Harold Eugene Sponberg was born September 26, 1918, in New Richland, Minnesota; he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940 from Gustavus Adolphus College, Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota, 1941, and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1952. He married Grace Miller of Orange City, Florida, and together they had five children.

Prior to becoming the President of Eastern Michigan University, Sponberg was an elementary and high school teacher; Assistant Professor, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Educational Placement, and Professor of Education at Michigan State University between 1946-1953; Executive Secretary, National 4-H Foundation, 1953-1954; Director of University Extension, Michigan State University, 1954-1956; Vice President of Academic Affairs, Northern Michigan University, 1956-1961; President of Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, 1961-1965.

On October 2, 1965, President Sponberg was inaugurated as the 15th President of EMU. When Sponberg took the reins of EMU the student population was approximately 10,188 students and the University maintained an image of a teacher-training institution. Sponberg undertook the college boom as a challenge and oversaw a major expansion of buildings on campus which included: Pray-Harrold; Porter (which served as a new University Library); Mark Jefferson Science Complex; Rynearson Football Stadium; Ostrike Baseball Stadium, and a majority of the dormitories.

President Sponberg also established the first office of a full time Director of Alumni Relations; the University Archives and converted the old office of publications and news services into the Office of Information Services. Harold Sponberg resigned his position as University President on March 20, 1974. After suffering a heart attack in his home, Harold Sponberg died April 26, 1975.