Supervisor Ed Wehrheim joined with local elected officials, members of the Smithtown Historical Society, friends and family, to honor Smithtown Historian Brad Harris for his decades of service to the Town of Smithtown. During a Celebratory Golf & Lunch event on September 25th, the town presented Brad Harris with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was given to honor the “Keeper of Smithtown History” for a life dedicated to public service.
“This is an honor that is long overdue… Brad Harris has worn every hat in the betterment of our community. He’s an educator, a former town councilman, a published writer, and our town historian. Brad Harris has literally devoted his lifetime to our great town and its children and that is truly extraordinary.” - Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
Brad Harris was a Social Studies teacher for the Commack School District for over 30 years. He was appointed the Town Historian by former Supervisor Patrick Vecchio in 1978, and he maintained that position for almost 40 years, retiring in July of 2017. In 1980, he was elected as a Smithtown Councilman, and served on the Town Board for 12 years. He was instrumental in organizing the 350th Anniversary of Smithtown’s Founding by Richard Smith. Brad Harris has penned 3 books about the history of Smithtown; Then & Now: Smithtown, Images of America: Smithtown, and Images of America: Kings Park.