Published: September 22, 2007 07:06 pm         

Arts center named for Eugene Harr

PETERSBURG, W.Va. — The theatre in the new Performing Arts Center in Grant County will be named “The Eugene K. Harr Theatre.” The decision was made in appreciation of the gift of $150,000 which the Grant County Library received from Eugene Harr’s estate.

Harr, the son of the late Eugene Debs Harr and Lucille “Tippy” (Kyle) Harr of Petersburg, was born in Cumberlan in 1939. He was a graduate of Petersburg High School, Class of 1957, and attended Potomac State College and West Virginia University where he graduated in January of 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

In March of 1962, he reported to work at the Federal Housing Administration in Washington.

Harr spent his entire career in government service, having worked many years as budget officer for the Internal Revenue Service. While working for the IRS, he completed a short two and a half year assignment in Atlanta, Ga. From 1988 until the time of his retirement in 1999, he worked as a budget officer for the U.S. Information Agency (now known as the International Broadcasting Bureau) in Washington.

He had a passion for antique cars and enjoyed fishing and visiting family and roots in West Virginia. He owned a home in Canaan Valley for several years for weekend enjoyment.

Harr died in 2000 after suffering an eight-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Shirley A. (Jarrell) Harr of Ashburn, Va.; two daughters: Jennifer A. Campbell of Sterling, Va., and Amy K. Harr of Alexandria, Va.; two granddaughters: Alison Campbell and Hanna Campbell, of Sterling; and a sister, Dr. Debra Harr of Morgantown.

When Mr. Harr was a youth in Petersburg, his father was the manager of the local movie theater, the Alpine Theater, which later became the Seneca Theater. His entire family was active in the community in civic organizations and appreciated the arts, according to Joann Harman of the library board.