Sports complex a lasting legacy for Al and Jet Harp

For six decades, Holcombe resident Al Harp has overseen the construction of world-class tennis courts, and track and field surfaces. Perhaps his most meaningful accomplishment, was to direct the revamping of the Cornell High School track and tennis courts.

Al went to Cornell when growing up, and wanted to help out when the district decided to reconstruct the sports complex.

“We knew we either had to not use our track at all or redo our track,” said high school principal Dave Elliott.

The track was resurfaced a number of years ago, by Al, but this time around, Cornell completely redid the area, even adding fences around the football field/track, which now allows them to host WIAA playoff games.

It took almost a year, for the entire project to be completed, with the curing times, but it was worth the wait. There is even a separate area for high jumps that is fenced off and pickle ball lines were added in the tennis court area.

The tennis and basketball courts are so nice, that some groups come from as far as Chippewa Falls, to try them out.

“It’s been great to see the kids come out and play,” said Elliott.

As the foremost expert on surfacing, Harp has done courts all over the world, including for the White House, actress Farrah Fawcett, Adidas and even Queen Elizabeth II. He’s also done courts for the Australian Open and Mideastern Open, along with some in Tokyo, and in Dubai, one on top of a 20-story building.

“I’ve been all over the world, basically, doing these things,” said Al, who started in the business at 22 years of age. “That’s the only thing I’ve done my whole life.”

Before that, Al worked for $1.25 a day, on a farm in Jim Falls, after he left home at 13. He doesn’t drink or do drugs, since work took up his time, along with the need to survive.

Even though this project took up most of his time for an entire year, Al didn’t mind, as it kept him busy. His beloved wife, Jet, passed in away in 2021, and since the two were partners in everything, Al knows Jet would love the work he did on Cornell’s complex.

“She would be so happy,” said Al. “And me, you can’t believe how happy I am.”

“It’s a great legacy,” agreed Elliott. Because of their gratitude to Al, who not only gave so much of his time to the project, but also saved the school district a lot of money, Cornell dedicated the sports complex to the couple, who were married 62 years.

“I think they got the nicest complex for a high school in most of the state,” said Harp. “Where do they have all of this?”