Harry “Bus” Scharmann
A lifetime educator and county commissioner died Sunday due to complications from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), family members reported on social media.
Harry “Bus” Scharmann, 74, was a county commissioner, interim Churchill County School District superintendent and Western Nevada College counselor and dean of the Fallon campus before his retirement in 2011.
Scharmann had been diagnosed with ALS, which is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement.
Recently, WNC honored Scharmann with a scholarship named for him.
“Scharmann’s impact on WNC and rural education spanned generations,” stated WNC in an April 25 media release noting his early years as a counselor and instructor to his tenure as a dean and beyond. He remained a driving force behind the college’s success. Even in retirement, his dedication to WNC never wavered.”
The scholarship started for the 2024-25 academic year.
“Dad said he guessed the ‘Champion of WNC’ title came because he worked tirelessly and always stood up for the students,” said Scharmann’s daughter, Terri Fairfield.
Fairfield said her father recognized the importance of education in rural Nevada and ensured the needs of the students and communities were supported.
“He truly was the champion for WNC by providing opportunities to rural Nevadans for over three decades,” she said.
Scharmann spent 35 years with the college having started at Hawthorne in 1974. He moved to Fallon three years later to become a full-time counselor and teacher of English, mathematics and physical education. In 2000, he succeeded Michelle Dondero as dean of the Fallon campus.
CCSD Trustees appointed Scharmann as interim superintendent for the school district during the 2011-2012 school year after Dr. Carolyn Ross left, and before the hiring Dr. Sandra Sheldon.
Yet, it was his love and passion to ensure Fallon still had a campus by starting a grassroots Restore Our College Campus Committee in early 2012. The members representing a wide range of professions in Churchill County and former Regent Ron Knecht successfully lobbied for the return of more local classes and funding to the Fallon campus, which was precarious at the time.
Later that year, Scharmann, a lifelong Republican, successful ran for county commission and successfully ran for re-election four years later. Dr. Justin Heath defeated Scharmann in the 2020 election.
Two years later after current commissioner Dr. Gregory Koenig was elected to the Nevada State Legislature in 2020, Gov. Steve Sisolak appointed Scharmann to fill the unexpired term for two years. During his 10 years on the commission, Scharmann served on regional committees and boards including CC Communications, Churchill Area Regional Transportation, Central Nevada Regional Water Authority, recreation, transportation, senior citizens coalition and more.
Also during his tenure as an elected official, the commission implemented the Big Dig that led to the creation of a channel to take flood water from Carson Lake to the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge. Churchill County also put a step forward with the completion of the William N. Pennington Life County Law Enforcement centers and the Rafter 3C Arena.
In addition to his time as an educator, Scharmann also coached youth sports and umpired baseball. In 2020, the Churchill Entrepreneur Development Association presented Sharman with the Merton Domonoske award, named after a former Fallon mayor. The award honors individuals for their contributions to Churchill County.