Harold Nelson

William Harold Nelson (26 April 1923 – 1 July 2011) was a New Zealand long-distance runner who won two medals at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland. Early life and family Born in Dunedin on 26 April 1923, Nelson was the son of Grace Ledingham Stewart—daughter of artist Eliza Anscombe—and William Alexander Anthony Nelson. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School, and was inspired to take up athletics after seeing a film in 1938 about the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin that included New Zealander Jack Lovelock's winning the 1500 m gold medal. Nelson served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during World War II. On 20 March 1948, Nelson married Margaret Joyce Calder, and the couple went on to have four children. Nelson graduated from the University of Otago in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts.