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Harold and Ellen |
Born 24 March 1910, at Harrison, Sioux County, Nebraska
Died January 29, 2004, in Sioux County, Nebraska
After graduating from Sioux County High School in 1929, Harold attended the University of Nebraska. Due to the Depression, but primarily his love for ranching, he returned to the ranch to work for his father. When his father leased out the ranch in 1938 he was out of a job.
He ran for Sioux County Sheriff and was elected in the fall of 1939. While serving as sheriff he became acquainted with the County Assessor’s daughter. After receiving orders to report for duty in World War II, the County Sheriff and 18-year-old recent high school graduate Ellen Howard eloped to Harrisburg. A few days later, his orders to report were rescinded and he did not enter the service until April of 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
He was initially stationed at Lubbock, Texas, where his first son was born in December 1942. He then entered Officer Training School and upon graduation was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in November of 1944.
In the spring of 1945 he and Ellen moved onto the old home ranch on the Niobrara River where they resided until their deaths.
He was a life-long member of the Harrison Memorial Methodist Church and
managed the Lord’s Herd, initially established by his mother, Grace. He
served as a member of the Sioux County Board of Regents for twelve years.
He was a longtime member of the Crawford Hereford Breeders Association
and the Nebraska Hereford Breeders Association and was recognized as an
outstanding producer and promoter of the Hereford Breed. In 1956 he was
instrumental in raising the necessary matching funds to accomplish the
paving of Highway 29 from Harrison to Mitchell.