COL. HAROLD M. BEARDSLEE

SCOTT CITY -- Retired U.S. Army Col. Harold Maurice Beardslee, 49, died at his home in Scott City Thursday, Feb. 14, 1991, following a lengthy illness.

He was born Nov. 29, 1941 in Detroit, Mich., the son of Maurice and Elizabeth Garber Beardslee of Benton.

He married the former Sharon Engelke on May 25, 1963 at St. Louis. She survives of the home.

Beardslee graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1964 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was honored as Distinguished ROTC graduate.

While still in the Army, he returned to the Rolla campus and completed his master of science degree in engineering management in 1970.

Beardslee's military career spanned 26 years, including assignments in Germany and Australia and two tours in Vietnam.

From 1978 to 1980, he served as commander of the 307th Airborne Combat Engineer Battalion at Ft. Bragg, N.C.; from 1980-83 he was professor of military science at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio; from 1983-86 he served as officer in charge of the move of the U.S. Army Engineer School from Virginia to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.; 1989-90, he was program manager for the research, development and acquisition of a major combat vehicle system at the Tank and Automotive Command, Warren, Mich.

He retired from the Army in February 1990.

Among the awards and decorations he received during his military service are: Legion of Merit clusters, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal.

He was a member of the Scott City Broadway United Methodist Church and the Society of American Military Engineers.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by two sons, Timothy Scott Beardslee, Laramie, Wyoming and Michael Thomas Beardslee, Rolla, Mo.; one brother, Thomas A. Beardslee, Benton.

Friends may call today after 2 p.m. at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City.

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Col. Marvin Konynbelt, post chaplain at Ft. Leonard Wood, and the Rev. Ron Dunivan, pastor of the Broadway Methodist Church, officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Oakdale Cemetery near Commerce.