Hall of Fame
Towson’s all-time leading scorer in men’s soccer program history, Wayne Harman was recognized as an All-American for leading the then Golden Knights to a memorable 9-0-2 record. He later distinguished himself as an educator in Baltimore County.
Raised in Hampstead, Harman established himself early as an outstanding athlete, scoring nine goals on the varsity soccer team as an 8th grader at Hampstead High School. He ended his high school soccer career with 43 goals. He would also lead the basketball team in scoring from 1949-1953. Additionally, he was a member of the Eagles’ 1953 state championship 440 relay team in track.
As a freshman at Towson, Harman lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball. He was an instant starter on the soccer field for the then Golden Knights under the direction of Donald “Doc” Minnegan. He helped Towson to a four-year 24-7-7 record that included a streak of 27 straight wins in Mason-Dixon Conference play. In 1956 Harman scored a then single season record 18 goals. He also established the all-time single game record with six goals against American University. His scoring production earned him the nickname “Buckshot,” a moniker he would enjoy carrying the rest of his life.
Towson posted a 9-0-2 mark that year. It stood as the final unbeaten season for the program’s remaining 57 years as men’s soccer was discontinued in 2012. He was named All-American, All Mason-Dixon Conference and All-South in 1956. Harman, who served as Towson’s team captain for three years, closed out his career as the program’s all-time career scorer with 57 goals. Among his other accolades he was invited to the United States Olympic Soccer Trials where he was an East Coast finalist.
Harman was inducted into the Towson University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1967. He was also a member of the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame and the Maryland Oldtimers’ Soccer Association Hall of Fame.
“He was saddened when Towson discontinued soccer,” said his son, Todd, a 1984 Towson graduate. “He advocated for the program to continue. And although disappointed he continued to support Towson athletics right to the end.”
Upon graduating from the State Teachers College of Towson in 1957 he embarked on a 32-year career in education. He began his elementary teaching career at Hampton Elementary School in fall 1957, the year the school opened. After six years, he was promoted to assistant principal at the Merritt Point Elementary School in Dundalk. He subsequently served as principal of the Owings Mills Elementary School for 11 years. In 1977, he was appointed principal of Oakleigh Elementary School. He eventually became coordinator of elementary education and was later named director of elementary education in Baltimore County.
After leaving education Harman was the Director of Recreation and Parks for Baltimore County. Among his achievements was overseeing the creation of the 365-acre Cromwell Valley Park that opened in 1993. In 1995 he was honored as Towson Man of the Year by the Towson Times. Prior to retirement Harman served as director of the Teacher Institute in Graduate and Professional Program at Goucher College.
Wayne Harman passed away June 18, 2024 at age 89.
