IU1 Mourns the Death of First Executive Director, Harry Brownfield.

Harry Jay Brownfield, 78, of Hopwood, Pa., died on Thursday, August 2, 2007 of sudden acute leukemia.

Harry was born on December 1, 1928, in Fairchance, Pa., a scion of one of Fayette County's pioneer families. He was the son of Harry John and Mildred (Doolittle) Brownfield, who predeceased him.

Harry graduated from South Union Township High School in 1946 and attended Slippery Rock State Teachers College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education in 1950. Harry's first position out of college was a teacher and coach at Point Marion High School.

He served in the United States Army Signal Corps during the period of the Korean Conflict.

After military service, Harry returned to his teaching and coaching position at Point Marion, during which time, he also received a Master of Arts degree in School Administration from West Virginia University and earned a principal's certificate and superintendent's letter of eligibility. Harry next served as Supervising Principal in the then Wharton Union School District.

In 1963, he was appointed as Assistant County Superintendent of Schools of Fayette County and in 1968, he was elected as Fayette County Superintendent of Schools, following in his late father's footsteps (his father had served as County Superintendent from 1938 until his death in 1953). In 1971, upon the legislature's abolition of the old County Superintendent system and its replacement with the new Intermediate Unit system, Harry was elected as the first Executive Director of Intermediate Unit No. 1, covering Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties. He continued in this position until his retirement in 1993, having served for 43 years in Pennsylvania public education.

Harry was active in a number of civic, community and religious organizations. He currently served on the Penn State Fayette Campus Advisory Board. He formerly served as President of the Uniontown Exchange Club and as a member of the Westmoreland-Fayette Council, Boy Scouts of America, in various administrative assignments. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

He was a long-time Boy's and Girl's PIAA High School Basketball referee and for a number of years, served as President of the Disey E. Simon Chapter of Basketball Officials.

Harry was a life-long sports enthusiast, playing baseball, basketball and running track, among other sports. At Slippery Rock, he was very successful as a sprinter and was inducted into the Slippery Rock University Athletic Hall of Fame. Harry was a member of the Hopwood United Methodist Church for over 60 years and served as Chairman of its Trustees Council for many years and for a time as a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of various Masonic lodges and was a 33rd. degree Mason.

Harry was married on May 28, 1955, to Martha Jayne Dietrick of Harrisburg, who survives, along with three sons: Harry Jay, Jr. of Harrisburg and his wife, Jill, David J. of Crystal Beach, Florida, and Todd A. of Bethel Park and his wife, Gina. He is also survived by three grandsons: Benjamin A., Jack R. and Alexander T. of Bethel Park. Also surviving are three sisters: Vivian Lesnett and husband, Dell of Bridgeville, Joan Moore and husband, Jack of Hiller and Linda Bradstock and husband, Jack of Gaithersburg, Md.; three aunts: Mrs. Elsie Caton of Blairsville, Mrs. June Kretzing of North Beach, Md., and Mrs. Betty Ross of Uniontown; together with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends will be received in the Donald R. Crawford Funeral Home, Hopwood, Pa., on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at Hopwood United Methodist Church on Monday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Mark Ross (cousin of the deceased) and Pastor Randy Costolo, co-officiating.

Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Brownfield, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harry J. Brownfield Fund, Slippery Rock University Foundation, Slippery Rock, Pa., 16057, to be used for educational purposes.