Advocate of cabbies, Harris dies at age 56

Friday, June 23, 2006 | 7:16 a.m.

After long advocating the installation of cameras in Las Vegas taxis for driver safety, Craig Harris became one of the first cabbies to test the devices two years ago.

When 51-year-old Nellis Cab Company driver Pairoj Chitprasart was robbed, doused with a flammable liquid and burned to death by one of his fares in August 2004, Harris began a campaign that raised $53,000 to help the man's family.

A steward for the Industrial Technical Professional Employees Union that represents local drivers, Harris helped fired cabbies get their jobs back, and he secured benefits such as health insurance for drivers.

Harris, the managing editor of the Trip Sheet magazine for taxi drivers who for more than 20 years penned stories and editorials encouraging fair treatment of, and safety for, drivers, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 56.

Services for the 28-year Las Vegas resident will be Thursday at Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The time is to be determined.

Harris, a driver for Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation since 1979, was twice assaulted and robbed by passengers. Yet, friend and fellow cabbie Bruce Sharp recalled, Harris often would cover the fares of passengers who did not have enough money.

Bill Shranko, Yellow-Checker-Star director of operations and Harris' longtime boss, management adversary and friend, said, "No one worked harder or longer for driver safety than Craig Harris.

"No one was more outspoken and no one stayed the course more than Craig. This guy went to every cab driver's funeral. When their families were in trouble, he was always there to help."

Shranko, a one-time union steelworker and cab driver, said Harris' passionate advocacy for the use of still photo cameras in cabs led to Yellow-Checker-Star installing them in every one of its cabs, and has resulted in at least 60 percent fewer crimes against drivers.

"The cab industry was in his blood," said Lynn Pierson, publisher of the Trip Sheet since 2001. "He took to heart the challenges of his job as managing editor."

Born Oct. 14, 1949, in Los Angeles, Harris graduated from Shasta College in Northern California, and went to work for the Altos (Calif.) Times-Democrat newspaper. He later worked for an Oklahoma paper before moving to Las Vegas in 1978.

Harris started working at the Trip Sheet when it was a six-page newspaper in the 1980s and helped it develop into a 48-page, color magazine with 7,000 monthly readers. He was later promoted to associate editor, then to managing editor in 1997.

"Craig's energy was unstoppable," said Greg Bambic, president of the local Professional Drivers Association. "He accomplished all he did while working four days week and 10 hours a day as a cabdriver."

Harris is survived by his son, Lance Harris; a grandson, Aydin Harris; a sister, Cheryl Harris; a brother, Bill Burch; his companion, Marianne Torrez; a daughter-in-law, Gemma Harris; and a nephew, Michael Olson, all of Las Vegas.