Harry D. Callie

Class of 2011

Harry D. Callie, the founder of Callie’s Candy Kitchen, has been in the industry for 58 years — all but four years of his entire working career — as a candymaker, instructor and consultant.

Born June 11, 1933, in Bangor, PA, to Harry and Mamie, he attended Bangor High School, and graduated in 1951. He had a brother, Sam.

In February of 1952, he married Carol at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Roseto, PA. They have three daughters: Patti, Lynn and Gretchen, and three grandchildren.

At the age of 19, he purchased a candy store/luncheonette in Bangor, which was later named Callie’s Candy Kitchen.

In 1969, he completed Retail Confectioners International’s Gus Pulakos Candy School at Gannon College in Erie, PA, and has been an RCI member ever since.

Later, in 1972, Harry opened Callie’s Candy in Mountainhome, PA, which operates as a retail store and a wholesaler of Jordan’s Crackers, and in 1985, he opened Callie’s Pretzel factory two miles away.

Harry was honored with the Master Confectioner award from RCI in 2003, and is a frequent presenter at the association’s conventions, teaching candymaking and serving as a consultant and troubleshooter for members. He sat on its board of directors from 2000 to 2003.

He has also been a featured speaker at a number of venues, telling his entrepreneurial story and motivating others to strive for excellence. Harry says he has remained in the candy business for all these years because he believes that he, along with his peers, are purveyors of happiness.

One of the biggest factors to which he attributes his success is working with his family. His wife, Carol, is co-owner, and his three daughters and son-in-law also work with him.

Outside of the industry, Harry is an active member of the Mountainhome, PA, Rotary Club, which honored him with the Paul Harris Award, given to members who meet high standards in both their professional and personal lives. Harry has also served as the club’s president.

He has been president of both the Exchange Club and Chamber of Commerce in Bangor, is a member of the Business Association of Barrett Township, PA, where in 1999, he was Citizen of the Year, and a board member for the Christian Awareness Ministries Ecumenical Community Food Bank.

He is a frequent guest during Career Day at local schools, and hosts school trips, seniors and civic groups that come to his shop to learn candymaking.

Harry passed away October 24, 2013.