What does a former Razorback do during his day? For Kenneth “Muskie” Harris, who was a four-year letterman in football at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, much of his day is spent helping others.
As owner, director and court liaison at Muskie Harris Rehabilitation Services, Harris is a lifeline for men dealing with substance abuse. He has spent nearly 30 years working with the judicial system, specializing in cases in which defendants can benefit from drug rehabilitation.
“As court liaison, my schedule changes daily depending on what court I am required to attend or for what other agency or program,” he said. “In the beginning, 1997 to 2015, I traveled the entire state, working through the prosecutor districts — all 28. I am the only court liaison that traveled that far from Little Rock.”
Any given week, he could be in Paragould on Monday, West Memphis on Tuesday, Pine Bluff on Wednesday, Russellville on Thursday and Camden on Friday. He connects with judges, prosecutors, private attorneys and public defenders to ensure defendants in cases with alternative sentencing orders have access to his program.
Mark Miller, from left, Muskie Harris, Tommy Walker and Don Cole
“My favorite part of any day is winning the client’s case through rehab, the joy-thrill to see the individual get another chance, family bonding, unity,” he said. “Skills for the job are being real 24/7 inside yourself. Dedication to the business is required. I have had this entire judicial system helping me.”
Harris was exposed to the hospitality industry — and the pervasive alcohol use that comes with it — early in life while working at his family’s nightclub. There, he met musical greats Albert King, Rufus Thomas, Little Milton, Denise LaSalle, Betty Wright and Al Bell. It was a world away from his junior high school, where most of his classmates did not know about his double life.
His parents ran their household with strict discipline, so much so that Harris now uses the letters of the word “discipline” to describe them: determined, intelligent, sanity, courage, inspirational, patient, love, independent, natural and enthusiastic.
“Growing up in the Harris house started with common sense toward everything,” he said. “You better make the right decision. Consequences could be an ass whipping.”
He and his siblings attended two churches, he said, adding that his mother “did not play around about going to church.”
“Only something like measles or chicken pox kept you out of church,” he said.
As the middle child, Harris was trusted with certain responsibilities at home, but that did not mean he did not make the occasional mistake.
“I got caught trying to smoke my Dad’s pipe. That whipping has lasted a lifetime for me. I don’t smoke today — my dad stamped it out of me,” Harris said. “I was, like, the chosen child to be trusted to go pay bills, go to the stores downtown for mother’s perfume and Blass or M.M. Cohn.”
Although opportunities were short or out of reach for the Little Rock native, he eventually became the first young African American man from Central High School to attend UA on an athletic scholarship.
“My friends were talking about going to college. I didn’t know how I could go to college, so I started lying about I was going,” he said. “I did not know the open door for me to go to college was my athletic talent. You can always reach your dreams if you live with patience.”
Life was not all fun and games after making it to the college gridiron, however. As previously reported by AY About You, Harris developed a problem with crack cocaine in 1996 and found himself at a sober living facility under court orders during his recovery.
Now helping others in the same situation, Harris said it can be difficult to maintain sanity in such a personal business, and sometimes he has his trust broken and needs time to heal. However, his proudest moments are when former clients call to tell him they have a child because of his services. Harris said he is now “Uncle Muskie” to 26 children.
“If you choose to work in the social service field, you need to have your own life in order,” he said. “You cannot be effective if you are not real with the time you put in the field.”
He added that he would like to add more beds at treatment facilities in central Arkansas, as well as see more money allocated for court-ordered rehabilitation.
“The system gives district and circuit judges power with no money,” he said. “I believe every judge needs a half-million budget for district courts and $2 million for circuit courts to use for alternative sentencing.”
Harris also pays it forward by volunteering with the Central High football team, and he enjoys outdoor sports, fishing, hunting, river boating and spending time in the woods.
“Once you have beaten your addiction, you have to show your strength in recovery by living right, sharing and caring about your life responsibilities,” he said. “Addiction is part of our social fabric. Humans are always experimenting with alcohol, drugs. [They have] family issues. My job is helping rebuild happiness back in their lives and families.”
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