Mr stroman oncourse
He was hired at Dobbins Vocational Technical High School as a Police Officer for the Philadelphia Board of Education. He was later Honored by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) upon reaching 50 Years of FOP Membership (Lodge #5).Īlthough he had retired from the Philadelphia Police force, he took on a new, yet familiar job. It seemed that everybody knew Officer Stroman. He served with firmness, resolve, compassion, and respect for the communities and students at Roosevelt Middle School where he served for several years. He was one of the good officers– he took a stand for justice on the force- even when he had to stand alone. He was a police officer for over 39 years and fulfilled his oath. He graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy in 1964 and was assigned to the 14th Police District.
Private Stroman even played football and basketball for the 2nd Army Brigade teams however, after he experienced race-related problems, he changed his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) to the Missile Master Control Center in Highlands, NJ where he earned the rank of Sargent E-5.Īfter his honorable discharge in 1961, Harold made another promise– he took an oath to serve the Philadelphia community - "to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression and intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder…" - by being sworn in as a Philadelphia Police Officer.
The Army wanted him to go to Germany, but he was never sent. He was a radar specialist from 1958 to 1961– completing his Basic Training at the Fort Jackson, SC military installation and serving in New York and New Jersey in early radar detection. Harold subsequently made the decision and a promise to protect our country and was sworn into the United States Army. He only stayed for two weeks though and left and returned to those he loved in Philadelphia.Ī Dedicated Protector - "This is My Promise" Harold's accomplishments were often featured in Philadelphia newspapers.Īfter graduating, he was playing football in a local neighborhood and was seen by an onlooker who said, "you need to be playing at a college somewhere!" The onlooker went on to help Harold secure a 4-year football scholarship to Central State University, Wilberforce Ohio, in 1957. In basketball, his defense was so formidable that he was always assigned to defend the opposing team's top scorer, and he was always successful - except when he went up against Wilt Chamberlain! By his senior year in high school, he was captain of all his sports teams and Simon Gratz High School honored his accomplishments with the "Outstanding Male Athlete" award. In elementary school, he anchored the shuttle relay team at the annual Penn Relays Track and Field Competition and won first place in junior high, he trained as a boxer with the Police Athletic League, and in high school, he was a triple-threat - excelling in football, basketball, and track. Harold displayed his athletic abilities very early in life– excelling in multiple sports from elementary school through to his high school years. The family later moved to Gratz Street in North Philadelphia.Ī Celebrated Athlete - "Standing on the Top" Despite the vast age difference Harold spent quality time with them. He became a big brother at the age of 17 as his brother John was born to his parents- then, three years afterward, another younger brother Michael was born. He attended Kelley Elementary School, Gillespie Junior High School, and Simon Gratz High School. A son of North Philly, he lived his early years at 19th and Dauphin, and his family later moved to James Weldon Johnson Homes. Despite this earlier-than-expected arrival (he was 2 months premature), throughout his life, he was a strong man physically, mentally, emotionally, and in principle. He was born to John and Marie (Willis) Stroman on October 31, 1937, in Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, where he lived all his life, notwithstanding his years in the military. Our beloved Harold Stroman, 84, passed away on February 22, 2022. Stroman was born Octoin Philadelphia, PA. Harold Stroman, age 84, of Philadelphia, transitioned Tuesday, Februin Philadelphia, PA.