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Donations to the Salvation Army or St. Francis Borgia Athletic Association are preferred.
Flanagan coached the Borgia Knights for 22 seasons from 1965 to 1986, posting a career record of 147-67-2.
"We lost a true winner when we lost Harold Flanagan," said current Borgia football Head Coach Dale Gildehaus, who played under Flanagan and coached with him.
"But most of all, he won the respect of his players, who recognized him as a molder of men, and a leader they would follow," stated an editorial in the Nov. 12, 1986, Missourian titled, "He Will Be Missed."
He is only one of four men to coach the Knights along with Jim Frisella (1959-60), Jim McDermott (1961-64) and Gildehaus (1987-present). McDermott died in 2006.
"He taught me that football is a game and there is much more to it," Gildehaus said. "He was a teacher of faith. He shared so much of it with all of his players. He forgot more than I will ever know about football. The same is true for Jim Scanlan and Del Rinne, all hall of fame coaches."
Flanagan was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 1992 along with 20 other coaches including Washington High School's Jim Scanlan and Jefferson City legend Pete Adkins.
Oddly, Flanagan and Scanlan retired from head coaching duties after the same season, 1986.
Flanagan's protege, Gildehaus, played for Flanagan and took over when Harold stepped down from the varsity coaching job after the 1986 season.
"If it was not for Coach Flanagan, I would not be where I am today," Gildehaus said. "He was our father away from home. He was fair and a strong disciplinarian. He poured the foundation for Borgia football. Everybody my age has a story to share about Coach Flanagan."
Two of Flanagan's teams had undefeated regular seasons. The 1976 team went 10-0 in the regular season and lost to Fulton in the first round of the state playoffs, 14-7.
The 1978 Knights were 10-0 in the regular season and lost to Washington in the first round of the state playoffs, 23-20. That game went into double overtime.
"When Borgia and Washington first played in 1978, he told me it was the most exciting day of his life and it was a thrill to compete against Washington," Gildehaus said.
"It was a much tougher decision than I had thought," Flanagan was quoted after his final game in charge of the Knights in the Nov. 12, 1986, Missourian. "But, it's time for a younger coach. These were a fast 22 years. We were really potent in the mid-'70s. I always had a tremendous athletic association behind me. Many schools try and duplicate Borgia's."
The Missourian editorial "He Will Be Missed" stated: "Flanagan pushed his players hard yet he was a friend to all of them and he earned their respect. In the mold of a Ray DeGreeff when it came to respect, Flanagan was a dedicated coach who will not be easy to replace.
"One of his most outstanding traits was his ability to handle football players. He was not one to lavish praise on his players - although he did on occasions. Rather he motivated them to try harder, to do even better, and he prepared his players well for the game of life when they reached adulthood."
A World War II veteran, Flanagan was based on Oahu when the bombs fell Dec. 7, 1941, bringing the United States into World War II. Gildehaus related the story that Flanagan was attending church when the attack began.
Gildehaus said Flanagan was the only coach in the Borgia football program at times.
"When he first started, he ran the program one year by himself," Gildehaus said. "He was the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coach, line coach, junior varsity coach and freshman coach. You name it, he did it."
Gildehaus said Flanagan provided some needed help when he started to coach the Knights.
"He was so instrumental in helping me when I first started," said Gildehaus. "He was there to listen. He told me, remember to be fair, be honest and be open to everyone. He taught me so much."
Gildehaus also talked about other memories of Flanagan, such as his scouting trips and how Flanagan and DeGreeff would spend much time playing pinball at the old SFB Lanes.
Gildehaus said Flanagan will be remembered by many.
"He touched so many lives in this community," said Gildehaus.
