A History...
Thank you to Leroy Christman, SR/WA, for preparing this history of Chapter 9.
The Chapter was chartered on November 3, 1955, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with the Association Founder, Frank C. Balfour as the Chartering Officer. Although the Pennsylvania Chapter holds the lowest number east of the Mississippi, it was the second chapter chartered in the east as the Ohio Chapter opted for the number 13 and was chartered two days before Chapter 9.
Chapter officers for the year were William W. Seltzer, President; Ambrose J. Winder, 1st Vice President, John W. Jenkins, 2nd Vice President, William M. Davis, SR/WA, Secretary, Evan J. Miller, Treasurer.
The idea of starting a Pennsylvania Chapter originated with Ambrose J. Winder of Philadelphia who had visited with Frank Balfour in California and had observed the operations of the organization. The young Chapter met four times a year at various locations throughout the State. The annual meeting in December was always held in the charter city of Harrisburg. For some unknown reason, the Board of Directors usually held a mid-winter meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The new Chapter began with 67 charter members drawn from the entire State of Pennsylvania. As the Chapter grew, it attracted members from the State of Delaware and the New Jersey area adjacent to the City of Philadelphia. By January of 1959 Chapter 9 had a membership of 305.
The untimely death in 1961 of Ambrose J. Winder, considered to be the founder of Chapter 9, was a severe shock to the organization. The following is an excerpt from a prayer read into the Minutes of the September 29, 1961 chapter meeting by J. Davis Bowman "...As we contemplate the great talent of Ambrose J. Winder for leadership, affability and good will, please grant that those of us who may not be so richly endowed may emulate his gifts and talents and thus further our own lives as well as the lives of others." In 1963 the Board of Directors voted to establish the Ambrose J. Winder Memorial Award which would be presented to a person who has contributed time, talent and experienced in promoting the Purposes of the American Right of Way Association. The award signifies recognition for a lifetime of service. To date 23 members have been so honored.
In 1963 the Chapter assisted Garden State Chapter 15 and Region 4 in hosting the National Seminar in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Under the administration of President Les Phillips in 1968, concentration was centered on gaining new members. The campaign was highly successful with the admission of 98 new members. At the end of the year Chapter membership was 446. Change was the keynote in 1971 when two new chapters were chartered out of the Chapter 9 membership. The first was Allegheny Chapter No. 55 covering Western Pennsylvania and Delmarva Chapter No. 56 in the Delaware/Maryland Eastern Shore area. Although the drop in Chapter 9 membership was dramatic, the move proved to be good for the organization.
Chapter 9 was active during the early years in educational programs when in 1963 it sponsored a Right-of-Way Agents Course presented under the banner of the American Right of Way Association and Temple University. The Chapter was also active in providing instructors for Penn State University to teach its R/W courses.
The Chapter has been extremely active in Regional and International activities of the Association. Chapter 9 has supplied several Chairmen for Region 4 and numerous International Committee Chairmen and Vice Chairmen. Although Larry Stover, SR/WA, was a member of Chapter 55 when he became International Vice President, Chapter 9 takes credit for his formative years from 1964 to 1971. Also, Chapter 9 is most proud of the outstanding service performed by Philip Cottone as General Counsel. Chapter members have had a good share of International recognition with one Mark A. Green Award winner and having its newsletter judged among the top 3 on 5 occasions. The Chapter has hosted five regional seminars and several meetings of the International Executive Board. Perhaps the highlight of Chapter 9’s history was its hosting of the 2004 International Educational Conference in Philadelphia, PA, in June of 2004. It was one of the most successful International Conferences held in the past decade.
During the past 5 years the Chapter has embarked on an ambitious program of presenting IR/WA educational courses. It currently has 16 members with SR/WA designations and several candidates working toward the designation.
In 1983 the Chapter established the H. Lester Phillips Memorial Award to recognize the interest and participation in Chapter activities by a relatively new member. The first award was presented in August of 1983 and ten such awards have been presented to date.
Pennsylvania Chapter 9 is pleased to have been a contributing factor to the success of the International Right of Way Association for 29 of its 50-year history. Chapter 9 celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2005.