William B. Harlan – Obituary
William B. Harlan (89), Renovo, PA (formerly of Lady lake, Florida) died at the Northeast GA Medical Center in Gainesville GA, on February 11, 2015. Born in Renovo, Pa, Harlan graduated from Renovo High School, class of 1943 where he served as class president for six years.
Harlan was a former staff secretary and Director of Public Relations of Pennsylvania Medical Society; Director of Public Relations for C.H. Masland & Sons (Carlisle, PA); Executive Secretary of the Dauphin County Medical Society, Central Pennsylvania Academy of Medicine, Pennsylvania Society of Internal Medicine, and Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology; Executive Director of the Medical Bureau of Harrisburg, and Executive Vice President of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
During his forty-year medical society career, Harlan was the recipient of dedicated service awards from the Dauphin County Medical Society, Medical Bureau of Harrisburg, and the Pennsylvania Society of Internal Medicine as well as community service and career service awards from the Medical Society of Milwaukee County. Harlan also received the Director’s Award of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, its highest award, and a citation by the Senate of the State of Wisconsin and certificates of commendation from the City of Milwaukee and the Governor of Wisconsin.
Harlan was a former Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Dauphin County Child Care Service, Board of Directors member of the Tri-County Council on Addictive Diseases, Dauphin County Unit of the American Cancer Society and member of the special committee on health careers of the Pennsylvania Health Council. He was also a Board of Directors member of the Wisconsin Cardiovascular Foundation, a member of the City of Milwaukee Health Department Services Policy committee and a member of the Task Force on Child Abuse/Neglect of Milwaukee County and many other committee and boards in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Harlan was an emeritus member of the American Association of Medical Society Executives and Vice President of “Skull and Key,” a Junior Year Honorary Society.
Harlan was included in “Who’s Who in the East” in the 1975-1976 edition by the Marquis Publications Board. He conducted the “Safeguard your Health” program of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, which won the silver anvil trophy award of the American Public Relations Association in 1957. Harlan was also administrative head of the Pennsylvania Society of Internal Medicine when it received the “Component Society of the Year” Award in 1971 from the American Society of internal Medicine.
A World War II veteran from 1943-1946 with service in the Pacific Theatre of Operations as a high speed radio operator, Harlan received the Good Conduct, Asiatic Pacific Campaign with two battle stars (Iwo Jima and Okinawa), World War II Victory and Army Occupation medals, as well as a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Secretary of Defense for his service during the Cold War. Harlan was a life member of the American Legion, Post 347, and its honor guard for nearly five years. Harlan also held life memberships in the Korean War Veterans Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6178, Renovo, plus the DAV Commanders’ Club membership.
A 1950 graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, Harlan attended the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, in 1950 and 1951. Harlan was publications committee chairman, a Class of 1950 Dickinson Fund chairman and Alumnus Advisory committee chairman of the college.
A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and one of its former presidents while in college, Harlan was a recipient of the fraternity’s Order of the Phoenix award. Harlan was also a Founder member of the SAE Foundation and a golden alumnus in recognition of his fifty-year membership in the fraternity. In addition, Harlan was a past president of the Harrisburg SAE Association.
An avid supporter of Renovo and Clinton County, Harlan was a member of the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park, Western Clinton County Sportsmen’s Association, and the Potter County Anglers Club.
Harlan is survived by a daughter (Denise of Braselton, GA) and two sons (Bruce of Meadville, PA and Scott of Ipswich, MA). Harlan’s father, Clarence E. Harlan, was formerly executive vice president of Citizens Bank of Renovo, which is now Santander Bank. Harlan was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, and three sisters. Harlan’s wife, Marian, died August 17, 2003.
Harlan was a member of Renovo Presbyterian Church and was buried at Bushnell National Cemetery, Florida, with the Army Honor Guard participating in the ceremony at the Cemetery.
