Harold W. Handley

Harold Willis Handley
Photo from 1956 campaign poster
40th Governor of Indiana
In office January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961
Lieutenant	Crawford F. Parker
Preceded by	George N. Craig
Succeeded by	Matthew E. Welsh
39th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
In office January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957
Governor	George N. Craig
Preceded by	Rue J. Alexander
Succeeded by	Crawford F. Parker
Member of the Indiana State Senate from LaPorte County and Starke County
In office November 3, 1948 – November 5, 1952
Preceded by	Audley Wallace Mitchell[1]
Succeeded by	Howard Seymour Steele
In office November 6, 1940 – January 12, 1942
Preceded by	Oliver Parr Cannon
Succeeded by	Charles Francis Wysong
Personal details
Born	November 27, 1909 LaPorte, Indiana
Died	August 30, 1972(1972-08-30) (aged 62) Rawlins, Wyoming
Resting place	Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Winterble
Alma mater	Indiana University Bloomington
Profession	salesman
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	World War II

Harold Willis Handley (November 27, 1909 – August 30, 1972) was the 40th governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1957 to 1961. A veteran of World War II, and furniture salesman by trade, Handley began his political career as a state senator. Thanks to his longtime friendship with state party leader and United States Senator William E. Jenner, he was able to secure the nomination to run for lieutenant governor in 1952, during which time he opposed many of the actions of Governor George N. Craig. His popularity rose among the conservative leadership of the Indiana Republican Party and aided him in winning the nomination and subsequent election as governor in 1956.

He was elected during a period of conservative domination of the state government. He successfully implemented major parts of his party's agenda that affected the state for decades. After raising the gasoline tax 50% to balance the state budget, his opponents branded him "High Tax Harold", ignoring the fact that he also eliminated state property taxes. He launched an unprecedented mid-term campaign for a United States Senate seat but ended in defeat and he finished his term as governor. He personally advocated mental health reform in Indiana and after leaving office he remained active in several charities that helped the mentally disabled, winning a Drummer Boy Award in 1970. He operated a successful public relations business in Indianapolis for several years and in 1969 served on the Constitutional Revision Committee that authored a set of major amendments to the state constitution.