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William R. Philler was born in Philadelphia in 1857, the son of George Philler and Rebecca Horner Ruckman. He entered the College of the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 1871. While attending the University, Philler was a member of the Philomathean Society and Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. As one of the founding members and first treasurer of the Athletic Association, Philler cemented himself as one of Penn's most reliable supporters. An ardent rower and member of both the University's four and eight-oared crews, he was one of the founders of the College Boat Club, serving as treasurer while an undergraduate and then, after the death of Calhoun Megargee in 1880, as president. He also played varsity baseball and varsity cricket. Philler was a president of both his College and Law School classes and gave the oration at his 1878 law school commencement. After graduation Philler entered the banking business and became secretary of the Western Savings Fund Society and went on to serve as secretary of the Real Estate Trust Company until retiring in 1921. He served the Law Academy of Philadelphia as treasurer in 1877 and President in 1881. He held the position of treasurer at the Merion Cricket Club for thirty-five years, from 1878 to 1912, when he became vice-president. He was also a member of the Central Committee of the Alumni of the University of Pennsylvania and a life member of the College Boat Club. Philler married Emily Chapman Winsor in 1885. At the time of his death in 1944, Philler was the oldest living alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, having been recognized for services "perhaps of longer duration than those of any other living graduate." | |
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