Background
Rusch, William George was born on July 22, 1924 in Dunkirk, New York, United States. Son of Raymond and Isabel (Dufton) Rusch.
Rusch, William George was born on July 22, 1924 in Dunkirk, New York, United States. Son of Raymond and Isabel (Dufton) Rusch.
AB magna cum laude, Washington and Jefferson College, 1948. Master of Divinity, Western Theological Seminary, 1950. Master of Education, University Pittsburgh, 1950.
Doctor of Philosophy, University Pittsburgh, 1958. Doctor of Ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1975. Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Grove City College, Pennsylvania, 1968.
Honorary Doctor of Laws, Waynesburg College, 1972. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Wilson College, 1973. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Westminster College, 1978.
Doctor of Letters (honorary), Davis and Elkins College, 1974. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Lafayette College, 1975. Doctor of Humanities (honorary), Washington and Jefferson College, 1977.
Doctor of Literature (honorary), Beaver College, 1981.
Ordained to ministry, Presbyterian Church, 1950;
pastor in, Tarentum, Pennsylvania, 1948-1951;
pastor in, Pittsburgh, 1951-1954;
pastor in, 2d Presbyterian Church, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1954-1960;
pastor in, Church of Covenant, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1960-1967;
executive, Synod of Pennsylvania, Camp Hill, 1968-1972;
executive, Synod of Pennsylvania-West Virginia, 1972-1975;
executive, Synod of The Trinity, 1975-1987. Moderator Washington Presbytery, 1958. Chairman Christian education committee Synod Pennsylvania, 1960-1966, chairman higher education committee, 1960-1966, moderator, 1966-1967.
President Washington Council Churches, 1967. Member board Christian education U.P. Church, 1967-1968, member of national staff, board national missions, 1968-1972. Member General Assembly Committee on Regional Synod Organisation, 1971-1973.
Member of council General Assembly of U.P. Church, 1972-1976, member churchwide coordinating cabinet, 1972-1987. Co-chairman Pennsylvania Conference on Interch. Cooperative, 1972-1976.
Member Pennsylvania Commission United Ministries in Higher Education, 1968-1987. President Pennsylvania Council Churches, 1977-1978. Member special commission on evangelism General Assembly, 1982-1985.
Chairman Washington Juvenile Commission, 1966-1968. President board United Fund Washington, 1962. Life trustee Washington and Jefferson College, 1957-1987.
Chairman board Big Brothers Washington, 1967, Washington School Board, 1967-1968. Board directors Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1971-1987. Served to Second lieutenant United States Army Air Force, 1943-1946, PTO. Member Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Sigma Rho, Eta Sigma Phi, Pi Sigma Alpha.
Lodges: Masons (33 degree, master 1963, grand chaplain 1971-1987, grand prelate commandery K.T. Pennsylvania 1973-1974).
Married Ruth Jeannette Johnson, August 23, 1947. Children: Carolyn Rose Von Endt, Elizabeth Diane Rusch Terry, Kathryn Ann Rusch Rible, Paul Christopher.