About Harris Sherline, Author of Wisdom of America's Elders

Harris Sherline, 77, is a retired Certified Public Accountant and executive.  He practiced public accounting in Los Angeles until 1970, when he left the firm he co-founded to concentrate on “business management” services and real estate investing for clients.  In addition to real estate investment, his diverse business background includes experience as a principal in the restaurant industry, golf course ownership, a direct mail advertising agency, and as the chief executive officer of a hospital.  He and his wife, Carol, relocated from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in 1977 and moved to Santa Ynez Valley in 1984.

Charitable Organizations

Harris has an extensive background in charitable work.  During the late 1960’s and early 70’s, he served as a director and president of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Los Angeles County, vice president and director of United Cerebral Palsy Association of California, director and treasurer of the Institute for Cancer and Blood Research, and as president of the Los Angeles County Council of Voluntary Health Agencies.

Hospital Chairman/CEO

In 1986, Harris became a volunteer with Santa Ynez Valley Hospital in Solvang, California, beginning his involvement with fund raising.  He created the hospital’s first Radiothon event and was elected to the board of directors in January, 1988.  After becoming chairman of the board in May, 1989, he instituted a major reorganization of the hospital.  In November, 1989, Harris also became the hospital’s chief executive officer, initially serving as an unpaid volunteer.  He continued in this capacity until 1995, when an affiliation with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital was successfully arranged, after which he retired.  As a result of his efforts, he was named Southern California Volunteer of the Year by the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Rural Hospital Center.

Harris’ experience as a hospital executive includes extensive hands-on responsibilities in marketing, advertising and public relations.  He authored a series of newsletters, newspaper ads and articles about health care and the health care industry, researched, wrote and hosted over two hundred radio shows, which were carried by three radio stations in the Santa Barbara market, and organized a series of major concerts to benefit the hospital, featuring Bob Hope, George Burns, the Smothers Brothers and Victor Borge. 

Active Retirement

After retiring in 1995, Harris continued to be active in business, primarily consulting on evaluating business opportunities for investors and packaging ventures for financing, expansion or sale.  He also served as a director and CFO of a national franchising company for four years. 

He writes frequent “Letters to the Editor,” which appear in several Santa Barbara publications, and sends his email opinion letter, Opinionfest, to readers commenting on current issues.   In addition, Harris writes The Wisdom of America’s Elders, a series of articles about seniors that are a regular feature in the Santa Ynez Valley News, a bi-weekly opinion column for the Santa Ynez Valley Journal, and he is the lead editorial writer for two websites.