O. William Vanderlin, a member of the Lycoming Law Association, died on January 12, 1999. A memorial service was held in the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County on February 10, 1999.

Read the memorial resolutions.

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In The Court Of Common Pleas Of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania NO: 99-00071

IN RE: Appointment of a Committee to draft Resolution in the death of O. WILLIAM VANDERLIN, ESQUIRE

RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE COURT:

On the 12th day of January, 1999, the Honorable Clinton W. Smith, President Judge of the 29th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, appointed the undersigned Committee to draft a Resolution memorializing the life of O, WILLIAM VANDERLIN, Esquire and to submit the same to the Court on Wednesday, February 10, 1999 at 4:00 P.M.

The undersigned Committee submits the following Resolution for your Honorable Court's consideration:

1.  O. William Vanderlin of 1560 Grampian Boulevard, Williamsport, Pennsylvania died at home on Thursday, January 7, 1999. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Vanderlin nee Meck, three daughters: Peggy McClain: Christine Carlucci; and Barbara Vanderlin; and a son Richard Anthony Vanderlin, all of this city; a brother, Dr. Robert Vanderlin, and a sister Corinne Matty, both of this city; and by seven grandchildren, Robert, Richard and David McClain; Laura and Lynn Yeager, Benjamin Carlucci and Lexis Lomison. He was predeceased by a brother, Richard Joseph.

2.   William Vanderlin ("Bill" hereinafter) was a lifelong resident of Lycoming County. Born February 3, 1920, he was a son of Otho Anthony and Antoinette Dever Vanderlin. Bill grew up in the Newberry Section of Williamsport. After his marriage to Phyllis and the arrival of their children, the young family moved to Loyalsock Township remaining there until the present.

3. Bill graduated from Williamsport High School in 1938; Dickinson Seminary, now Lycoming College, Pennsylvania State University and the Dickinson Law School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He received a degree in industrial administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

4, During World War Bill served in the Navy in the Pacific as a supply officer and was part of the forces which occupied Japan after its surrender in August 1945.

5. Bill and Phyllis were married in 1949. Their 50th Wedding Anniversary would have been celebrated this month on February 12. After their wedding, the couple lived in Carlisle where Bill was studying law at Dickinson.

6. Bill graduated from Dickinson in 1950 and returned to Williamsport where he served as a Law Clerk for Judge Charles Williams.

7. Later in 1950, Bill joined Joe McNerney and Allen Page in the practice of law. Their office was located on the second floor of the Williamsport National Bank Building at 329 Pine Street. Second floor neighbors at 329 Pine Street in 1950 were attorneys Bob Wise, Joe Keliher and Al Baird. Marshall Laird of the West Branch Manufacturers Association was across and down the hall. Roscoe Alexander's stock brokerage was next door. This was a colorful and accomplished group of people.

8. In 1952 the partnership of McNerney & Page was formed and one year later the firm became known as McNerney, Page & Vanderlin, In 1963 the Firm expanded once again as T. Max Hall joined the partnership which then became known as McNerney, Page, Vanderlin & Hall.

9. Bill was truly present at the creation of McNerney, Page, Vanderlin & Hall. At the time of his death, he was the firm's senior partner. Bill saw opportunity where some saw impossibility. His vision contributed greatly to the firm's success. His practice concentrated in the areas of labor relations public and private, municipal law and hospital law. He provided legal counsel to employers in labor negotiations, contract disputes, arbitrations and proceedings before the National and Pennsylvania Labor Relations Boards. In addition to Pennsylvania employers, he represented employer clients in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, New York, Vermont and Canada.

10. In 1983, he became President of the Lycoming Law Association succeeding his law partner, Charles J. McKelvey. Bill's campaign theme "throw the rascal out" was unanimously endorsed by the Association's members. Elected to serve with Bill were: Tom Quinn; John C. Youngman, Jr.; Marty Fine; Ambrose Campana; Gary Harris; Bill Nichols and Dick Roesgen. John Bonner was designated Chairman of a Special Committee intended to improve relations between the medical and legal professions.  Judge Muir, President of the Association in 1954, was the guest speaker at the banquet which followed Bill's installation as President. Judge Muir discussed ways for lawyers to improve their performance at trial. Recommended were: organization, civility, ingenuity and a sincere prayer for good luck.

11. Bill served on the Boards of Directors of Little League Baseball Incorporated, Divine Providence Hospital, Providence Foundation, Woolrich Inc. and Data Papers, Inc. He was counsel for Little League since 1972 and the hospital both before and after its merger with Susquehanna Health System.

12. Bill was Solicitor for the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority, the Williamsport Sanitary Authority and the Lycoming County Authority. He was active in the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association and Chairman of its Labor Relations Committee. He was a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the Williamsport Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

13. Bill was admitted to practice before this Court in 1950. He was also admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In the early 1970's, after Pennsylvania enacted legislation providing public employees the right to bargain, he served as a hearing examiner for the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. During the 1980's he served on Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Board. This Agency set wages for public construction projects.

14. Bill was a member of the Lycoming Law Association, the Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations, the Williamsport Country Club, Olde Hickory Country Club, Fort Myers, Florida, and the Oaks and Wheel Clubs.

15. He was a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church from which he was buried on January 11, 1999.

16. Bill was extremely active in Little League Baseball. During World Series Week, his office at the firm was usually empty and his calendar marked World Series. He delighted in the fact that youth from the four corners of the earth were here in Williamsport for fun and friendly competition.

17 An active outdoorsman, Bill loved to walk, golf and swim and, more importantly, to do these things with his family whenever possible. His family was the center of his world. All of his children are college graduates and accomplished in their own right. Phyllis was his polestar. It was impossible to have a ten minute conversation with Bill without his mentioning Phyllis in a glowing way at least once.

18. Bill's professional and personal standards were extremely high. He believed the client entitled to his best advice and strove to provide it. He was prompt to involve new young attorneys in his work, to train them properly and to provide them with the benefit of his years of experience. He was interested in all and quick to share a warm friendly smile and his delightful wink.

19. Bill was a devoted husband and father, a fine lawyer, a good friend, and an honest man.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, joined in by the Lycoming County Bar, do hereby recognize the passing of O. William Vanderlin, Esquire, and remember his many contributions to our County.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that these Resolutions and statements be spread at length upon the Minutes of Your Honorable Court with copies sent to Bill's widow, children, sister and brother, and be published in the Lycoming Reporter.

RESOLVED FINALLY, that this Court and the Lycoming Bar extend to O. William Vanderlin's widow, children, grandchildren and siblings our deep and heartfelt expression of sympathy.

Respectfully submitted,

ORDER OF COURT

AND NOW THIS 10th Day of February, 1999, upon consideration of the Resolutions presented by the Committee appointed to draft Resolutions in the death of O. William Vanderlin, Esquire, the said Resolutions are adopted and it is hereby ORDERED and DECREED that the Resolutions herewith submitted and attached be adopted as an official expression of the Lycoming County Bar Association and this Court; and that the same be spread upon the records of the Court; and that copies of this Resolution be delivered to the widow and children of O. William Vanderlin, Esquire; and it is further ORDERED and DIRECTED that said Resolutions be entered at large and upon the record of the Court, and that they be printed in the Lycoming Reporter.