H.M. Harper Jr.
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Brief Biography
Full Name: Harvey Mitchell (Mitch) Harper Jr.
Born: 10/02/1924
Died: 11/13/77
Parents: Harvey Mitchell Harper Sr., Margaret Little Harper
Siblings: Charles L. Harper, Kenneth B. Harper
Birthplace: Evanston, IL
Spouse: Ellen Coale Harper
Children: Mike, Stephen, David & Diane
Grandchildren: Mitch Harper, Brad Harper, Molly Harper Shah, Katie Harper Nelson, Allison Harper Farmer, Taylor Harper, Stephanie Stefanik, Brandon Harper, Ellie Hands, Katie Hands
Full Biography
Early Life
Written by Steve Harper
Dad was born at Evanston Hospital at 10:35 am. on Oct. 2, 1924 to Harvey Mitchell Harper & Margaret Louise Little who were both 23 years of age at that time. Unlike Dad, Mom was born at her home by a mid-wife. Grandmother & Grandmother lived at 1818 Sheridan Rd.. in Evanston.
Not much is known about Mitch’s early childhood because his younger brother Charles is no longer alive. His younger brother Ken is not in a position to profile Mitch’s early years because he is sixteen years younger than Mitch. Two of the things that are known about Mitch’s early years are that he grew up in the Winnetka area and that he went to Camp Owakonze in the North Woods of Ontario Canada. .Camp Owakonze was founded in the 1920s by Duke Childs, the head coach at New Trier High School. The summer camp provided numerous rigorous outdoor “character building” experiences including wilderness camping and canoe trips. A review of the camp’s list of alumni shows the names of numerous of Mitch’s friends who he knew throughout his adult years.
Education
Written by David Harper
Mitch graduated from Skokie School (Jr. high) in Winnetka in 1938 and Hotchkiss on June 10, 1942. He went to Princeton in the Fall of 1942 before enlisting in the US Navy on Dec. 11, 1942. While at Hotchkiss, Mitch was voted “greatest heartbreaker”, “handsomest” & “best build”. According to the Hotchkiss newspaper (Hotchkiss Record), Ellen Jane Coale from Finch Jr. College was Mitch’s mid-winter guest on Feb. 22, 1942. Ellen’s hostess was Mrs. White. Mitch served on the Decoration Committee in 1942. The Hotchkiss Record dated Oct. 8, 1942 stated that the Hotchkiss football team defeated Berkshire 13 to 0 & that Mitch was highlighted: “Harper tallies on interception as brilliant interference sparks long run” & “C. Brown & Harper score as Blue captures opener”. In the article it read: Mitch Harper, Hotchkiss quarterback, intercepted a pass on the 25 yard line and “pumped” toward the goal 75 yards away. The Record also mentioned Mitch stopped Berkshire from scoring by his “bowling over” the Berkshire player at the 2 1/2 yard line. Mitch played in the backfield. His stats were: 164 pounds, 5’ 10”, #27. Mitch’s team mate was Bruce Norris who he kept in touch with after the war.
Military Career
Written by David
Mitch served in the capacity of RT (radio technician) 2/C (second class) USNR on the Fletcher Class Destroyer, Dashiell, that was launched on February 1943 & commissioned in March 1943. It arrived in Pearl Harbor on July 24th 1943. He enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 11, 1942 per his mother’s directive vs. the Army so he would always have a roof over his head and better living accommodations. After training, he entered into active service on July 1, 1943 in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 20th 1945 from the U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center in Great Lakes, IL. For more info on the Dashiell when Mitch served see article on Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dashiell_(DD-659)
While in active service, Mitch & Ellen were married Dec. 21, 1943 and son, Mike, was born on February 23, 1945.
Family
Written by
H. M. (Mike) Harper Jr. (1945)
Stephen Coale Harper (1947)
David Law Harper (1951)
Diane Harper Hands (1955)
Marriage
Written by
December 21, 1943
Mitch, age 19, & Ellen, age 20, were married on Dec. 21, 1943 in Ellen’s parent’s home in Kenilworth, IL. According to Ellen’s long time friend,
Dar Kuhn, Dar introduced Mitch to Ellen.
Adulthood
Written by
This was a famous Harper family photo called “The Harper Men” circa 1952. Left to right: Charlie Harper (Mitch’s younger brother) David Harper ( Mitch’s youngest son sitting on lap), Mitch’s dad…(H Mitchell Harper nickname “Mike”) ,Steve Harper (Mitch’s second oldest son sitting on lap), Ken Little
( Margaret Harper’s father. Margaret was “ Mike” Harpers wife), Kenny Harper (Mitch’s youngest brother), Mitch, and H. Mitchell Harper III
( Mitch’s oldest son also known as Mike).
At different times from 1960 until his passing, Mitch served as Director of the H. M. Harper Co., Bank of Chicago, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Skokie Valley Industrial Assn., Rota-Forg, Ugine-Harper S.A., Anti-corrosive Metal Products Co., Communication Systems Corp., Harper Aer-o-line, Evanston Hospital, First National Bank of WIlmette, and Rittenhouse & Embree.
He also served as Chairman of the Business DIvision Skokie Valley United Crusade & WInnetka Caucus Committee, as Trustee of the Village of Winnetka and Secretary of the Evanston Hospital Board.
Mitch belonged to Glen View Club, Princeton Club of Chicago & John’s Island.
