ARTHUR B. POOLE
AWARD
1985 Honoree

HAROLD W. HUMPHREY JR.

Harold W. Humphrey Jr. of Harwinton Heights Road, was chosen as the 10th recipient of this award.

Humphrey served for 20 years on the Board of Finance and has been its chairman since 1975. He served on the board while Arthur Poole was chairman.

Humphrey was also chairman of the town Zoning Commission from 1957 to 1964. He served on the Commission for 10 years and was a member of the town Economic Development Commission for six years.

An active republican, Humphrey was on the GOP Town Committee for four years, serving both as treasurer and chairman of the nomination committee for two years.

A Registered Professional Engineer, he graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1939 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

He held the position of chief mechanical engineer of the Torrington Company’s Needle Division for many years and was the company’s senior research engineer before his retirement in 1983. He is now serving with the company on a consultant basis.

In addition Humphrey operates a sailboat chartering business in Westbrook. During the winter, he and his two brothers and two sisters run a Christmas tree growing business in Canton Center.

He as a past chairman of the Region 10 School Study Committee and for two years taught Sunday School at the Harwinton Congregational Church.

He is past chairman of the Society of Mechanical Engineers, Central Connecticut Chapter 148.

An avid sportsman, Humphrey, since 1972, has been a National Ski Patrol in New Hartford. Three years ago he passed patroller skills classification of senior.

For two years he held the title Connecticut State Champion Sports Care Rally Driver. Humphrey is a former member of the Valley Sports Car Club and is currently a member of the Porsche Club of America, Connecticut Region, Mountain Laurel Ski Club and the Pinewoods Tennis Club.

He was a NASTAR medalist in ski racing four times. As a softball pitcher, he currently has a record of three wins and no losses.

In addition to these interests, Humphrey lists his hobbies as gardening, photography, and motorcycling.

A widower for many years, he has five daughters: Joyce Meard of Coral Gables, Fla.; Judith Egnal of Toronto, Canada; Mary Lou Thomas of Orlando, Fla.; Nancy Case of Amherst, N.H.; and Kathryn Wollman of New Hartford. He also has five grandchildren.

This years Arthur B. Poole Award Committtee, which selected Humphry, includes John Bendoraitis, chairman, James Curtis, George Griben, Doris Smith and Helen Shanley.

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