Harry Colmery

After high school, he graduated from Oberlin College in 1913; earned a degree from the law school at the University of Pittsburgh in 1916; and relocated to Utah, where he was admitted to the bar in 1917. His law career was interrupted with the outbreak of World War I in April 1917. During the war, he served in the Army Air Service as an instructor and pursuit pilot. Before his discharge in April 1919, he had accumulated 500 hours flying time. He then served as a captain in the Officers Reserve Corps, air service, for 10 years. On December 20, 1919, he married his college sweetheart Minerva Hiserodt; they had three children. The couple relocated to Topeka, Kansas where he started a practice law with John S. Dean. Since his military service during World War I had a huge impact on his life, he was an advocate for veterans for the rest of his life. He joined the American Legion and was involved at the local, state and national levels serving as the National Commander of the American Legion in 1936. His name became a “household word” because of his diligent work with veterans.