Clayton C. “Duke” Harrah
July 16, 1900-February 17, 1969
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, February 18, 1969, page 2, col. 1-2
“Duke” Harrah Dies
Palo Alto, Calif.-- Clayton C. “Duke” Harrah, 68, whose father, William F. Harrah, founded the National-Standard Co., in 1907, died here Monday after an extended illness.
Mr. Harrah was founder of Duke Harrah, Inc., which manufacturers[sic] aircraft engine accessories. The company was founded in 1941.
William Harrah founded several manufacturing concerns in the Niles area, the most successful being National-Standard, which manufactures flat wire braid, wire tape, high pressure hose and related products in plants around the world.
Mr. Harrah is survived by his wife, Sonya; a son, Michael, Ann Arbor; a daughter, Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Hickerson, and a grandson, Edwin Hickerson.
Mr. Harrah was born July 16, 1900 in Des Moines, Iowa and has been a resident of the area since his family moved here in 1905.
He was an aeronautical engineer and president of Duke Harrah Inc. He married Sonya Berta Stone , Nov. 14, 1936 in Niles.
He was a 33rd Degree Mason, member of the Niles Elks Lodge and First Presbyterian Church.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home and are incomplete. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday. Burial will be in the Harrah Room of the mausoleum in Silverbrook Cemetery.
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, February 19, 1969, page 2, col. 3
NILES—Funeral services for Clayton C. “Duke” Harrah, 68, of Harrah Road, Berrien Crest, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the First Presbyterian Church. The pastor, Rev John R. Wyngarden, will officiate. Burial will be in the Harrah Room of the mausoleum of Silverbrook Cemetery.
Mr. Harrah died Monday in Palo Alto, Calif. After an extended illness. He was president of Duke Harrah Inc., an active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and a board member at Western Michigan University.
Active bearers for the services are Steve Schroeder, Sam Milner, William Reum, Charles Milner, Clarence Osborn and Eugene Debevic.
Honorary bearers are Peter Shermeta, Paul Dzur, Guy Heim, Judd Leighton, Casper Grathwohl, Richard E. Willard, Reynald Wood, George Evers and Marvin Hannewyk.
Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home beginning Friday.