Harold, Raymond P., 1898-1972

Raymond P. Harold (1898-1971) was the chairman and chief executive officer of First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Worcester, Mass. He was largely responsible for the development of public housing and urban renewal in Worcester after World War II. Harold was appointed chairman of the Worcester Housing Authority in 1946 and later chairman of the Redevelopment Authority. He served in this dual capacity for many years. Under Harold's direction, Worcester was one of the first cities to secure surplus Quonset hut buildings put up by the city to house returning World War II veterans in the area known as Lincolnwood. Other low-income projects were Curtis Apartments and Great Brook Valley Gardens. He also helped establish the George F. Booth Memorial Apartments as the city's first housing project for the elderly. While with the Redevelopment Authority, Harold was instrumental in starting the Salem Street Redevelopment Project in the blighted Orange and Salem Street section downtown. For these civic achievements, he and the housing authority received a Freedoms Foundation Award in 1951. Harold was also the recipient of the Isaiah Thomas Award, generally regarded as the highest civic honor in Worcester.