A friend remembers Harry Crewson
(Cont'd) A friend to all

Harry and I had a marvelously productive and informative first week of interview sessions during October 1997, and I would finish up the official part of our connection in January 1998 when I visited him for the first time in Sebring to conclude the oral history project. More importantly to me, however, Harry became my friend, and we continued communicating frequently by telephone, e-mail and during my thrice-a-year visits to Sebring, sometimes talking or writing about something he remembered that he wanted me to include in the oral history, other times just chatting about his grandchildren, his new computer, golf or politics. Harry's gone now. He passed away Jan. 21, less than two months before his 90th birthday. It was a sad time for us all -- his friends, his family, his University, his community. It was informative to hear all those people share all those stories all over again during his memorial service at the Galbreath Chapel. Like so many others, I miss him dearly, understanding that Harry was one of those rare human beings whose mere presence in our world improved our outlook. And although up until now I have mostly just listened as family and friends offered such high praise for him, I do indeed have my own "Harry" story to add to the mix -- a story I haven't told anyone else -- until now. Early in 1999 I was diagnosed with a cancer that had reached an aggressive stage. Like a lot of other people who get it, I was sometimes overwhelmed at the thought of it, and I was fortunate to have good doctors and good friends for support in my time of need. As it turned out, however, it was my friendship with Harry that may have given me the edge I really needed. Some time after I had revealed the status of my illness to Harry, he called me. By then I was in the midst of some heavy rounds of radiation treatment, and I could barely talk. But hearing Harry's voice on the phone always perked me up, and as usual he cheered me up further with his usual lighthearted banter about this political campaign and that golf tournament. Then Harry's demeanor grew serious and he said, "Bill, I just have a feeling that things are going to turn out all right for you." Sure enough, here I am four years later, and so far, things have turned out all right for me -- just as Harry promised. I'll never know precisely what his part in my recovery was. What I do know is that almost everyone tells me good medical work on the part of the doctors should be accompanied by a good positive attitude on the part of the patient. Well, for me, that conversation I had with Harry on the phone that night was an altogether inspiring and uplifting moment I shall never forget. He made that simple statement with such conviction that it gave me pause. Suddenly, for the first time since getting the bad news, I felt as though maybe I really had a shot. I remember getting off the phone and smiling to myself, thinking maybe this was Harry's way of telling me he had interceded with some pretty heavy principals to do some major negotiating on my behalf, and he had come away with yet another fair arrangement. Intro page Formative years Politics, philosophies and family life Arrival in Athens The civic leader The presidency/A University leader The public servant A friend to all Bill Kimok, now Ohio University archivist and records manager, was assigned the task of interviewing Harry Crewson for an oral history in 1997.