Roy Franklin Harpster
Tree Tag: V0009
Presented By/Date: Mrs. Helen Ann Harpster
Dates of Birth/Death: April 11, 1934 - June 27, 2014
Dates of Military Service: November 23, 1956 - November 17, 1958
Service Branch/Stations: U.S. Army Military Police / Germany
Highest Rank: Specialist 4
Veterans Hometown: Boalsburg, PA
Who is this Veteran? Roy F. Harpster was a 1952 graduate of State College High School. In 1956 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, 508th Military Police Battalion, in Germany. He was the Commander and President of the American Legion Post #779, a member of State College Elks Post #1600, a lifetime member of the Boalsburg Fire Co. and Undine Fire Co. #2, Harris Twp. Game & Fish Assn., Union Co. Sportsman Club, and the Little Shingletown Archers. He also served as President and Past President of the 508th Military Police Battalion Alumni. Roy was a supervisor at PSU for 33 years working in the Agricultural mail room. In 1971 Roy married Helen Ann Stephens, Boalsburg. He is also survived by four children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Roy participated in many sports, including baseball, soccer, basketball, and softball throughout high school. He found his calling in softball where he umpired games for over 44 years in the Amateur Softball Assn., PIAA, NCAA. Roy served for 33 years in the ASA as the Umpire-in-Chief for District 8. He also served as the PA Deputy Umpire-in-Chief. In 1998 Roy received the "Tom Mason Award" from the ASA Central Atlantic Region; he was inducted into the PA State ASA Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 1998 he was inducted into the National Indicator Fraternity for Umpires for umpiring in at least three national tournaments. He umpired a scrimmage game for the US Olympic Softball team. Roy conducted many umpire and training clinics because he enjoyed helping and teaching rules interpretation and mechanics to improve umpires. Roy was responsible for organizing the first PA State Softball umpires training clinic. In honor of his volunteer service to the community, in 2014 a flagpole was placed at the John Hess Softball Field Complex in memory of Roy's 13 years of service on the CRPR Authority representing Harris Twp.
About this Tribute Tree: Somerset Red Maple (Acer rubrum 'Somerset')
Planting Date: The tree was planted in the in Spring of 2014.
Park Location and GPS Coordinates: Oak Hall Regional Park, N 40 47.444, W 077 47.566