Harold Houser

File:Harold Houser grave.jpg.]]

Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia to Emmett and Mary Mathews Houser.{{cite web|url=http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf|title=The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007|last=Sorensen|first=Stan|author2=Joseph Theroux|year=2007|publisher=Government of American Samoa|pages=78; 244|accessdate=4 May 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325111039/http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf|archivedate=25 March 2009}} Houser attended the Marion Military Institute, graduating in 1916,{{cite web|url=http://www.marionmilitary.edu/skins/userfiles/file/MARION%20MILITARY%20INSTITUTE%20ADMIRALS%20AND%20GENERALS%20edited(1).pdf|title=Marion Military Institute Generals and Admirals|publisher=Marion Military Institute|pages=3|accessdate=4 May 2010|location=Marion, Alabama|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929202044/http://www.marionmilitary.edu/skins/userfiles/file/MARION%20MILITARY%20INSTITUTE%20ADMIRALS%20AND%20GENERALS%20edited(1).pdf|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}} before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy on May 26, 1917. Houser graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the Class of 1921.{{cite web|url= http://mmiarchivist.blogspot.com/2010/09/radm-harold-houser-16-governor-of.html|title= RADM Harold A. Houser '16: Governor of American Samoa|date= September 2010|publisher= MMI Foundation |accessdate= September 2, 2012}} During his naval career, he served in numerous posts, including commanding the Naval Air Station Key West and serving as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Omaha.

He was married to Vera Allen Houser.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0F02BC1D76973&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Navy Capt. Ernest Hipp, 72, WWII, Vietnam vet Linda Kubany, 44, UMd. football secretary Harvey M. Shields, 44, archaeologist, analyst Vera Allen Houser, 92, widow of rear admiral|date=16 June 1993|work=The Washington Times|publisher=News World Communications|accessdate=4 May 2010|location=Washington, D.C.}}

Houser held posts in Panama, France, and Key West throughout his career.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72155705.html?dids=72155705:72155705&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+15%2C+1993&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Norman+Chaudet+Dies%3B+High+School+Athletic+Director&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026135219/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72155705.html?dids=72155705:72155705&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+15,+1993&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Norman+Chaudet+Dies%3B+High+School+Athletic+Director&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2012|title=Norman Chaudet Dies; High School Athletic Director|date=15 June 1993|newspaper=The Washington Post|pages=C. 09|accessdate=4 May 2010|location=Washington, D.C.}} He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy on May 26, 1917 from Georgia,{{cite book|title=Report of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1920|pages=262|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XDEoAAAAMAAJ&q=%22harold+Alexander+houser%22&pg=RA2-PA262|accessdate=4 May 2010}} and graduated in 1921.{{cite news|title=City News|date=18 May 1921|work=Macon Telegraph|publisher=Anderson|pages=6|location=Macon, Georgia}} While a Commander, Houser served as the gunnery officer of the USS Omaha (CL-4).{{cite news|title=Americans Reach France in Safety|date=27 January 1939|work=The New York Times|pages=1|location=New York City}} As a Captain, Houser commanded the Naval Air Station Key West.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9DouAAAAIBAJ&pg=2997,3545767&dq=harold-houser&hl=en|title=Commodore Angus Inspects Naval Base|date=9 November 1947|work=The Miami News|pages=16|accessdate=4 May 2010|location=Miami}}

After becoming a Rear admiral, Houser served on the staff of the United States Secretary of Defense.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDs0AAAAIBAJ&pg=4572,2567853&dq=harold-houser&hl=en|title=Blood Plasma Sold as Army 'Surplus'|last=Colbert|first=Haines|date=24 December 1942|work=The Miami News|accessdate=4 May 2010|location=Miami|page=22}} Houser served numerous posts in the Office of Legislative Affairs, including becoming the legislative liaison for the Retired Officers Association.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1981/09/06/harold-houser-84-dies/da2cf3ad-3755-4aeb-9724-4c2175ecf82a/ |title=Harold Houser, 84, Dies |newspaper=Washington Post |date= |access-date=10 August 2022}} He became the Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison in 1949.{{cite book|title=Official Register of the United States|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1959|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lsohAAAAMAAJ/page/n123 111]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lsohAAAAMAAJ|quote=harold A houser.|accessdate=4 May 2010}}

Houser became Governor of American Samoa on September 10, 1945.{{cite journal|last=Sorensen|first=Stan|date=19 September 2006|title=Historical Notes|journal=Tapuitea|publisher=Government of American Samoa|volume=I|issue=24|pages=2|url=http://americansamoa.gov/Tapuitea/Tapuitea60919.pdf|accessdate=4 May 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527140829/http://americansamoa.gov/Tapuitea/Tapuitea60919.pdf|archivedate=27 May 2010}} While governor, he served as a representative of the United States Navy at a meeting of the major Pacific powers, including Australia and New Zealand.{{cite news|title=Meeting Planned for Pacific Area|date=5 January 1947|work=The New York Times|pages=32|location=New York City}} He ceded the office to Vernon Huber on April 22, 1947.{{cite web|url=http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-vernon-huber|title=Captain Vernon Huber|year=2010|work=Governors|publisher=Government of American Samoa|accessdate=4 May 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527143444/http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-vernon-huber|archivedate=27 May 2010}}

Houser became a Rear Admiral after leaving the governorship, and served as Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison at the Office of Legislative Affairs

Houser died of natural causes on the day September 3, 1981 at the National Naval Medical Center. He is interred at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery, along with his wife.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://mmiarchivist.blogspot.com/2010/09/radm-harold-houser-16-governor-of.html Marion Military Institute Archives]

{{Governors of American Samoa}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houser, Harold Alexander}}

Category:1897 births

Category:1981 deaths

Category:Governors of American Samoa

Category:Marion Military Institute alumni

Category:United States Navy admirals

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:People from Fort Valley, Georgia

Category:Burials at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery