Harold Haswell's Obituary
Dr. Harold A. Haswell of San Antonio, TX passed on to be with Christ on Sunday January 23, 2011. Harold was raised in Mansfield, MO graduating from high school in the 1929 class. In his younger years he pastored several Baptist churches in and around Mansfield and Hartville, MO. Harold graduated from Bolivar Baptist College, and went on to receive his doctorate from Missouri University. Harold was Dean of Men at Bolivar Baptist, and went on to be President of Washita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. From this position Harold was selected to be director over higher education for the five Baptist colleges in Texas and Arizona. These included Baylor, Rice and others. From here Harold was asked by the United States Department of Health, Education, & Welfare to come to Washington DC to work in higher education for the U.S. Government. Harold had a very special opportunity granted him when a young man came into the offices asking all the other department heads if they had any extra money in their budgets to fund a program he desired to place on Public TV. Harold told me he listened as the young man presented his program about teaching children still at home how to count, their ABC’s, and reading so as to prepare them for kindergarten. All turned him down, but when he got to Harold he found a willing ear. The young man was Jim Henson who produced Sesame Street for Public TV. Harold provided the funds to get this institutional program on the air. Harold was working on another program with similar goals at that time and this TV program would enhance the program Harold was working on. Harold called it “Head Start”. Of all the different things Harold accomplished in his life I believe he was most pleased with the Head Start Program that has made such a great impact on the lives of millions of children across America. In his latter years Harold participated in the Senior Olympics representing the State of Texas. He won several gold and silver medals for swimming. At his death Harold was 98 years, 10 months old. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Harry A. and Kanah Haswell, his brothers Robert M, (Bob) and John Haswell, and his wife Mildred (Liles) Haswell. He is survived by his son Colonel Edward A. Haswell retired and his wife Margery, with whom Harold lived his last years. Harold had 4 Grandchildren, Edward A. Haswell II and Karla Goldsberry, Gloria J. Haswell, Harold J. Haswell, Corinne & David Fines, and Jeffery & Veronica Haswell. 7 Great- grandchildren, Jeremiah Haswell and Lindsey Haswell, Joshua Haswell, Benjamin, Jessica, and Quinton Noack, Athena and Lance Barr, Barrette, Britney, and Jessica Fines, Edward Haswell III, Ruby Haswell, Jeffery Haswell, Noah Haswell, and Elijah Haswell. 6 Great-Great Grandchildren, Shayna, Nicole, Kevin, & Brook Noack, Duel Barr, and Greer Haswell. The funeral will be held in the chapel of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home at Mansfield, MO, Saturday January 29, 2011 at 10:30 AM. The Reverend Robert J. Haswell will be officiating. Interment will be in the Mansfield Cemetery. Any of Harold’s many friends, or students are invited to attend.
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