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Henry Tower Pryor

  • July 8, 1924 - March 2, 2011
  • Cranford, New Jersey
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Memories & Candles

“I want to send my Condolences to the Pryor family. Even though I have never met Mr. Pryor, his son Roger is like a uncle to me so with that being...Read More » ”
1 of 20 | Posted by: Stephanie - Wilmington, NC

“Condolences to the family of an ardent supporter of students and their development as civic leaders. ”
2 of 20 | Posted by: Dr. J. Harrison Morson - Glenwood, MD

“Remembering a life well lived With Love and Prayers, James & Barbara Brazil ”
3 of 20 | Posted by: James & Barbara Brazil - Roselle, NJ

“We are sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one and we send our prayers and condolences to your family. Sincerely, Kathy Gail Paden ...Read More » ”
4 of 20 | Posted by: Kathy Gail Paden - Roselle, NJ

“. . . a true professional . . . a loyal friend . . . a sense of humor that always made your day a wonderful experience - I am so happy that Hank...Read More » ”
5 of 20 | Posted by: Joy C Lattimer - Long Branch, NJ

“May God bless you and your family forever and take care of you and all living relatives. Howard L. Simmons, PhD ”
6 of 20 | Posted by: Dr. Howard L Simmons - Baltimore, MD

“Dear Family, Thinking of you. Please allow me to add my comdolences to those you have received. It may not feel like it right now, but I...Read More » ”
7 of 20 | Posted by: Thelma Staples - Hillside, NJ

“With gratitude, I remember Hank for the help he gave me when I was beginning my career as an EOF counselor at Georgian Court College, Bloomfield...Read More » ”
8 of 20 | Posted by: Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D. - NJ

“Dear Chuck, know that my thoughts & prayers are with you & your family at this time. Your father & mother were VERY good friends of my mother (Winnie...Read More » ”
9 of 20 | Posted by: Cindy Wolf Funk - Lebanon, PA

“I was honored to know Hank through being a fellow member of the Rutgers Football Letterwinners Association. I regard him as a living legend! I even...Read More » ”
10 of 20 | Posted by: Derek Young - Plainfield, NJ

“Charles & Family, May you find the comfort and strength that will help you now and through the days ahead. With Sympathy. Lucy Williams & Family. ”
11 of 20 | Posted by: Bridgitte Hopson - South Jersey, NJ

“To the family of Mr. Pryor, my deepest sympathy. Mr. Pryor was a wonderful man. He was my teacher in 1963 in Elizabeth, and he also taught my...Read More » ”
12 of 20 | Posted by: Mary Ballard-Jones - Maplewood, NJ

“I am so sorry for your lost. Mr. Pryor was my History teacher in Roselle a long time ago. He was a great teacher and a wonderful man. I have...Read More » ”
13 of 20 | Posted by: Linda Cole - Winfield Park, NJ

“I would like to offer my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Pryor family. ”
14 of 20 | Posted by: Linda L. Harris - South Orange, NJ

“I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Pryor's passing. I grew up in Cranford and everyone knew Mr. Pryor and respected him. My condolences to the Pryor...Read More » ”
15 of 20 | Posted by: Claudia Herbert - Laytonsville, MD

“Dear Chuck, Sorry to hear about your Dad. He certainly was a special person. We're thinking of you at this sad time. Roz & Syd (from Tamaques...Read More » ”
16 of 20 | Posted by: Syd & Roz Helfen - Westfield, NJ

“Hank was a dear friend of Dad's and was always there with the Reserve gang. I remember him dearly since he always reminded me of my grandfather (a...Read More » ”
17 of 20 | Posted by: Terence Fitzpatrick - Chatham, NJ

“A DEAR FAMILY MEMBER WHO WILL BE SORELY MISSED. ”
18 of 20 | Posted by: ANN ROBERTS - MONROE TWP., NJ

“So sorry to read of your dads passing in the paper. I was lucky to have been his mailman for the past fourteen years.He was a true gentleman in every...Read More » ”
19 of 20 | Posted by: C.J. Carroll - Andover, NJ

“We are so sorry for your loss and extend our sympathy to the Pryor family. May God bless all of you. Sincerely, Nancy & John Valli ”
20 of 20 | Posted by: nancy & john valli - westfield, NJ


