Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Leadership and Educational Studies Harold E. Wilson (May 22, 1927-) was born in East Liverpool, Ohio. He and his wife, the former Mary Frances Omwake (deceased April 18, 2001) had five children: Daniel, Diane, David, Andrew, and Erica. Wilson attended Ohio State University in Columbus, where he received his B.S.Ed, degree (1951), M.Ed, degree (1954), and Ph.D. degree (1964). From 1945 to 1946, Wilson was on active duty in the United States Navy; he was then in the Naval Reserves from 1946 to 1982 and had earned the rank of Captain. As part of his Navy duties, Wilson conducted evaluations of Naval Recruit Training at all three Recruit Training Commands for the commander of Naval Air Atlantic. After being recalled to active duty in 1972, he also was the officer-in-charge of the School of the Ship Training Program, developing the program for the U.S.S. Nimitz. Wilson began his career in education as a science teacher and coach at Chillicothe High School, Chillicothe, Ohio, where he taught from 1951 to 1954. He was superintendent of the Amity Local School District in Mt. Vernon, Ohio (1954-56), and of the Jefferson Local School District in West Jefferson, Ohio (1956-60). Wilson served as a research assistant (1960-62) in the president's office, at Ohio State University, Columbus. He also served as assistant superintendent of the Lancaster City School District, Lancaster, Ohio (1962-64), and as superintendent of the Cuyahoga Falls City School District, also in Ohio (1964-87). In 1969, Wilson was a visiting professor at Ohio State University in Columbus and served the University of Akron first as a visiting professor (1974-75) and then as an adjunct professor (1975-87). He additionally was an onsite tutor at the Naval Postgraduate School (1979). Wilson came to Appalachian State University as a professor in 1987. During his time at Appalachian State, Dr. Wilson was acting chair and chair of the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. He was on the Ed.D. degree proposal writing committee, serving as member and subcommittee chair of the group designing the Ed.D. degree program established in the fall of 1992. He also was the director of the Willard Fox Symposium (1989-98), designed to promote the interaction of business, political, and educational leaders. Dr. Wilson has consulted privately with various institutions. He was retained by the state university system of West Virginia to determine the building utilization efficiency of various state colleges and universities and was contracted by Ohio State University, under the direction of Dr. John Corbally, to develop a method of costing student participation in various courses offered by the university. The method was adopted by the Ohio Board of Regents as a method of determining per pupil costs. Wilson also has had numerous private consulting appointments in school facilities needs/utilization, management-labor relations, management training and school finance. Wilson's service projects have included directing and coordinating a management audit of the Caldwell County North Carolina School System, and sitting on the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Exhibitors Scholarship Committee, the AASA Educational Excellence Committee, and the Fanny Mae/AASA Be sinning Teacher Award Selection Committee. In 1972, Wilson authored a book with Fian Mayer titled The Effective dell Publishing Company). In addition, he has published many journal and periodical articles, including: . "An Ending and a Beginning-Preparing for the Twenty-First Century." Proceedings of the First Annual Willard Fox Symposium. Department of Leadership and Higher Education Appalachian State University. (September 1989)-• "Understanding the Realities of School Politics" (With T.O. McDowelle.) The Adm tor 47.8 (September !990) 43, 45. • "Employee Background Checks." (With R.G. Hall and K. Rodabaugh.) Managing School Business (February 1997) : 9-10. Dr. Wilson also published various articles in the Watauga Democrat during his academic career. Among the honors Wilson has received are the E. E. Lewis Award in 1961 (Outstanding Graduate Student in Residence-Area of School Administration, Ohio State University); the Dan Brady Distinguished Service Award in 1966 (Cuyahoga Falls Jaycees Award for Outstanding Community Service); the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Distinguished Service Award in 1970; the PTA District 13 Educator of the Year Award in 1978; the Educational Administrator of the Year-Educational Office Personnel of Ohio in 1979; the Distinguished Alumni Award College of Education, Ohio State University in 1986; and the Distinguished Service Award-Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation in 1992. In 1999, Wilson received the American Association of School Administrators Leadership for Learning Award at the dedication of the Harold E. Wilson Administration Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Wilson's professional affiliations include memberships in Phi Delta Kappa, the American Association of School Administrators, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (past president), the Ohio Congress of School Administrative Organizations (past president), the W. Howard Nicol School of Practical Nursing (advisory board), and the Ohio Parent Teachers Association (life member). In addition, Wilson was president of the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of the Cuyahoga Falls Civic Music Association, and he served on the board of directors of the Akron Regional Development Board, board of directors of the United Services for the Handicapped, and of the Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation. Dr. Wilson is currently a professor and director of the doctoral program at Ashland University of Ohio where he is involved in ten dissertations (chairing six) and nine major doctoral student projects. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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