Harold B. "Hal" Scroggy

Harold B. "Hal" Scroggy

Hal Scroggy passed away peacefully September 21, 2018. Born February 5, 1921 in Akron, he was an award-winning watercolor artist. His work was exhibited nationwide in galleries and shows, and featured in books and advertising.

Hal was discovered by artist Roy Wilhelm while still in grade school. He studied with Wilhelm, who helped Hal get accepted to Cleveland Institute of Art.

Hal served in World War II in the 104th infantry division, the "Timberwolves", landing in France and fighting through Belgium and Germany. After the war, he worked in fashion illustration, moving to television work in the early days of Cleveland tv. He took a job in Connecticut making motion pictures, notably creating a film for the Air Force of the arctic DEW Line facilities near the North Pole.

Hal returned to Akron, starting a twenty-year career as photographer and Art Director of publications for B.F. Goodrich.

When Hal retired, he began serious impressionistic watercolor painting. His philosophy was "I paint adjectives rather than nouns". He regularly traveled to naturalistic locations in the US and abroad for subject matter, and developed a widely respected, immediately recognizable art style He is a founding member of Ohio Watercolor Society, and was named to American Watercolor Society. He also was an early member of Whiskey Painters of America. In 2018, He received the J. Brower Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Watercolor Society.

Hal is survived by sons, David M. Scroggy (Rosemary) of Portland, Oregon and James H. Scroggy of Akron. He was preceded in death by wife, Helen Eileen Scroggy.

A celebration of Hal's life will take place at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., on Saturday, September 29 at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior starting at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Y-Noah at [email protected] or Rotary Camp at [email protected]
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)