Harry Garlick, who was born in Los Angeles in 1922 and graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1941, probably worked in the Pacific Union Youth Department longer than anyone in the history of the union. He died at his home in Coarsegold, Calif., June 27.

Garlick served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII, but he rarely talked about his military service in any detail, perhaps because he was a rifleman and leader of a rifle squad during his service, but championed non-combatant service the rest of his life. The records show that he made invasion combat jumps into Salerno, Italy; Sicily, Normandy and Holland. He also fought in North Africa and in the Ardennes and Rhineland in central Europe. He was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.

When the war ended, Garlick entered the ministerial training program at La Sierra College, earning a B.A. in theology in 1950. He was immediately assigned to the Beaumont and Palm Springs churches as associate pastor, but a few weeks later was called to the Southeastern California Conference youth department to help build the Pathfinder program, which was officially launched that year. He also assisted at the Pathfinder Camp at Idylwild (later replaced by Pine Springs Ranch) and helped rebuild the Medical Cadet Corps, the program operated in most academies in North America until about 1970 to prepare young men to serve as medics if drafted into military service.

In 1958, Garlick made two more moves: to the Northern California Conference Youth Department, then to the Pacific Union, where he developed Pathfinder honors and other materials. His battlefield experience served him well as MCC commander and National Service Organization representative (working with Adventist service personnel and military officials) until his retirement in 1987.

Garlick sometimes wondered aloud how boys could become men without the discipline of military service, so MCC was always serious business when he was around. "I remember him as one who was very good at commanding push-ups for those of us who had difficulty discerning between the needs of the ‘right' and the ‘left,'" said Dick Duerksen, who met Garlick at MCC camp. "Later, I was privileged to work with him on a number of youth projects. He was a no-nonsense leader who was willing to listen to creative ideas — and then help bring those ideas to life."

From 1981 to 1987, Garlick was employed by the Pacific Union as civilian chaplain, ministering to Adventists in military service in the San Diego and Camp Pendelton areas and, occasionally, other parts of the union. And he was a resource for other chaplains across the country. "Harry was especially helpful to me as I began my civilian chaplain role here in the Southern Union [southeastern United States] in March of 1987," says Lester Rilea. "He shared with me copies of letters that he had used with commanding officers and others to help resolve religious accommodation issues for Adventists in the military."

It is quite possible that Adventists who grew up in the Pacific Union from the 1950s through the 1970s would name Garlick as the denominational leader they remember most from their early years. For nearly 25 years, he participated in almost every conference Pathfinder function in the Pacific Union — camporees, fairs, bikeathons, river trips, training institutes and on and on. He frequently taught orienteering, marching and leadership skills. Years after he retired, "Harry Garlick said..." was still the final word on how and where the American flag should be displayed in the Pacific Union.

Young people and their leaders knew Garlick as a man whose love for God, for the Church and for youth was uncompromising. The worldwide Pathfinder program in the early 21st century is one of several monuments to his hard work and dedication.