Old Blue 1955 Mercedes
Mike in front of first Winnetka house
2300 Clover Lane Northfield 2nd house
1930 Chrysler with rumble seat
429 Sheridan Rd 1967 Blizzard
429 Sheridan Rd rear of house
Mitch chillin with his Dad & Roland Weary
The famous beach house at 429 that hosted many great parties
Xmas 1966
John''s Island House Vero Beach FL
Career
Written by
Mitch’s career began at the H. M. Harper Company on April 1, 1946. He held numerous positions concluding when he resigned as Vice-President of Material Management and Secretary/Treasurer of the board of directors on May 7, 1971. He also was President of Are-O-Line Manufacturing and Supply Company based in Anaheim California when the H.M. Harper Company bought it in 1970.
Yet his career had other dimensions. Even though the most noteworthy part of his career revolved around the decades he spent at The H. M. Harper Company, he was also involved in other enterprises as well as an investor. In addition being part of the group (mostly composed of friends) that bought the Milwaukee Braves that moved the baseball franchise to Atlanta in 1966, he was also part of the group that established a bank in Wilmette. The bank was started with the expectation that the Illinois legislature would enact legislation allowing branch banking. This visionary and entrepreneurial move positioned the bank to be acquired by one of the Chicago-based banks. His gutsy investment strategy also included Pengo Natural Gas Drilling which was a gas exploration and drilling business.
His career also included being involved being involved in community-based entities.
Below is a picture from the famous, annual Harper Company picnic in August 1935. Pictured are Margaret, on the left with a hat on, Mike in the middle front, with Charlie Harper to his right.. Mitch, who would have been age 10, must have been at camp. The picture is only 1/2 of the pictured employees. You can left click on the picture to enlarge it. To close the enlarged picture, click on the “X” in the upper right.
Harper Family Reunion 2014 less Mike Harper & family
Death
Written by
This may have been the last picture taken of Mitch before he passed. It was taken between June and August 1977.
To understand the last few years of Mitch’s life one needs to recognize his father had a heart attack a few years before his father died of a stroke in 1964 when his father was only sixty-three. In the fall of 1968, Mitch had a heart attack. Until then, he could have been the poster child for enjoying life. He enjoyed all sorts of food, a beverage or two with friends and family and all sorts of activities including golf, tennis and swimming, Yet the heart attack was a “reality check” for him. Even though many of his friends and family may not have known it, his doctor told him his next hart attack would be his last and that it might happen within ten years. Knowing this, Mitch did adjust his lifestyle - especially reducing high cholesterol foods.. He continued his efforts to stay fit by continue to play tennis, golfand swimming. He even playing touch football the day before Steve’s wedding in 1970. The most noteworthy change, however, occurred when he decided to take early retirement for the H.M. Harper Company in 1972. He then directed his attention to having a home built in John’s Island, Florida (which he and Ellen moved into as a winter home) in 1973. He also continued spending time with his family until he died of a heart attack while playing paddle tennis at Glen View Club on November 13, 1977. He is buried at the Christ Church courtyard in Winnetka. The site is very appropriate given that his final resting place is on a bluff across from Lake Michigan.
Personal Stories
From his son Steve:
There is a funny story about my dad when it came to having boats at the Sheridan Road house. Supposedly, my mother had my father agree there would not be any boats for the first summer. One afternoon in the first summer, my father pulled into the driveway trailing an old and much used 14-foot wooden boat with a 35 horse Evinrude motor. My mom exclaimed, “Mitchell, we agreed there would not be a boat for the first summer!” He responded, “Ellen, this really isn’t a boat.” Well, he was right, it wasn’t much of a boat … but it was the beginning of what would be newer, faster, and bigger boats.
When we moved into the Sheridan Road house, mom and dad had new carpeting put in on the first floor. The new carpeting looked great until mom’s golden retrievers relieved themselves rather than outside a couple of times. There were not any carpet cleaning products for urine stains so the few stains drove mom and particularly dad crazy. I remember one day when a new stain appeared, instead of dad getting angry at the dogs, he got down on all fours and chased the dogs around the first floor!
This is more a family story than a personal story. It seemed like our houses in Northfield and Winnetka were always filled with the songs and music of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. These and other classic singers provided a welcoming and upbeat environment for mom and dad, but also for their kids. I was fortunate to hear Ella Fitzgerald with mom, dad and Mrs. Olsen (at the time) at the Drake Hotel. Years later, I had a chance to attend a Frank Sinatra concert. I still enjoy listening to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Their voices and music take me back to some of the “golden years” associated with growing up around mom and dad.
When Mike and I were in high school dad called us to the card table in the living room at the Sheridan Road house. He told us he wanted us to learn how to play bridge - which he considered to be a great game and way to develop and exercise our minds. Instead of talking about learning to play bridge which Mike continues to do today, I want to talk about the card table. The card table was a place where we did play bridge as well as Backgammon (also acey-deucey), gin rummy (which we also played with Grandfather Coale at his house) , Monopoly and Yahtzee. The card table became a place where each of us “battled” each other and our friends - occasionally for money! Looking back over the years it is clear that that table and its four chairs traveled from mom and dad’s houses all the way to mom’s last residence at The Presbyterian Home in Evanston. It became her dining room table where she ate almost every meal there for her last ten years. Fortunately, Diane adopted the table and has it at her home in Stillwater Minnesota. The table is just one of the only family heirlooms that has traveled in the family for decades. The table was more than just a table. It was where we as members of the family came together for to enjoy our relationships and on many occasions, it was where many memories were created. By the way, the Sheridan Road house also had a pool table in the big room on the third floor. That table also was the place where numerous “battles” also took place! By the way, I have the dining table (that can seat ten people comfortably) that was a major part of family gatherings and celebrations over the years at Sheridan Road. I consider it to be “Rockwellian” in the sense that in continues to be where family gatherings and celebrations continue to take place..