Harry Fletcher, ’55 UWP

USAF Historical Research - Retired

Freeport, Illinois

A native of Platteville, Harry’s education began in “Old Main” in the Training School of the State Teacher’s College. He served in WW II, and later in the Occupation of Germany, 1949-1952, commanding construction companies composed of displaced European personnel. Graduating from UWP in 1955, he taught briefly in Wisconsin public schools, followed by a semester of graduate work at LSU. In 1958 he became the first Resident Director of Asa M. Royce Hall, while assisting in History. At this time he also commuted to UW-Madison for grad work. Moving in 1961 to Madison, he continued his graduate study in European History. In 1963 he accepted the post of Editor-in-Chief of the USAF’s German Historical Monograph Project. In 1969 he chaired the Social Studies Department at Troy State University’s evening branch in Montgomery, Alabama, where he organized undergrad programs for use at USAF overseas bases in Europe, and developed the first Criminal Justice degree program in Alabama. Returning to the Civil Service in 1974, he researched, wrote, and edited for publication a number of studies and histories for the USAF, a number of which were later published commercially. He was considered to be the Air Force’s expert on captured German and related records, and represented the USAF at several conferences. Retiring with honors in 1990, he now lives with his wife, the former Barbara Utt, who was a professor at UWP in the Music faculty. Both remain keenly interested in the growth and development of UWP.