Harold Simeroth

Harold Simeroth

Harold Simeroth was born in Purcell in 1922 where he grew up on a farm with 7 other siblings. Harold was of large stature, especially for the 1940’s, and grew eventually to 6’ 6” and 260 pounds.

He graduated from Purcell High School in 1941, where he was a star athlete in football, wrestling and track. He received All-State honors in all three sports.

Simeroth received an athletic scholarship to The University of Oklahoma where he continued to participate in all three of those sports. Harold lettered as a tackle for the Sooners football team in 1942.

His time at University of Oklahoma was cut short due to World War II and Harold joined the Army Corp of Engineers. He had almost completed his courses when they shut down the classes and sent him and his classmates to the front line in Europe.

Harold was in three major battles during the war including The Battle of the Bulge, The Bridge at Ramage and the Plain of Cologne. Among other accomplishments in the Army, he received three Bronze Stars and the Medal of Valor and he served under General Omar Bradley, and later under General George Patton.

After the war, Harold remained in Europe for six months as he was invited to be a part of an Armed Forces Wrestling Clinic Team. The team traveled through most of the European countries and Harold wrestled the heavy weight champion of each country. We are told that he won every match.

When Harold returned home, he attended Oklahoma A&M University where he completed his bachelor’s degree in engineering. He also participated on the Oklahoma A&M wrestling team where he lettered in 1947. He also lettered on the A&M track and field team in 1943 and in 1946-1947.

Harold spent the next few years in Oklahoma but moved to California in 1951 where he worked as an engineer for Northrup. Later he was an engineer and worked on radar systems for Hughes Aircraft in Fullerton, CA. During his career at Hughes, he completed his MBA degree at Pepperdine and eventually retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1980.

In 1982, Harold was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Track Program Hall of Honors. Recently, Harold has also been selected by Purcell Football Alumni to the 1940’s PHS All-Decade Football Team as a defensive tackle. He was also chosen as a member of the All-Time PHS Football Team (1895 – present day) as a defensive tackle.

Harold married Ann Castleman in June 1942 after they had both completed their freshman year at The University of Oklahoma. They had six children including Harold (Bo), John L., Marilyn, Debbie, Danny and Rosann.

Harold and Ann were married 64 years when Ann died in 2006.

At 98 1/2 years old, Harold is still alive and just recently moved from his home, where he was living independently, into an assisted living place in Hemet, CA where he lives in his own apartment.