Resident Spotlight: Colonel Harold P.

Kensington resident Colonel Harold P. was selected by his alma matter Central Michigan University to be inducted into their Retired Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame. This ceremony recognized Harold’s lifetime achievements and service to the CMU Chippewa Battalion in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and the United States Army (USA).

The celebration featured a distinguished guest Dr. George E. Ross, President of CMU. Harold’s family was grateful that President Ross made a special trip to The Kensington to personally honor and present the ROTC induction plaque to him. In addition, Dr. Ross presented the Colonel’s official Army uniform in a museum glass shadow box. The ceremony featured a detailed life story of Harold, prepared and delivered by his daughter Kim.

Harold was born on Green Street in Antrim County, Michigan and was the first of ten children born to Curtis and Irene P. In 1953, Harold graduated Mancelona High School (MHS) as Salutatorian, and in 1957 graduated CMU Cum Laude and a Distinguished Military graduate. That same year, Harold received his commission through CMU ROTC as a Second Lieutenant, and was a branched in the Army Signal Corps. He served in the Army for over 26 years. His service included two overseas tours in Germany and two combat tours in Vietnam. Among his many accomplishments, he was awarded the Bronze star for meritorious service in wartime, and twice awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious peacetime service.

Col. Harold earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Michigan State University (1966) and received advanced degrees from the Naval War College (1971), and National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Force (1981).

After his military career, Harold worked another 27 years as a Senior Communications Analyst for several Washington, DC based companies, including Analytic Services Corporation, Anteon and Alion. In that role, he supported the Air Force and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners. Harold traveled extensively to Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, England, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of the Congo.

In 2006, Col. Harold established an endowment scholarship to provide financial aid for his hometown MHS students to attend Central Michigan University. Col. Harold feels education is a necessity, and everyone should have the opportunity to have one.

He retired in 2012, after 53 years of military and government contracting service.