Henry Harsch

Henry Harsch, age 71, of Asheboro died Sunday, August 2, 2015 at Universal Health Care of Ramseur. Mr. Harsch was born August 5, 1943 Unterweissach, Germany the son of Gottlieb and Emma Troester Harsch. Henry graduated from Asheboro High School in 1961. He earned a BS degree (1965) and a MA degree (1972) from East Carolina University where he was selected to the honorary fraternities Phi Sigma Pi (Historian) and Delta Phi Delta (President) and awarded the Outstanding Senior in the School of Art award. He also won the IGAEA Outstanding Visual Communications Award and selected for a Teaching Fellowship in the Master's program. He had to leave graduate studies for family affairs and taught 6th grade and Jr. High art class in Asheboro City Schools for one year. Upon completion of his Master's courses, he was hired by James Sprunt Community College to teach in their Commercial Art program. He joined Randolph Community College in 1968 to design and implement a new program called "Commercial Graphics" (now called Advertising & Graphic Design); it was the first of its kind in the NC Community College System. Mr. Harsch worked at RCC until 2001. During those years, he was involved in and initiated the following: initiated team teaching of courses; initiated the concept of hiring students to keep studios open at night so that students could work on their assignments; set up an emergency loan fund for his students by donating money from his free-lance work; sought financial aid for students from the Randolph Arts Guild (Dwight Holland made that happen); involved in the formation of the college's first Faculty Association and later was elected president for two terms. In 1976 he was appointed chairman of the Art & Design department and served in that capacity until retirement. He published two Reference Manuals for students to use as procedural guides for equipment operation and other instructional content. Henry was nominated by the faculty and awarded District winner of the Terry Sanford Award for Creativity and Innovation in Teaching. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award/Instructor of the Year. He was selected by the Department of Community Colleges to direct a 2-year Curriculum Improvement Project to research the practicality of including computer graphics in the instruction of Advertising Design & Printing programs in the state. His project was one of two to be extended an additional year to continue their work. He led the design and planning for the renovation of a building which would become the Design Center of RCC. His program won an Honorable Mention award from the American Association of Junior & Community Colleges and was one of 15 which was granted an award out of 600 applicants. Through is membership in the Printing Industries of the Carolinas for 25 years, his program was selected for the PICA/Weese student scholarship. He was appointed to the Steering Committee for RCC's conversion to the semester system and appointed several times as chairman of the Curriculum Committee. He directed requests for "live project" assignments for community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Randolph Arts Guild, Humane Society, Asheboro Fire Department, Randolph County Strategic Planning Committee RCC, as well as others. Mr. Harsch won several photographic awards in the Professional Photographers of NC competitions and had his photographs accepted in the NC Arts Council traveling show. He helped prepare the presentation book for Asheboro's bid for the NC Zoo and did freelance work for the NC Zoological Society. He also provided free design work for various local and public service organizations. He was a former member of the Asheboro Jaycees and served on the Randolph Arts Guild Board of Directors. He is survived by his sister Toni Harsch McCune of Asheboro; nieces Tammy Rushbrook and husband Harry of Asheboro and Rose Marie Harsch of Toronto, Ontario; nephews Roland Harsch of Toronto, Ontario and Bob Harsch and wife Tina of Pickering, Ontario. The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 4, 2015 from 12:30 - 1:30 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro. The graveside service will be held following the visitation at 2:00 PM at Randolph Memorial Park, 4538 US Hwy 220 Bus. North, Asheboro with Chaplain Tim Pheagin officiating.