Harlan was born October 25, 1936 in Tulsa, OK to Eileen and Kenneth Reams. He lived with his Aunt Helen and Uncle Land Smith from the age of 10, and went on to attend his beloved Central High School. Harlan attended OU, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He married Pat Dryden, and they settled down in Tulsa and had 4 daughters. At the beginning of their marriage, Harlan was a member of the Air Force Reserves, attended the University of Tulsa, and was a circulation manager for Tulsa World. His career path took him to advertising: first, at the Tulsa World/Tribune, and then to the world of television, where he became an Account Manager at KOTV- Channel 6. He moved on to various cable stations, and was the General Manager at Fox 43 in Oklahoma City.
Harlan married Lee Palos, and gained 2 sons as his career flourished. He loved the Golden Hurricane, the Tulsa Oilers, the New York Rangers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and more recently, the LA Dodgers.
His laugh was contagious, and he had a quick sense of humor that was disarming, and fun- he never missed a chance to be with his family, and he was at the center of every get together! Everyone was drawn to him, and animals knew instinctively that they had a friend. Harlan had many dogs throughout his life, and they meant everything to him. Harlan’s heart was always drawn to the “unwanted” or the “strays”. He helped people and animals……it was his nature to help those who couldn’t help themselves. His greatest legacy will be his love for the “underdog”.
He is preceded in death by Eileen Wilson (mother), Helen Smith (Aunt), Land Smith (Uncle), James Wilson (step-father), Tom Wilson (half-brother), Pat Dryden Reams (first wife), and Prab V. Prabhu (son-in-law).
He is survived by: Lee Palos Reams (wife), Susan Prabhu(daughter), Kelly Bartlett and Tom(daughter/son in law), Tracy McCabe and Dave (daughter and son in law), Sally Moffatt and Blake (daughter and son in law), Ari Palos, Leavs Palos, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, Penny Harvey (half-sister), Karen Campbell (half-sister), Mary Heilman (half-sister) and Patty Reams (half-sister).
Contributions may be made in his remembrance to the Humane Society of Oklahoma.