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As he watched the pentagon smoke as it burned with flames from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he remained hopeful.
OSU graduate and special agent Tom Harris gave into the feeling that the nation would overcome the events of that day.
“I physically saw the Pentagon smoking on that day and the city was literally shut down,” Harris said. “Yet, watching the flags raised half mast and the surrounding monuments, it was a feeling that things were going to be OK at such a terrible time.”
With undercover bomb stings, drug trafficking on the United States and Mexico border, working in the West Wing of the White House after 9/11 and withstanding race riots in L.A., this special agent has conquered his dream job and the some of the tough situations that come with it.
Harris graduated from OSU in 1981 with a sociology degree, knowing he was destined to be a police officer. He began at the Tulsa Police Academy during his final semester, where he worked weekends on the police force.
After eight years in uniform, he was recruited to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, formally known as ATF.
“I liked that the ATF had very broad jurisdiction from drug smuggling to fraud; you can pick one area to get specialized in,” Harris said.
After choosing to pursue the technical aspect of firearms, he loaded a U-Haul and moved to Tuscan, Ariz., with his pregnant wife to work border control.
“This was before the assault weapon bans, and there was drug and gun trafficking constantly,” Harris said. “Knowing no one and having no expectations as to what the job entailed was scary. It was a leap of faith that turned out great.”
In 1999, Harris once again packed up his belongings and his expanded family of two children to move to Washington D.C., where he trained prospective agents at the National Firearm Examiners Academy.
When 9/11 shocked the nation, Harris was one of the first chosen to work in the Emergency Operating Center of the White House, where he monitored and examined the situation.
“We were basically waiting for the other shoe to drop after those events,” Harris said. “We didn’t know what was going to happen next.”
Not only did he work through a tragic time, but he also helped trace the D.C. sniper who tormented the city in 2002.
“He was going after random targets, and I was sorting through forensic evidence by examining bullets and inspecting weapons,” Harris said.
After several years of handling drug dealers and other dangerous scenarios, Harris was ready to return to his roots in Oklahoma. When a position as a special agent opened up, he eagerly moved his family to Owasso.
“My kids were going into high school and I wanted them to have the same sense of community that I received growing up,” Harris said.
After many sleepless nights, undercover stings and long days in court, Harris was ready for a change of pace and more steady hours.
“This gave me a regular schedule and more time with my family,” Harris said.
Harris’ son has followed his father’s footsteps to OSU and is an engineering major.
“I raised him as a Cowboy and my kids grew up watching every game. I am envious,” Harris said. “Every fall, that feeling returns and reminds me of the memories and freedom of college and an amazing experience that can never be forgotten.”
At OSU, Harris was known as the “Bud man” on campus, as his job was to drive the Budweiser beer truck and give away towels and T-shirts.
He didn’t decide what his career path would be until his sophomore year, but he said OSU prepared him to go out and learn skills his job requires.
“(OSU) gave me an ability to learn, study and dedicate my time to achieving something,” Harris said.
Harris still comes up during the football season either as an alumnus or working as a federal agent for the bomb sweeps before every game.
“Whether working or not, I still root on OSU and brag,” Harris said. “I have lived all over and seen a lot but will never forget the bond that was created with this school.”
His wife, Saundra, said she knew what she was getting into when she married him in 1984, shortly before they moved to Arizona.
“Every area we have lived in we have taken something positive from it and our children have been able to first-hand witness the culture each place had to offer,” Saundra Harris said. “I know his job was dangerous, but I also know that they are well-trained and practice to minimize the risks.”
As Harris’ mother Ruth, a Tulsa resident, looks back on the O’Collegian article from 30 years ago, she cannot believe how the time has passed.
“He had all these ideas as a young boy then, and it amazed me he never once wavered from his dreams,” Ruth Harris said. “I know he doesn’t tell me about the dangerous situations his career puts him in, but I imagine in my head the possible scenarios.”
Ruth Harris said this was his dream and she has supported and watched him devote many hours to pursuing it.
“He didn’t apply himself in high school, but OSU caused him to do a 180 and he thoroughly began to enjoy school and learning,” Ruth Harris said. “It was his first true experience learning and dedicating himself to something.”
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