Harold Gallaher
Harold Gallaher is a graduate of Bismarck High School and earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla.
During his college years he worked for the Pilot Knob Pellet Company as that company was being developed and built. In that capacity he set up new offices, made them operational and then trained the person(s) that would go on to fill that office. He also developed designs for new equipment to be used in the operation of the company.
After graduation he joined S.T. Echols, Inc. of Bismarck and eventually purchased that small family owned business. The Echols family had invented the SNOW CONE and held patents on ice shaving machinery to produce that product. Gallaher led the company to international sales and added new concession food equipment to the product line. He also patented improvements to those products before selling the business.
He then created SMC, Inc. which was a funeral home supply business and then sold that business. Gallaher has purchased a small local farm and stays actively involved within the community. Gallaher has served on this County’s Board of Equalization, the First-Class County Committee and on the Technical Committee for the Big River Watershed project. He prepared himself for the Commission office by attending meetings of the cities, the St. Francois County Ambulance District, the Senior Board, the Health Center Board, and other local groups in an effort to listen and learn. He also attended every County Commission meeting for 5 years prior to running for office.
In recent years Harold and a business partner developed and patented HAROLD’S FAMOUS BEE CREAM as a natural bee-venom based pain reliever. It is now sold around the world. He has also been named to the Bismarck High School HALL OF FAME.
Harold and wife, Sandy, attend the Parkland Chapel in Farmington. Before becoming Commissioner, Harold served two terms as a Bismarck Alderman and 18 years on the Bismarck School Board.
Harold’s varied background in mining, manufacturing, Engineering, business, education, city government, agriculture, funeral home service, watershed planning, and other experiences have uniquely helped him in serving St. Francois County in the role of Presiding Commissioner.