Ken Cyree (from left), dean of the Ole Miss School of Business Administration, congratulates Lyt Harris, recipient of the Academy of Marketing Science Distinguished Marketing Practitioner for 2023, along with Barry Babin, executive director of AMS and chair of the UM Department of Marketing, and Jared Llorens, dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University. Photo courtesy Red Window Communications

OXFORD, Miss. – The Academy of Marketing Science has named Lyttleton T. “Lyt” Harris, managing partner of the Harris Investment Partnership and a University of Mississippi School of Business Administration alumnus, as the AMS Distinguished Marketing Practitioner for 2023.

The award recognizes marketers who distinguish themselves in business or public policy through actions characterized by success, integrity and high ethical standards.

The international scholarly organization presented the award during the 2023 AMS 48th Annual Conference in New Orleans. During the conference, Harris delivered a plenary presentation titled “A 50-year Marketing Journey … from Snow Cones to Condos.”

Lyttleton T. ‘Lyt’ Harris accepts his award as Academy of Marketing Science Distinguished Marketing Practitioner for 2023 in New Orleans at the organization’s annual conference. Photo courtesy Red Window Communications

Harris thanked the academy for honoring his career work.

“When I took Marketing 101 during my freshman year in college, I knew without a doubt that this would be my major,” he recalled. “I suddenly realized that I had been practicing marketing in my many youthful business ventures since the tender age of 7.”

Ken Cyree, dean of the business school and the Frank R. Day/Mississippi Bankers Association Chair of Banking, congratulated Harris on the honor.

“His exceptionally successful career has served to shine a spotlight on our business school, and we are so proud of his far-reaching achievements,” Cyree said. “In addition, we are grateful for the investments he has made in our school and for the mentoring he has provided to our students. Lyt is very generous with his resources, his expertise and his time.”

Harris’ marketing accomplishments are many. Perhaps one of the most noteworthy took place when he served as marketing director for Hunt-Wesson Foods, where he played a key role in propelling Orville Redenbacher to one of top popcorn brands in the world. At Scott Paper, Harris played a major role in introducing and marketing the first disposable diaper in the U.S.

Later, Harris worked in the banking and finance industry and became CEO of Southwest Management and Marketing Co. He serves as a managing partner of the Harris Investment Partnership.

“There is an old saying, ‘Good things come to those who wait,’ and this was certainly the case with me,” Harris said. “My accomplishments in marketing were recognized some 15 years into my retirement.”

The Houston resident’s professional accolades include listings in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest.

Throughout his career, Harris has remained close to his alma mater, establishing the Lyttleton T. Harris IV Scholarship to benefit the students in the business school. He also serves as a mentor for Ole Miss MBA students and was named an Otho Smith fellow in 2008.

Harris joins an accomplished list of recent award winners that includes Scott Smith, of Qualtrics; Jeffrey S. Zehnder, of Zehnder Communications; Ben Lee, of Pierry Software; and numerous Fortune 500 executives.

The Academy of Marketing Science Foundation is dedicated to promoting high standards and excellence in the creation and dissemination of marketing knowledge and the furtherance of marketing practice through a role of leadership within the discipline of marketing around the world.