Haarold Eichman was born February 3, 1913, in Berlin, Wisconsin. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from July 20, 1942 to December 4, 1945. Mr. Eichman worked at Fairbanks, Morse & Company and later joined Besly-Wells as a sales correspondent. Prior to his retirement, he was promoted to marketing administrator for the Besly-Bendix Corporation. “The center of his life was drama,” said his long-time friend and well-known drama enthusiast, Betty Reinholz.

He studied drama at the Goodman Theater and at Marquette. Not surprisingly, it was drama that turned the spotlight on Mr. Eichman in the Beloit community, for his outstanding work with the Beloit Civic Theater. Mr. Eichman joined the Beloit Civic Theater in 1941, was a leader of that organization for the next 47 years and during his tenure directed over 50 plays. Mr. Eichman, for many years, was involved with the Rock County 4-H Drama Festivals and his 4-H groups won many prizes for their presentations.

He took a great interest in the navy, sponsored Explorer Sea Scouts and served as Skipper of Ship #581. Mr. Eichman was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Beloit and was honored by the club upon completion of his direction of his fiftieth play for the Beloit Civic Theater. Other awards in-cluded Beloit Booster, 1973 and the Beloit Daily News Headliner Award in 1984. During his retirement years Mr. Eichman was a member of Grinnell Senior Center where he was a regular volunteer. Sharing of his talent and enthusiasm and giving freely of his time and service, Harold Eichman brought countless hours of enjoyment of high class and entertaining theater to his community.