Louis T. Harms, professor, associate dean at Temple

Louis T. Harms, 96, an economist and long-tenured professor and administrator at Temple University's School of Business, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Taylor Hospice Residence in Ridley Park.

Mr. Harms had been a faculty member at Temple since the 1940s. He was a professor of economics and later was chair of the university's department of economics.

He also served as associate dean of the business school.

His specialty was labor economics, and he wrote several books on the subject over the years, said his daughter, Monica.

She said Mr. Harms - thinking ahead about changes in the workplace - wrote a book in the 1950s saying developments in technology would result in job losses in the ensuing decades.

In addition to being well-read on a wide variety of subjects, Mr. Harms closely followed local and national politics, his daughter said.

"He was very interested in politics and was outspoken against the Vietnam War," she said.

Louis Theodore Harms was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on Nov. 6, 1916, and was raised in western Canada. He moved with his family to Buffalo, N.Y., while he was in high school.

He served in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II. He spent time stationed in New Guinea, helping to construct airfields.

Mr. Harms earned bachelor's and master's degrees in economics at Temple. He earned a doctoral degree in economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

He married his wife, Kathe, in 1942, after being introduced to her by his sister, who was her friend. They had a daughter and a son. The couple marked their 70th wedding anniversary in 2012.

His daughter said Mr. Harms held liberal political views, and was an advocate for equal rights and civil rights for women and minorities.

"He helped bring women and minorities to the business school," Monica Harms said.

Mr. Harms retired from full-time teaching in 1986, and since then had held the title of professor emeritus.

Outside of his academic and political interests, Mr. Harms enjoyed tennis. He often played on courts at Temple and other venues around Philadelphia.

He also enjoyed making repairs and renovations to his longtime home in the city's East Oak Lane section.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Harms is survived by a son, Peter; a brother; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 2, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Swarthmore.

Contributions may be made to Taylor Hospice Residence, Box 147, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078-2284.