Harold Clayton Shablom Jr. was born on July 24, 1960 in Elmira, NY to Daisy Hill Shablom and  Harold Clayton Shablom Sr. Growing up and working on numerous dairy  farms in upstate New York taught Harry the value of hard work at a very  young age: He would help milk the cows every day before heading off to  school. He attended Elmira Southside High School, where he proved  himself a natural leader, being elected class vice-president and  president. He exhibited his natural athletic ability in basketball,  football, and soccer. Never one to refuse to take on more, Harry also  participated in the National Honor Society, the Varsity Club, and the  Math Club, as well as on the newspaper and yearbook staffs.

As a  cadet, Harry rose to the rank of sergeant, playing corps squad  basketball, golf, and volleyball. Harry was passionate for the Fine Arts  Forum, Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA), and the Pistol and  German clubs. Even though his schedule was busier than most, he was  renowned for going out of his way to help others, hosting out of state  classmates for some down time at his home in Elmira. 

While Harry  worked extremely hard, he also managed to have a lot of fun. When  classmates first met Harry, the question that came to mind was, “Who is  this big Scandinavian looking guy who was so physically powerful with  such an amazing personality?” Harry, the class would soon find out, was  the guy that could make just about everything an adventure. Harry and  another classmate once dressed in yellow mock-HAZMAT suits, waking up  all the plebes in the middle of the night and telling them that there  had been a chemical accident in the showers that they needed to clean up  immediately. Yes, the plebe got wet.

After attending the Ordnance  Officer Basic Course, Harry was first assigned to the 2nd Forward  Support Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany from 1984 to  1986. Harry traveled extensively: Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark,  Prague, the USSR, and even Kenya. True to his style, Harry may have  been one of the only non-Germans to lead an Oktoberfest Festival band.  Of course he pulled it off like a maestro, wearing a loden hat and  making sure that the band was keeping proper time. While taking Europe  by storm, Harry still managed to earn his MBA from Boston University.

In  1987, Harry was assigned to the 782nd Maintenance Battalion, 82nd  Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He resigned his active duty  commission in 1988 as a captain but continued his service in the United  States Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel. He served in Haiti in 1995  and in Iraq from 2005 to 2006. Harry’s awards include the BSM, MSM, CM,  and CAB.

Harry married Nancy Ellis on May 27, 1989, the year after he  joined Mobil Oil Corp. Harry worked in marketing and sales for Mobil  Oil, 1988-2008, rising to general manager for Global Motorsports GM in  2008. Harry and Nancy moved often, living in Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia,  PA; Seattle, WA; Centreville, VA, South Africa, and finally Haymarket,  VA. One of Harry’s achievements was building the business case for  Ambassador Paul Bremer that would give the Iraq government a chance at  financial stability.

Harry and Nancy have three children: Harold  Clayton Shablom III (USMA ’16); Nicholas E. Shablom (UPenn ’20), and  Elizabeth A. Shablom (Mercer University ’22).

Harry always supported  the class. Harry efforts ensured the Class of ’83 would shatter the 30th  year reunion gift amount. Maybe in 2046, when Clayton has his 30th  reunion, his father’s record will be finally surpassed. Harry also  supported the Academy, conducting interviews for candidates in  Virginia’s 10th District. Harry was a member of the American Legion and  was instrumental in Boys’ and Girls’ State participation at Battlefield  High School.

Harry passed away suddenly on October 8, 2016 at 56  years old. A testament to how Harry lived his life was his son’s  quotation, “He maxed out St. Paul’s,” referring to the overwhelming  congregation at his funeral that spilled out of St. Paul’s Episcopal  Church. 

Harry was a big guy but his personality, heart and sense of  principle were much bigger. He was really larger than life in just about  everything that he did. He was a force of nature that would make sure  that he would accomplish something, and he would do it the right way!  Harry had an unstated 10-fold “pay it forward” rule. Harry always gave  you 10 times more than you gave and probably deserved.

Those who went  to USMA were indoctrinated with the concept of Duty, Honor, Country.  Harry also had a deep principle of not only doing things the honorable  way but just as importantly the right way. He instilled the “harder  right” in his classmates. 

“With a perpetual smile, Harry will  forever hold a special spot in our memories. He was always willing to  help and will continue to be a true friend and professional” —1983  Howitzer. 

“He has, and always will be, the one person who always  believed that I could do great things, regardless of the odds, and no  matter the circumstances. Whenever I felt unsure of myself, my dad was  there to keep pushing me to reach my potential” —Nick Shablom.