-K initiative and has been a charitable spirit and continues to support education,” he said.

The Tuscaloosa Pre-K initiative helps serve kids who are deemed to be academically at-risk, and the Success for 6 program is an educational initiative.