(From Simpson Funeral Home)The family of Harold Conner, 93, of Norman, OK, is saddened to announce his passing on July 26, 2024, at the age of 93 at the Legend at Rivendell Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City, OK.
Harold was born to John and Beulah (DeMoss) Conner, on March 6, 1931, in Locust Grove, OK. The family eventually settled in Webb City, MO, where Harold graduated from Webb City High School. Harold continued his studies at Joplin Junior College and the University of Kansas earning associates, bachelor’s, and a master’s degree in architectural engineering along the way. In 1991, he added an additional master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma for good measure.
Initially Harold went to work as a structural engineer for North American Aviation in Southern California, where he consulted on the X-15 hyper-sonic plane, as well as the Saturn V rocket. After two years in California, he took a position with the Portland Cement Association in Chicago where he spent twenty-two years doing research, management, and computer programming. In addition to being an early advocate for technology in construction (he retired as the association’s Director of Information Systems), Harold became an expert on reinforced concrete.
In 1980, Harold moved to Norman, OK, to teach at the University of Oklahoma. In 1983, Construction Science formally became a division of the College of Architecture at OU with Harold as the Director. He continued in that role until his retirement in 1996.
Over that time Harold led the program to its initial accreditation and subsequent reaccreditation, laying the foundation for this popular degree. Conner’s research, specifically on the structural impacts of disasters, took him around the world to places such as the Murrah Federal Building bombing site in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1991, to the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, tornado devastation in Moore, OK, on May 3, 1999, and ground zero of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City after September 11, 2001.
Harold was always a strong advocate for industry involvement in construction education and the importance of student internships. In 1999, he even established an endowed scholarship for the highest performing intern from Construction Science at OU. In 2019, he also established a scholarship at Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Jr. College) specifically designed to provide a grant to a student who, like him, were working to pay their own way through college.
Harold was always a strong advocate for industry involvement in construction education and the importance of student internships. In 1999, he even established an endowed scholarship for the highest performing intern from Construction Science at OU. In 2019, he also established a scholarship at Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Jr. College) specifically designed to provide a grant to a student who, like him, were working to pay their own way through college.
Harold is preceded in death by his former spouse Jaqueline Conner-Wolthausen (nee Hulsey), two sisters; Johnnie Mae (Conner) Huey; Myrtle Lee (Conner) Babbitt, and one brother; Dee (Kathleen) Conner.
Harold is survived by his longtime companion; Carolyn Montgomery, whom he met at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Norman, OK, three sons; Bruce (Maripat) Conner, Evergreen, CO; Bart (Nadia Comaneci) Conner, Norman, OK; and Michael (Teri) Conner, Hawthorn Woods, IL; four grandchildren Bradley Conner, Jamie Lee (Conner) Berger; Katie Conner, and Dylan Paul Conner; and one great granddaughter, Adalynn Maye Berger.
Despite his extensive accomplishments, Harold was always humble and unassuming. He often displayed his father’s brick trowel and an album filled with pictures of the unique stone houses he built together with his father in Webb City, MO.
Despite his extensive accomplishments, Harold was always humble and unassuming. He often displayed his father’s brick trowel and an album filled with pictures of the unique stone houses he built together with his father in Webb City, MO.
From modest roots, Harold earned degrees in higher education, found professional success, and spearheaded the creation of a new degree program at OU for which he was the first inductee into the OU College of Architecture Hall of Fame in 2022. On top of his personal accolades, Harold was especially proud of his three boys; Michael, an electrical engineer in the Chicago area; Bruce of Evergreen, CO, retired pilot/captain at United Airlines, and; Bart Conner, of Norman, OK, a winner of two 1984 Olympic gold medals in gymnastics.
A private burial ceremony for the family will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, MO, and a celebration of life will be held later this summer in Norman, OK. Any donations that support the education of young students would certainly be appreciated by Harold and his family.
Services are under the personal care and direction of Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City, in cooperation with Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman, OK. The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Harold.
No comments:
Post a Comment