Kenwood residents honor community stalwart Woody Harris at gathering

Residents of Kenwood gathered at their community center to celebrate the birthday of longtime local figure Woody Harris, praising his role supporting elders, preserving local culture and helping expand recreation and community facilities.

The former secretary of state, who said she first met Harris while visiting the elder nutrition program, called the event a celebration of a man who welcomed many who were not from Kenwood and "kept culture and traditions alive." She said, "So we're here today to celebrate Woody Harris' birthday." The speaker described Harris as someone who "cared about this community" and who represented "so much of what's great about Kenwood."

A resident who spoke at the gathering pointed to recent and planned community investments, saying, "You know, in 4 more years, it would be his 1 hundredth birthday, and I wanna make a big celebration," and noting that ball fields, tournaments and the community building have helped Kenwood host sporting events. The resident said those facilities were developed "with the chief and the deputy chief, and the council," and that there are plans to build more across the reservation.

Another resident praised the local school, public health efforts and facilities that benefit young children, saying, "who would have ever thought that we could have had heated floors to raise our Cherokee babies on and that's something that's important." Speakers repeatedly framed Harris' contributions around elder care, youth programs and cultural continuity.

Organizers proposed making the gathering an annual event. The meeting closed with a renewed commitment from speakers to continue honoring Harris at the community center and to plan for a larger celebration in four years for what residents called his centennial.

No formal votes or motions were recorded at this gathering; remarks were celebratory and descriptive rather than legislative or binding.