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Dr. McIlwaine Named Grand Marshal

It’s Parade Time!

The Millersville Community Parade has named Dr. William B. McIlwaine as this year’s 2015 Parade Grand Marshal. McIlwaine, was a member of Millersville University faculty from 1958-91. This World II decorated vet, McIlwaine is a well-known educator and respected leader in the region and the surrounding community.  The Millersville Community Parade will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015 @ 9 a.m. and McIlwaine is scheduled to ride in a 1945 Army Jeep.

McIlwaine served in the 3rd Army, 80th Infantry Division, and 317th Infantry Regiment. As a solider he fought across Europe including the famous Battle of the Bulge, a major German campaign that took place in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg on the Western Front toward the end of World War II, when he was wounded by artillery fire. In May of 1945, his unit freed inmates from the Nazi concentration camp in Ebensee, Austria. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and Four Theatre of Operation Stars for his contributions and bravery.

After the war, he pursued a bachelor’s, masters, and doctorate degrees at Boston University and later pursued additional studies at Penn State in Earth Sciences and Nuclear Sciences at Harvard University. In 1950 he married Melva and is the parent of David, Douglas, Deborah (Shenk), and Meredyth (Taylor). He currently resides in Millersville. McIlwaine taught biology, chemistry, and general sciences at the high school level before joining the faculty at Millersville University.

At Millersville University, he was a Professor of Geology and served as the first chair of the Department of Earth and Space science, chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, and as the university’s first director of grants and awards earning more than $1 million to the University. Among his leadership, he helped with the Geology department at Franklin and Marshall College, and developed a program in student teaching for the Navajo Indian reservation. He also served on the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing Home Administrators and is a current member of the Millersville University Council of Trustees.

On July 7, 2014, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors honored McIlwaine for his excellent academic and military service. He has received numerous accolades and awards over his life time, a few of those include being selected as a scholar to participate in the Diplomat/Scholar program coordinated by the U.S Department of State in Washington D.C. McIlwaine was selected to be the first science educator member of a delegation to visit China for a series of academic exchanges and was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. He also recently received the President Medallion awarded by Millersville University.

Within the community he has participated in several local, regional and national organizations such as Phi Delta Kappa; the National Collegiate Honors Council; Boy Scouts of America; the YMCA Board of Directors of Lancaster, PA; Millersville Borough Council (president 1972-74), president for the National Association Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators, and the Millersville University Foundation Board of Directors.

For additional details on the 2015 Millersville Community Parade, please visit: www.parade.millersville.edu

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