# Harold Houser

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Harold Alexander Houser Governor of American Samoa In office September 10, 1945 – April 22, 1947 Preceded by Samuel Canan Succeeded by Vernon Huber Personal details Born March 31, 1897 Fort Valley, Georgia Died September 3, 1981(1981-09-03) (aged 84) National Naval Medical Center Resting place United States Naval Academy Cemetery Spouse Vera Allen Houser Alma mater United States Naval Academy Occupation Naval officer Military service Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Navy Rank Rear admiral Commands Naval Air Station Key West Office of Legislative Liaison

**Harold Alexander Houser** (March 31, 1897 – September 3, 1981)[1] was a [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) [Rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)), and the [governor of American Samoa](/source/Governor_of_American_Samoa) from September 10, 1945, to April 22, 1947.

## Biography

Houser's grave at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in [Annapolis, Maryland](/source/Annapolis%2C_Maryland).

Houser was born in [Fort Valley, Georgia](/source/Fort_Valley%2C_Georgia) to Emmett and Mary Mathews Houser.[2] Houser attended the [Marion Military Institute](/source/Marion_Military_Institute), graduating in 1916,[3] before receiving an appointment to the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) on May 26, 1917. Houser graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the Class of 1921.[4] During his naval career, he served in numerous posts, including commanding the [Naval Air Station Key West](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Key_West) and serving as a gunnery officer aboard the [USS *Omaha*](/source/USS_Omaha_(CL-4)).

He was married to Vera Allen Houser.[5]

## Naval career

Houser held posts in [Panama](/source/Panama), [France](/source/France), and [Key West](/source/Key_West) throughout his career.[6] He was appointed to the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) on May 26, 1917 from [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)),[7] and graduated in 1921.[8] While a Commander, Houser served as the gunnery officer of the *[USS Omaha (CL-4)](/source/USS_Omaha_(CL-4))*.[9] As a [Captain](/source/Captain_(United_States)#U.S._Navy,_U.S._Coast_Guard,_U.S._Public_Health_Service,_and_National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration), Houser commanded the [Naval Air Station Key West](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Key_West).[10]

After becoming a [Rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)), Houser served on the staff of the [United States Secretary of Defense](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_Defense).[11] Houser served numerous posts in the [Office of Legislative Affairs](/source/Office_of_Legislative_Affairs_(United_States_Navy)), including becoming the legislative liaison for the Retired Officers Association.[12] He became the Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison in 1949.[13]

## Governorship

Houser became [Governor of American Samoa](/source/Governor_of_American_Samoa) on September 10, 1945.[14] While governor, he served as a representative of the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) at a meeting of the major Pacific powers, including [Australia](/source/Australia) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand).[15] He ceded the office to [Vernon Huber](/source/Vernon_Huber) on April 22, 1947.[16]

Houser became a Rear Admiral after leaving the governorship, and served as Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison at the [Office of Legislative Affairs](/source/Office_of_Legislative_Affairs_(United_States_Navy))

