Harold V. Mackey

Harold V. Mackey passed away quietly in his sleep on 1 March, 2011 after a long and successful life. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Caroline, his children Bruce and Katherine, three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Harold was born on March 25, 1918 in Hanford, the fourth generation of the family to live there. Raised in Hanford, success came early to him, he graduated as the Valedictorian of Jefferson Elementary School where he was active in sports, scholastics and school politics, serving as his class President. These early successes followed him to Hanford High School where he was very active in sports, lettering in Track and Football, elected to several class posts and finally graduat- ing as his class Valedictorian in 1936. He entered the University of California at Berkeley and continued to distinguish himself both academically and athletically. As a Freshman he received his Varsity letter in Track and was a member of Scabbard and Blade and Pershing Rifles in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. While in college, he also found time to participate in the Army National Guard. Graduating in 1940 with a degree in Chemistry, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Or- dinance Corps and proceeded to Basic Officers Training. Based on his outstanding performance, he was selected as one of the, "Golden One Hundred" one of one hundred officers nationwide receiving a regular Army commission. During World War II, Harold served in the European Theater of Operations. His skills in German and Engneering were utilized during this period. Following the capture of Nazi military industrial sites he would review materials for their intelligence value. After World War II he was stationed at the Pentagon where he met and married his lifelong partner, Caroline, who was also a Major in the Army. They moved to New York City where he received his Masters Degree from New York University and where their son, Bruce was born. He was assigned to a post in Germany in 1950 where his daughter, Katherine was born. Assigned as the Assistant U.S. Army Attache to Switzerland for three years he was decorated for his outstanding intelligence accomplishments in that post. Following this assignment he was posted to several assignments of increasing importance including two years in the Republic of China, (Taiwan).
Harold retired from the military in 1962 and began his second career in education. After teaching in New York for a year, the family moved to Hanford and he was hired by his alma mater, Hanford Union High School, as an instructor in Chemistry. He taught for twenty-three years educating several generations of students and winning numerous awards for his teaching abilities. He took great pride in the successes of his students and hosted an annual event in which many came back to Hanford to talk to his classes about their experiences. His accolades were capped in his selection as Kings County Teacher of the Year in 1983 and, in 1996, with his selection to the Hanford High School Hall of Fame.
He retired in 1987 and pursued his life long hobbies of gardening, woodworking and reading. He passed away after a brief illness.
This obituary was originally published in The Hanford Sentinel.