Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia to Emmett and Mary Mathews Houser.[2] Houser attended the Marion Military Institute, graduating in 1916,[3] before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy on May 26, 1917. Houser graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the Class of 1921.[4] During his naval career, he served in numerous posts, including commanding the Naval Air Station Key West and serving as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Omaha.
After becoming a Rear admiral, Houser served on the staff of the United States Secretary of Defense.[11] Houser served numerous posts in the Office of Legislative Affairs, including becoming the legislative liaison for the Retired Officers Association.[12] He became the Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison in 1949.[13]
Houser became a Rear Admiral after leaving the governorship, and served as Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison at the Office of Legislative Affairs
^ a b"USNA Cemetery Documentation Project" (PDF). United States Naval Academy Cemetery & Crematorium. United States Naval Academy. Summer 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
^ a bSorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux (2007). "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007" (PDF). Government of American Samoa. pp. 78, 244. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
^"Marion Military Institute Generals and Admirals" (PDF). Marion, Alabama: Marion Military Institute. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
^"RADM Harold A. Houser '16: Governor of American Samoa". MMI Foundation. September 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
^"Navy Capt. Ernest Hipp, 72, WWII, Vietnam vet Linda Kubany, 44, UMd. football secretary Harvey M. Shields, 44, archaeologist, analyst Vera Allen Houser, 92, widow of rear admiral". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C.: News World Communications. 16 June 1993. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
^Report of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1920. p. 262. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
^Sorensen, Stan (19 September 2006). "Historical Notes" (PDF). Tapuitea. I (24). Government of American Samoa: 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.