Building Without Sight: The Remarkable Life of Leonard Harman

Leonard Harman (1895–1964)
3675 S. 4800 W., Granger, Utah

Leonard Harman, born in 1895 to Charles Harman and Annie Bolton, was a beloved Granger resident and longtime business owner. He and his wife Lucy, whom he married in the 1920s, raised six children together—including their son James Leonard Harmon, who became a celebrated Utah architect.

Leonard and Lucy were the owners of Harmon Clothing Company and Harmon Books. One of their store locations was at 4219 W 3500 S, and another at 3675 S 4800 W.

Despite going completely blind in 1945, Leonard remained determined to live a life of purpose. In 1950, he purchased a 14-acre farm with the long-term vision of turning it into a residential subdivision. At age 57, he began building his first home himself—framing, sheetrocking, plumbing, painting, and installing windows and doors with minimal assistance. His 12-year-old daughter Beverly and 10-year-old son Stephen often worked right alongside him. The only part of the job he needed help with was laying the block walls.

Leonard lost most of his eyesight from a childhood eye injury and gradually went fully blind by his early 50s. But he was never one to make excuses. “You just have to learn how to do things with what you’ve got,” he would say.

His example is a remarkable testament to perseverance and self-reliance. Leonard Harmon spent his life showing others—especially those with disabilities—that you can still build a meaningful life, home by home, with grit and faith

Leonard working with his children Beverly and Stephen

Leonard Harman was a man of quiet determination and remarkable resilience. Though blindness took his sight, it never dimmed his vision—he built homes, businesses, and a legacy with his hands, heart, and unwavering belief that limitations are only as real as we let them be.