Harold S. Mohler

Class of 1976

Harold Mohler was born in March, 1919, in Ephrata, PA where he graduated from Ephrata High School in 1937. During World War II he served as a navigator in the 15th Air Force, flying 23 missions until captured and interred in a German prisoner of war camp for one year. For service to his country, Harold was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Following his discharge, he returned home to marry Melda and complete his education at Lehigh University where he received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1948.

That same year, he joined Hershey Foods Corp. working in the engineering department until he was appointed Assistant to the President in 1957. Followed by being named a director in 1960, Harold rose through Hershey’s senior management ranks, becoming president in 1965. In 1974 he became Chairman and President of the chocolate maker and from 1976 to 1984 served the corporation as Chairman of the Board & Chairman of Executive Committee. He retired in 1984.

Reflecting his commitment to the industry, Harold served as chair of the America n Cocoa Research Institute, the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Association of Manufacturers and many other industry and charitable groups. His charitable activities include senior positions with the Hershey Trust Co. Milton Hershey School and numerous other organizations.

In addition to a distinguished career at Hershey Foods, Harold received a large number of honors, including honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Lehigh University and Elizabethtown College, the Distinguished Pennsylvanian Award from the William Penn Committee, Candy Man of The Year from the Assoc. of Manufacturers of Confectionery & Chocolate and many others.