Harold Oliver

Harold Eugene Oliver, Jr., 66, of Riley, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, July 18, 2026, at his home, surrounded by family and friends who loved him.

Harold was born December 13, 1959, in Topeka, the son of Gene and Shirley. He grew up in a small house in Maple Hill, Kansas. It was not a big place, but it was full - full of family, hard work, and love. His mother and father raised their children to be good people and to give themselves to their community, and those lessons stayed with Harold all his life.

He was one of five children and cherished his brothers and sisters - Debbie, Steve, Linda and David - dearly. Sports ran deep in the family. Outside of family and sports, Harold took special pride in working with Steve and David for area farmers, a lumber yard and a catfish business. From his earliest years, baseball, football and basketball were passions for Harold and his family. As an eighth grader while playing basketball for the Maple Hill Cowboys, the first signs appeared of a life that would be shaped by the sports he loved. 

Harold went on to win a state championship as a player at Wabaunsee High School before playing college football at Pratt Community College and New Mexico State University. Harold gave his life's work to young people as a teacher, coach, and principal. He began his coaching career at Moundridge, Kansas, where he made lifelong friends. Then, in 1989 he came to Riley County and built one of the most storied careers in Kansas high school basketball history.

Over thirty-seven years in coaching - thirty-two of them leading the Riley County girls' program alongside his lifelong friend Steve Wagner, and later Kelsey Nelson - Harold compiled a career record of 637-197. His teams won three state championships, in 1999, 2005, and 2008, two of those seasons undefeated from the first game to the last. He claimed eighteen league titles and fourteen sub-state crowns, posted thirteen seasons of twenty or more wins, and suffered only a single losing season in all his years at Riley County. He retired in 2021, and in June of 2026 he was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Yet true to who he was, Harold always deflected individual honor to his players, his fellow coaches, his school, and the community he loved. To this day, countless former players and students credit Mr. Oliver with helping them become the people they are.

On July 13, 1993, Harold married Shawna Smith at Grand Lake, Colorado. Together they built a life in which family, Riley County schools and Riley and Leonardville community activities were central. Harold and Shawna's greatest pride and joy were their two daughters, Taylor and Addisyn. Taylor and Addisyn could count on their dad for a laugh and for a steady presence in their lives no matter what the day held. Addisyn shared Harold's deep love of the game of basketball, and today she continues the family legacy coaching girls in Abilene. For all that Harold accomplished, he knew that being Shawna's husband, and Taylor and Addisyn's father was the finest title he ever earned. 

Harold is survived by his wife, Shawna, of the home; his daughters, Taylor Oliver (Justin Albright) of Manhattan, and Addisyn Todd (Johnathan) of Abilene; his siblings, Debbie (John), Steve (Ginny), Linda (Alan) and David (Peggy); granddaughters, Brimleigh Todd and Carsyn Albright; and a host of nieces and nephews that he truly loved. Harold, Shawna, Taylor and Addisyn grew lifelong friends, that they consider as family, in Dan, Cindy, Kelly, Katelyn, Tory and Sarah Thomson. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Shirley Oliver and niece, Amber Kessler.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Riley County High School north gymnasium. Burial will be in the Riley Cemetery following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund established in Harold's memory through the Rural Riley County Community Foundation. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, PO Box 176, Riley, Kansas 66531.