James Harris was born on February 26, 1946 to John Harris and Celi Liz Gill in Luling, Texas. He was the sixth child of nine siblings, four boys and five girls. James attended school in the Luling Independent School District. James went on to join the workforce and was employed as a Maintenance Worker in the Denver Colorado Hospital System, Antioch Apartment Complex and later with the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio Texas.