Clifford B. Harmon

Clifford B. Harmon seated in airplane

Clifford Burke Harmon (July 1, 1866 – June 25, 1945) was a wealthy real estate developer and aviator. He founded the International League of Aviators (Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs) and was the sponsor of the Harmon Trophy. Harmon's real estate success came from developing suburban New York, New York villages, such as Pelhamwood and Harmon-on-Hudson (incorporated into Croton-on-Hudson, New York in 1932).[1]

Biography

He was born on July 1, 1866 in Urbana, Ohio. He had a brother, William Elmer Harmon.[2]

On August 20, 1910 Harmon became the first man to fly across the Long Island Sound. He flew from Garden City to Greenwich. [3]

In 1926 he started the Harmon Trophy for aviation.[4]

In 1931 he created the Clifford B. Harmon Cup to be awarded to amateur golfers.[5]

In 1932 he may have tried to commit suicide in Cannes, France.[6]

He died on June 25, 1945 in Cannes, France. In his will he left $48,431 for the continuation of the Harmon Trophy.[7][4]

Legacy

Among other things, the Metro North Railroad station Croton-Harmon and the Croton-Harmon School District are named after Harmon.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  2. ↑ "Realty Developer, W.E. Harmon, Dies. Built Up Immense Business in Nearly Two Score Cities. Started With $1,000. Noted For Philanthropies. Established the Harmon Foundation, Which Has a Wide Field for Activities. Decided Everybody Wanted Land. Firm Started With $3,000". New York Times. July 16, 1928. Retrieved 2013-12-29. William Elmer Harmon of 120 East Seventy-fifth Street, retired real estate operator, who established and endowed the Harmon Foundation for philanthropic purposes, died ...
  3. ↑ Picture History of Aviation on Long Island 1908-1938, George C. Dade and Frank Strnad, Dover Books, page 8.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Harmon Air Prizes Upheld By Court. Heirs Lose Battle to Obtain $55,000 Bequeathed in 1945 to Continue Awards". New York Times. June 29, 1948. Retrieved 2013-12-29. The $55,000 bequeathed by the late Clifford B. Harmon, Westchester real estate operator and aviation enthusiast, for continuation of the annual Harmon international air trophies constitutes a valid charitable trust, Surrogate Charles H. Griffiths ruled here today. ...
  5. ↑ "Amateur Golfers to Compete for Clifford B. Harmon Cup". New York Times. May 17, 1931. Retrieved 2013-12-29. Designed to improve putting throughout the world, the Clifford B. Harmon International Cup to be competed for by amateur golfers ...
  6. ↑ "Recovering From Poison. Clifford B. Harmon Drank Quantity of Disinfectant by Mistake". United Press in the New York Times. February 14, 1932. Retrieved 2013-12-29. Clifford B. Harmon, American aviation enthusiast, was recovering tonight from the effects of having drunk a quantity of disinfectant ...
  7. ↑ "$48,431 To Harmon Fund. Sum Willed by Air Enthusiast to Maintain Trophy Awards". New York Times. October 27, 1948. Retrieved 2013-12-29. A trust fund of $48,431 has been established from the residue of the estate of the late Clifford B. Harmon, Westchester real estate operator and aviation enthusiast, for continuation of the annual award of the Harmon International Air Trophies, according to an estate tax appraisal filed yesterday.

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