Dr. Spalding was born in Bardstown on June 28, 1927. He attended Bethlehem Academy for grade school and graduated from St. Prep in 1945. Dr. Harry believes his football team in those years equaled the best in St. Joe Prep history. He graduated from the  University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Education in 1952. He served in the U. S. Army in Korean War from 1952 to 1953. He taught science at Old Kentucky Home High School from 1953-1954. Dr. Spalding graduated from the University of Louisville Medical School in 1957, and has practiced medicine in Bardstown since 1959.

Dr. Spalding has served as Charter member of the Ky Academy of Family Physician's, and was Chairman of the Ky. Rural Medical Scholarship fund. And served the Kentucky State Board of Education. Locally, Dr. Spalding is on the Spalding Hall Board. Politically, Dr. Harry has served on the Bardstown City Council for 20 years and served as Mayor of Bardstown for five years. as co-founder of the Old Bardstown Village and Civil War Museum, Dr. Harry has authored several books, including Bardstown's and Nelson County's involvement in World War II.

He is the father of nine children, all of whom he is very proud of.