James ‘Buck’ Harless has supported and encouraged the initiative of the June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development named in honor of June Montgomery Harless, one of Southern West Virginia’s most avid supporters of education and medical research.

 The mission of the June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development, which reflects the philosophy of both ‘Buck’ and the late June Harless, is to provide leadership in education initiatives for West Virginia educators and students.  The Center provides educators and families of rural West Virginia with a support system that addresses educational problems, sustains school improvement, and provides positive growth in all educational factors.  Among the initiatives of the Center are the Effective Schools Project, statewide standards-based mathematics training, delivery of foreign language and upper level mathematics and English classes, and professional development for educators through interactive videoconferencing.