Mr.Harmon was born in Weir City, Kansas, on May 9, 1882. His father had been a railroad conductor but with great patience and determination studied law until he was admitted to the Kansas Bar. The family moved to Los Angles in 1891. Harley's father built up a successful law practice in both Weir City and in Los Angeles.

As a young lad, Harley had a strong desire to stand on his own two feet. He was employed as a newspaper vendor on the streets of Los Angeles. His ambition and aims were high, even before his adolescence; therefore it was understandable why he would not be satisfied very long being a newsboy on the street. He began questioning people in his quest for a better occupation. In a short time he became a regular paperboy with his own route, perhaps a step higher than he had been. After delivering papers for several years he advanced to Assistant Circulation Manager.

Harley's flair for politics was manifested early and he left the newspaper to take a position in the County Clerk's office. He was active in organizing the first Democratic Party in the Los Angeles area.

Mr. Harmon had a pioneer's spirit and when he learned the railroad was going through the Nevada Territory, he applied to the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake City Railroad Company for a job. The railroad took him on as a fireman and in 1903 he arrived in Las Vegas to initiate the construction project. As an engineer, he had the distinction of pulling one of the first locomotives that made Las Vegas during the construction days.

Joining in 1903, Harmon had been a continuous member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and a member of the Mt. Charleston Chapter of No. 766 since 1907.

As a railroad man, Harmon observed the time and effort required of those transacting county business in traveling to and from the county seat in Pioche. He sensed their frustration as they spent three days in traveling over the round trip of 300 miles. In 1908, as chairman of the southern delegation to the Democratic convention at Pioche, Harmon introduced the very unpopular proposal that Lincoln County, when then included all of present day Clark County, be divided and that a new county seat be established in Las Vegas. By diplomatically directing his political forces, he won the endorsement for the division. The following session of the state legislature authorized the new county. The legislation became effective on July 1, 1909, and Las Vegas "blew its top" in celebrating the event in frontier fashion. Harmon left the railroad at this time and was appointed the first County Clerk. He was also the first City Clerk when Las Vegas was incorporated, continuing in that office for twelve years. Early in life, this man of determination showed that he was always one of the first to step forward for public development projects of all kinds.

Harmon was married on September 11, 1911, to Leona Frances Gates of Truckee, California. Leona passed away at a young age, leaving her husband with the two sons who were born of this union, Harley Emmett and Charles Harmon. Charles passed away in 1928. On January 23, 1924, Harmon married Veronica Wengert, daughter of Ella Wengert and a sister of C.S. Wengert, the Vice President of Southern Nevada Power Company, and sister of Delano Wengert, of the Union Pacific Railroad.

While in the clerkship, Harmon's earnest studies, not unlike his dad, brought him admission to the Nevada State Bar in 1918. In turn, he was elected District Attorney of Clark County, serving four terms in that office.

Harmon resigned from the post of District Attorney in 1934, to pursue the Democratic nomination for Governor. He lost the primary election, by a narrow margin, to Richard Kirman. Harmon, upon his defeat, immediately put all his efforts into Kirman’s election campaign, resulting in a victory at the polls.

Recognizing the excellent lifetime record of Harley A. Harmon, Governor Kirman appointed him to the important post of chairman of the Public Service Commission of Nevada. Chairman Harmon moved his entire family to Carson City to affect the performance of his duties. His responsibilities were great, since he was also a ranking member of the State Tax Commission.

In 1938, Commissioner Harmon was again a primary election candidate for Governor. He was publicly supported by retiring Governor Kirman. Once again, Harmon lost the primary by a slim margin.

In 1939, he resigned his post of the Public Service Commission chairman when appointed secretary-manager of the Nevada Motor Transport Association, located in Reno. He remarried in this position until his untimely death.

Harley A. Harmon was extremely active in many organizations throughout Nevada and Clark County. He was the first Exalted Ruler of the Las Vegas Elks and a life member. He was on the Eagles old age pension committee, a member of the Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, and the Knights of Pythias. He was a past president of the Las Vegas Lions Club, and permanent chairman of the Washoe County Democrats. He was a charter member of the first Las Vegas Moose Lodge.

Harley A. Harmon passed away on October 14, 1947. The evening of his death, he was addressing a hushed crowd of Young Democrats in Reno. As he warmed up to his subject, urging his listeners to carry the party banner in the 1948 election, many agreed that his was an outstanding oratorical appeal. Old-timers nudged one another and whispered it was the best speech of Harmon's long career. Seldom had he been in better form as he drove home point after point. As he reached the climax of his address, the speaker declared dramatically, "I would give my last breath for the Democratic Party!" Then he stepped down amidst the cheers and applause of his fellow Democrats.

His closing words were prophetic. He had hardly settled in his chair when he slumped over, and then slipped to the floor, stricken by a fatal heart attack. Harley Harmon had in truth given his last breath for the party he loved.

Funeral services and a Requiem High Mass by Monsignor John J. Lamb were held on October 15, 1947, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Las Vegas.

Following the rites of the church for Harley Harmon, one of the largest corteges in the history of Las Vegas wended its solemn way to Woodlawn Cemetery, where interment services were held.

On October 16, 1947, a memorial commemorating the life and character of Harley Ascher Harmon was entered into the minutes of the Nevada Federal Court proceedings to “express the grief of his colleagues at his death.”

Mr. Harmon once stated, “We can build an empire here in the Southwest. We have the greatest opportunity in the world today. We have the greatest resources and power at the lowest cost. In a few years, I can see a metropolis of 55,000 people. The future is assured!”

Harley A. Harmon was a man of foresight and inspiration who will remain in the archives of the “Silver State” and its people for generations to come.