Harland Eugene Priddle was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, the youngest of three children of Edgar and Sylvia Imel Priddle. He grew up on the family farm near Haven, Kansas originally established in 1883 by his grandfather Vincent Priddle. Harland graduated from Haven High School in 1948 and Kansas State University in 1952. He married Winifred Ann Smith of Haven on August 29th, 1948. They had three children, Valorie Ann, Harland Gregory and Kevin Eugene. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church near Haven. Harland passed peacefully at their home in McAlester, Oklahoma on December 12th, 2023 at the age of 93 years, four months and eight days.
After graduating from Kansas State University in January 1952, he enlisted in the United States Air Force on April 15th, 1952 and spent 22 years before retiring as a Colonel in July 1974. He is a Korean and Vietnam veteran with seven years overseas assignments and nine years in Washington D.C. including tours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Harland was the Deputy Commander of the White House Communications Agency for the President at the White House in Washington D.C. for a period of four years from 1970-1974. He participated in the planning and execution of over two hundred presidential trips, including three international trips to Europe and Asia. During his 22 years, he received nineteen awards and decorations including the Bronze Star for duties in Southeast Asia, Joint Chiefs of Staff Service Badge, two Legions of Merit, the Presidential Service Badge and Presidential Unit Citation.
After retirement, he and the family returned to Kansas where he served as the Assistant Manager of the Kansas State Fair and Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations for Hutchinson National Bank from 1978 to 1982. He served as Kansas Secretary of Agriculture in 1982-1986 under Governor Carlin. In 1986, he was the Lt. Governor candidate with then Kansas Secretary of State, Jack Breir. In 1987, he was selected by Governor Mike Hayden as the first Kansas Secretary of Commerce and was the Lt. Governor candidate with Governor Hayden in 1990.
After his public service to Kansas, he served as President of Priddle and Associates, an economic development consulting firm; as the Executive Director for several organizations including the Kansas Wildscape Foundation and the K-96 Corridor Development Association; Chairman and CEO of Mid America International Trade Services and Network Trade Associates from 1995-1998, a company that promoted QVC products in all 50 states; and he was Chairman and CEO of First American Capital from 2003-2007.
Since returning to the Priddle Farmstead in 1999, Harland was very active in local community activities serving as President of the Haven Chamber of Commerce in 2003 and Executive Vice President from 2004-2009. He has served as advisory Board member of the First National Bank, Haven branch, Director of the Kansas International Trade Coordinating Council and Board member of the Kansas World Trade Center. Harland was awarded the Kansas World Trade Center’s “Peace Through World Trade Award” in June 2005. In June 2015, Harland was awarded the Kansas Silver Stirrup from the Kansas Department of Commerce Team Kansas, an award given to an individual who has made significant economic development accomplishments for the State of Kansas in creating jobs and wealth in the State. Harland
was honored to have had a street named “Priddle Industrial Drive” in his hometown of Haven. In September 2023 the Kansas Commerce Department honored Harland by renaming their main conference room the “Harland Priddle Commerce Conference Room” in honor of his dedication to the people of Kansas and the Department of Commerce.
While Harland dedicated his life to public service by serving his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years, and several state and local positions of leadership, he considered his wife Winifred and his family as his true treasures of life. He loved having visits by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a dedicated supporter of his original family church, Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, a church his grandfather Vincent Priddle, served as Trustee for in 1891. He loved his high school and served as President of the Haven High School Alumni Association, an organization he started, with the help of others in 2005. Harland was an avid sports fan and watched his Kansas State University, Kansas University, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals at every opportunity. Harland completed his book entitled “On The Sidelines of History” in 2020 at the age of 90 in order to pass on life lessons he learned on his journey from the farm house to the White House and back.
Harland is survived by his wife of over 75 years, Winifred, and his three children Valorie Ann Dick and her husband William, Harland Gregory Priddle and his wife Ann and Kevin Eugene Priddle and his wife Michelle. 10 grandchildren: Angela Dick Akamine and her husband Andres, Aubrey Dick White and her husband Jacob, Jonathan Dick and his wife Lara, Crystal Dick Langdon and her husband Bryan, Shalerie Priddle Headley and her husband Jon, Shalise Priddle Quinlan and her husband Patrick, Shalaine Priddle Alexander and her husband Keaton, Katherine McKenzie Priddle, Tyler Moore (step grandson) and James Bean (step grandson). He had 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Sylvia Priddle, and his sisters Ellen Priddle Sullivan and Eva Priddle Oldenettel and grandson John Harland Priddle.
Services will be held at the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church near Haven, Kansas on Thursday, December 21st, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. with viewing starting at 9:00 a.m. The services will be livestreamed at www.livestream.mcpherson.tech. Graveside services will be at Valley Township Cemetery nearby. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, in care of Ott Funeral Home, PO Box, 217, Haven, KS 67543.