Hueston M. Harper

Hueston M. Harper passed away on March 8, 2005. Born in Tucumcari, NM, May 8, 1910, when it was still a territory, young Hueston soon realized the limited future in the life of a tenant farmer. He escaped to join his biological father in Los Angeles at the age of 18, hoping to pursue an education. Size and athletic ability helped earn him a scholarship to USC in the midst of the Depression. Mr. Harper played on the national championship football team in 1933 and was captain of the track team for USC, placing second nationally in the shot put. The newspapers dubbed him “Hippo Harper,” although he was small by today’s standards: 6’3” and 225 pounds.

In 1935 Hueston began his teaching and coaching career at Hemet High along with his wife, Margaret. Three of their four children were born in Hemet and the Harpers maintained close ties there, returning often for alumni reunions for the rest of their lives.

In the late ’40s Mr. Harper was a founding faculty member for Palomar College. Before the San Marcos campus was established, the school used the facilities at the old Vista High in the afternoon and evening and Hueston coached all the sports. In 1950 he transferred to Orange Coast College to teach anatomy and physiology and to coach track. Hue retired from there in 1974.

After settling in Fallbrook that same year, Hueston was able to give more attention to his favorite pastime, gardening. Along with maintaining an avocado farm, he was a member of both the Fallbrook Garden Club and the “Dirty Dozen.” Mr. Harper cultivated the art on Bonsai and was instrumental in erecting the Bonsai exhibit at the Wild Animal Park. When the couple moved to Eastridge Estates in 1990, Hueston became landscape coordinator for the project, emphasizing xeroscopic landscaping and native plants in the common areas.

After 61 years of marriage, Margaret died in 2001. Hueston was a devoted husband, father, teacher, coach and gardener, but most of all he valued education, never forgetting the opportunities it had brought to him and his family.

Hueston Harper is survived by his children Larry & wife Ann, Riverside, CA, Louise Elsner & financée Michael Birket, Vista, CA, Steve & wife Cheryl, Fairfield, OH, and Carolyn Henson & husband Doug, Fallbrook, CA. There are nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Silvergate Retirement Residence, 420 Elbrook Drive in Fallbrook.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Fallbrook Hospice or to the UCR Harper Scholar/Athlete Award Fund, C/O Prof. L. Harper, UC Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521.