Watch this tribute to Harry Dallara and an overview of the Harry Dallara Foundation
About Harry Dallara
Harry Dallara was born in the Bronx, New York, and spent his adult life following his active service in World War II in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was initially stationed for basic training in the United States Army.
He fought and was wounded in the Allied Campaign in Italy and North Africa and received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained following his participation in the Allied invasion at Salerno Beach.
After his return to Spartanburg, Harry married, began raising and family, and established a career in tires and automotive part sales, primarily at Sears, where he worked for 40 years. A dedicated family man and an avid sports enthusiast, Harry “discovered” Tryon and Harmon Field in the 1950’s. Harry’s baseball roots go back to the early years of the New York Yankees, where he attended many games in the 1920’s and had the occasion of meeting both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and he succeeded in passing along his love for the game to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Harry in a pick-up game of baseball at his home in Spartanburg at the age of 92.
Love for Tryon
Over the decades, he developed a deep and abiding affection and admiration for the people of Tryon and the community itself. Because of its natural beauty and serene atmosphere, this special location at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains captured his attention, and for the next 60 years, he organized frequent trips to Tryon for baseball games and family picnics. He developed a particular attraction for the baseball diamond adjacent to the children’s playground. Over the years, these family outings began to include extended family and friends, continuing until the spring of 2012.
Harry and son Charles pose for a photo near the entrance to the Harmon Field complex.
He played his last game at the baseball field in March of that year and passed away on April 27th 2012, following his last visit to the field three days prior. The Harmon Field baseball diamond, along with the many fond memories he developed there, represented to Harry a unique combination of his love for baseball, for family, and for Tryon.
Harry playing ball in his 90's at Harmon Field.
One of the many family gatherings at Harry's favorite baseball diamond
Harry and family gathering for a picnic in one of the covered pavilions.
Harry's last time at bat at Harmon Field in 2012, and, yes, he hit the ball.
The Rose Man
After Harry's retirement from a nearly 40-year career in tire and automotive sales at Sears, Harry applied for and was awarded the job as the tender of the rose gardens at Converse College, a women's liberal arts college in Spartanburg. Having no technical knowledge of growing and tending roses, Harry used the resources of the public library to learn about the craft and worked for nearly ten years as "the rose man" at Converse. In 1990, the Converse College students dedicated the yearbook to Harry because of his love for the students and his habit of giving them roses on their way to their classes.
