Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s Bill and Brenda Harris owned and operated the Oriental Marina and Restaurant. “The Marina” was truly the home base of the sailing community at this time. Bill and Brenda continued to build the excellent reputation of the restaurant that they took over from Sue Ragan. The Harris’s were warm and friendly. Their great personalities attracted folks to the establishment. They were extremely attentive to the needs of boaters, who were welcomed with open arms in both the restaurant and upstairs at “The Topside”. Sailors had it made as they enjoyed the wind and waters of the Neuse River by day and great food and friends at The Marina by night. Bill and Brenda did it right.

Bill was a 1959 graduate of Pamlico County High School where he was the captain and quarterback of the football team. He was a gifted student athlete who served as a student government officer. He was voted the “most popular” male student of the class of ’59. In 1963, Bill graduated from North Carolina State University. While there, he served on the Honor Code Board and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. After graduating from State, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but he soon found his way home to Oriental.

Bill and Brenda’s sons, Bill Jr. and Brad, attended PCHS . Taking after their father, they were both excellent football players themselves. Athletic skill ran in the family, as Brenda herself was an All American basketball player. The Harris’s were strong advocates for sports programs at PCHS. The PCHS Booster Club had faded away and Bill and Brenda were instrumental in reviving the organization and bringing new life to the club. To raise money for PCHS athletics, Bill began the Annual Booster Club Gala. Bill and Brenda spearheaded the drive for the new football stadium which was built in 1988 and named in memory of Jeff Cowell.

In 1989, Bill, who touched so many lives, passed away unexpectedly. His family and friends thought of a wonderful way to keep Bill’s memory alive. They would combine his dedication to the sailing community in Oriental with his commitment to Pamlico County High School athletics. And so, the Oriental Cup Regatta began as a fundraiser for the Bill Harris Memorial Scholarship. What better way could we celebrate Bill’s memory than with a day on the river followed by great food and music, with all proceeds going toward the scholarship. The Regatta has become a sailing tradition in Oriental, bringing people together from across the state in friendly competition. As you race past Garbacon, Adam’s Creek, and Oriental 1, sail fast, and as you cross the finish line, tip your hat to Bill.