WILLIAM HARRISON wanted to design roads and bridges in the mid-1930s but was turned down by the president of Tennessee State University despite his impeccable academic record. He was told, “you won’t be able to get a job because no one is going to hire a Negro engineer.” Harrison switched to medicine, completed medical school in 1944 at Howard University, came to Lansing and opened a practice in 1946, becoming the city’s first black doctor. DR. HARRISON WAS THE TREASURER OF THE INGHAM COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LANSING HOUSING FOUNDATION OF MODEL CITIES. HE received RESOLUTIONS HONORING HIM FROM THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE AND THE LANSING CITY COUNCIL AND in 1979, the mayor proclaimed the week of march 5th as william h. harrison week. He PASSED AWAY in 1997.