Harris has played a major role with the WTEF and the tennis tournament now known as the Citi Open. Harris, a former player and twice Greater Washington Men's Singles Champion, and Donald Dell, who was then the U.S. Davis Cup captain, founded the event in 1969. This is John's 51st year with the Foundation. As co-chairman of the event with Dell, Harris' managerial and personal skills in those early days were pivotal to the success of the tournament, where nothing came easy.

In October 1969, Harris volunteered to manage WTEF, first as Executive Secretary and later as Executive Director, and served in that capacity until 1981. For the first time, the WTEF gained an identity in the community by having a headquarters with professional management. In 1972, he, along with Dell, decided to donate their ownership interest in the tournament to the WTEF to provide a source of funding for the Foundation's programs. Harris and Dell continued as tournament co-chairmen until 1994. John Harris' determination, generosity and dedication to the WTEF and the tournament now known as the Citi Open, will forever be remembered as the key reasons Harris has been named an inaugural WTEF Hall of Fame honoree.

Harris is now a Director Emeritus of the WTEF and in 2008 retired as President of Potomac Ventures Inc., a commercial real estate company.