Henry "Hank" Tower Pryor was born on July 8, 1924 to Henry and Nellie (Langhorne) Pryor, the third of four children, in the Village of South Orange, N.J. He was educated in the South Orange school system and was a 1943 graduate of Columbia High School. During his high school years, Hank was an outstanding athlete, playing football for Columbia H.S. in South Orange as a half back and special teams returner under the late Coach Phil Marvel. He also excelled at basketball and track, and was later inducted into the Columbia High School Hall of Fame (1995). His athletic prowess led him to Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where he continued to stand out on the football field. He was recruited by the Green Bay Packers of Wisconsin, but could not play professionally due to the Korean War. Hank enlisted in the military after high school. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in a segregated unit in the Pacific Theater on Tarawa, the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands, as a rifleman, a 90mm anti-aircraft gunner and a Military Policeman. Hank entered Rutgers in 1946, as an Army ROTC student, and continued his outstanding football achievements. Ultimately, he was inducted into the Rutgers Football Hall of Fame in 1994. A campus leader, he was president of the Military Honor Society, a member of the Cap and Skull Honor Society, the Gamma Sigma Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was a graduate of the Rutgers University Class of 1950, with a Bachelor's Degree, and received two Master's Degrees from Seton Hall University. His fields of study were History, Political Science and Education. On March 5, 1951, Hank was back in active duty, serving in the U.S. Army in the First Cavalry Division, fighting in Korea, and became a first lieutenant. After Korea, he stayed with the Reserve for active duty with the 41st Civil Affairs Company and earned the rank of captain, receiving an honorable discharge in 1957. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve and achieved the rank of full colonel, retiring in 1978. His military career spanned over 40 years. Hank married the love of his life, Carolyn Mae Polk Pryor, a daughter of the late Olive Mae (Bond) and Dr. Charles Carrington Polk, on Aug. 4, 1951. They lived in Okinawa, Japan and Roselle, N.J., before settling with their four children in Cranford, N.J. in 1965. They were happily married for 42 years before Carolyn passed in 1993. Hank began his career as an elementary school teacher at School No.1 and School No. 13, and taught History at Jefferson High School, all in Elizabeth. He also taught History at Abraham Clark High School, Roselle, where he was the first dean of Students. Then, he was an adjunct professor at Union County College. In 1968, he became the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program Director at Union County College, Cranford, N.J., a position he held for 28 years, before retiring in 1996. He touched the lives of many within this program, which enabled underprivileged and minority students who were otherwise unable to afford the tuition, to attend college. Under his guidance and tutelage, they were able to complete what they once believed to be an unreachable dream. A member of Heard A.M.E. Church since the 1950s, Hank was a Trustee Emeritus (2006), honored as Father of the Year (1990), and served as a volunteer at the church Food Pantry for several years. Ever community minded, he served with many organizations and boards, including the Union County Anti-Poverty Council. Hank was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them: • The Loyal Son of Rutgers Award (1997) • The Role Model Award from the Roselle Branch NAACP (2001) • Recipient of multiple N.J. E.O.F. Professional Association awards (1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995). • Certificate of Appreciation from the Superior Court of New Jersey Union County Vicinage for 20 years of distinguished service to the Cranford Juvenile Conference Committee, (1999), • The Martin Luther King Award from the Cranford Juvenile Conference Committee for his outstanding work with young people. Hank was also honored to serve as the grand marshal of the Cranford Memorial Day Parade in the 1990s. A humble, dedicated family man, Hank will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather and for his wit, sense of humor, and love of history. He was an avid sports fan, and a season ticket holder of Rutgers Football and Rutgers Women's Basketball. He loved his hot tea, sweets and television. His favorite shows included sports, The History Channel, Turner Classic Movies, Judge Judy and Jerry Springer. Hank is survived by his children, Charles (Gail), Howard, Barbara, and Roger (Lissette); six grandchildren, Brittany and Garrett Pryor, Aaron Hardy, and Maia, Zuri and Alexi Pryor; his sister, Nell (Pryor) Ware; his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Cornelia Jean Pryor, Dr. Gene Ann Polk (Dr. Edwin C. Horne), Barbara (Polk) Riley and Josephine (Polk) Matthews; nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to his wife, Carolyn, Hank was predeceased by his brothers, Robert Pryor and Lloyd Pryor, and brother-in-law, Bill Ware. Hank will always have a special place in our memories and our hearts. This Online Memorial has been created to commemorate the life of Henry Tower Pryor. You are invited to add a Tribute in his memory. Please click "Sign Guestbook" below to add your own memories, reflections, thoughts or condolences.