## Death

Houser died of natural causes on the day September 3, 1981 at the [National Naval Medical Center](/source/National_Naval_Medical_Center).[2] He is interred at the [United States Naval Academy Cemetery](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy_Cemetery), along with his wife.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-grave_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-grave_1-1) ["USNA Cemetery Documentation Project"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100602034502/http://www.usna.edu/cemetery/PDF%20Files/Section%207/1616-%20Houser%2C%20H.%20A.pdf) (PDF). *United States Naval Academy Cemetery & Crematorium*. [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy). Summer 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.usna.edu/cemetery/PDF%20Files/Section%207/1616-%20Houser,%20H.%20A.pdf) (PDF) on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cal_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cal_2-1) Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux (2007). ["The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090325111039/http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf) (PDF). [Government of American Samoa](/source/Government_of_American_Samoa). pp. 78, 244. Archived from [the original](http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf) (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Marion Military Institute Generals and Admirals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110929202044/http://www.marionmilitary.edu/skins/userfiles/file/MARION%20MILITARY%20INSTITUTE%20ADMIRALS%20AND%20GENERALS%20edited(1).pdf) (PDF). [Marion, Alabama](/source/Marion%2C_Alabama): [Marion Military Institute](/source/Marion_Military_Institute). p. 3. Archived from [the original](http://www.marionmilitary.edu/skins/userfiles/file/MARION%20MILITARY%20INSTITUTE%20ADMIRALS%20AND%20GENERALS%20edited(1).pdf) (PDF) on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["RADM Harold A. Houser '16: Governor of American Samoa"](https://mmiarchivist.blogspot.com/2010/09/radm-harold-houser-16-governor-of.html). MMI Foundation. September 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Navy Capt. Ernest Hipp, 72, WWII, Vietnam vet Linda Kubany, 44, UMd. football secretary Harvey M. Shields, 44, archaeologist, analyst Vera Allen Houser, 92, widow of rear admiral"](http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0F02BC1D76973&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM). *[The Washington Times](/source/The_Washington_Times)*. [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.): [News World Communications](/source/News_World_Communications). 16 June 1993. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Norman Chaudet Dies; High School Athletic Director"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121026135219/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72155705.html?dids=72155705:72155705&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+15,+1993&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Norman+Chaudet+Dies%3B+High+School+Athletic+Director&pqatl=google). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) 15 June 1993. pp. C. 09. Archived from [the original](https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72155705.html?dids=72155705:72155705&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+15%2C+1993&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Norman+Chaudet+Dies%3B+High+School+Athletic+Director&pqatl=google) on October 26, 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Report of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty*](https://books.google.com/books?id=XDEoAAAAMAAJ&q=%22harold+Alexander+houser%22&pg=RA2-PA262). [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.): [United States Government Printing Office](/source/United_States_Government_Printing_Office). 1920. p. 262. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "City News". *[Macon Telegraph](/source/The_Telegraph_(Macon))*. [Macon, Georgia](/source/Macon%2C_Georgia): Anderson. 18 May 1921. p. 6.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Americans Reach France in Safety". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [New York City](/source/New_York_City). 27 January 1939. p. 1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Commodore Angus Inspects Naval Base"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9DouAAAAIBAJ&pg=2997,3545767&dq=harold-houser&hl=en). *[The Miami News](/source/The_Miami_News)*. [Miami](/source/Miami). 9 November 1947. p. 16. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Colbert, Haines (24 December 1942). ["Blood Plasma Sold as Army 'Surplus'"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDs0AAAAIBAJ&pg=4572,2567853&dq=harold-houser&hl=en). *[The Miami News](/source/The_Miami_News)*. [Miami](/source/Miami). p. 22. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Harold Houser, 84, Dies"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1981/09/06/harold-houser-84-dies/da2cf3ad-3755-4aeb-9724-4c2175ecf82a/). *Washington Post*. Retrieved 10 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [*Official Register of the United States*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lsohAAAAMAAJ). [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.): [United States Government Printing Office](/source/United_States_Government_Printing_Office). 1959. pp. [111](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lsohAAAAMAAJ/page/n123). Retrieved 4 May 2010. harold A houser.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Sorensen, Stan (19 September 2006). ["Historical Notes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100527140829/http://americansamoa.gov/Tapuitea/Tapuitea60919.pdf) (PDF). *Tapuitea*. **I** (24). [Government of American Samoa](/source/Government_of_American_Samoa): 2. Archived from [the original](http://americansamoa.gov/Tapuitea/Tapuitea60919.pdf) (PDF) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "Meeting Planned for Pacific Area". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [New York City](/source/New_York_City). 5 January 1947. p. 32.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Captain Vernon Huber"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100527143444/http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-vernon-huber). *Governors*. [Government of American Samoa](/source/Government_of_American_Samoa). 2010. Archived from [the original](http://americansamoa.gov/governors/captain-vernon-huber) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

## External links

- [Marion Military Institute Archives](https://mmiarchivist.blogspot.com/2010/09/radm-harold-houser-16-governor-of.html)

v t e Governors of American Samoa Commandant (1900–1905) Tilley Sebree Minett Underwood Naval (1905–1951) Moore Parker Crose Post Stearns Post Woodruff Poyer Terhune Evans Pollock Kellogg Bryan Graham Lincoln Spore Emerson Lincoln Landenberger Latimore Dowling Fitzpatrick Milne Hanson Wallace Wild Larsen (alongside Wild) Moyer Hobbs Hungerford Canan Houser Huber Darden Civil (1951–1978) Phelps Elliott Ewing Judd Lowe Coleman Lee Aspinall Haydon Mockler Ruth Barnett Lee Elected (since 1978) Coleman Lutali Coleman Lutali Sunia Tulafono Moliga Mauga Pula

Authority control databases VIAF GND WorldCat

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harold Houser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Houser) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Houser?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.