Background
Grala, William Leon was born on September 29, 1922 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William Leon and Mary Magdalene (Demschick) Grala.
pharmaceutical company executive
Grala, William Leon was born on September 29, 1922 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William Leon and Mary Magdalene (Demschick) Grala.
Bachelor of Science, Haverford College, 1943. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Bethune Cookman College. Department of Public Health (honorary), Hillsdale College.
Copywriter John F. Arndt Inc., Philadelphia, 1946. Industrial relations assistant American Car and Foundry-Brill Motors Company, 1946—1948. With SmithKline Beecham Beckman Corporation, from 1948, vice president, corporation public relations, 1971—1973, vice president, public affairs, from 1973.
With United States Army, 1943-1946.
Chairman Pharmaceutical Information Committee Greater Philadelphia, 1960—1965. Trustee Child Study Center Philadelphia, 1965—1969. Member, executive board Philadelphia Council Boy Scouts America, 1967—1969, chairman, public relations committee.
Board directors & secretary North City Corporation, 1968—1975. Member, executive committee Delaware Valley Council, 1975—1977, board directors, 1968—1978, Eastern Region Pennsylvania Economy League, from 1971, member, executive committee, from 1975. Executive secretary C. Mahlon Kline Memorial Foundation, 1970—1978, SmithKline Beecham Beckman Foundation, 1970—1975, trustee, from 1971, president & Chief Executive Officer, from 1978.
Division chairman United Fund, 1973—1974. Assistant secretary Pennsylvanians for Effective Government, 1973—1979. Board directors & vice-chairman, emergency medical services Council Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 1973—1979, chairman, business and industry committee, 1974—1979.
General chairman & annual director Philadelphia Police Athletic League, 1975—1976, chairman, board directors, from 1980. Member Philadelphia Commission Effective Criminal Justice, 1975—1977, Philadelphia Public Schools Committee, from 1983, Philadelphia Advisory Committee Moton Center Indiana Studies, 1975—1977. Board directors Philadelphia Urban Coalition, 1976—1978, Hahnemann Medical College & Hospital, from 1978, Balch Institute Ethnic Studies, from 1980, Cliveden Property Council, from 1981, LISC, from 1982, Zoological Society Philadelphia, from 1982, Executive Service Corps.
Delaware Valley, from 1983, Please Touch Museum, from 1983, Burn Foundation Greater Delaware Valley, from 1975, chairman, executive committee, 1976—1978, chairman board, from 1978. Board directors & chairman, communications & public relations committee Area Council Economic Education, from 1975, member, executive committee, from 1976, vice president, from 1976. Member, public information committee Joint Council Economic Education, 1975—1981.
Vice chairman Consumer Council Greater Philadelphia, 1976, board directors, 1975—1976, Southeastern Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, 1975—1976, Philadelphia School District Advisory Council Career Education, 1975—1976, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1976—1978, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, from 1977, Citizens Crime Commission Philadelphia, from 1978, Junior Achievement Greater Delaware Valley, 1979—1980, Pennsylvania Academy Fine Arts, from 1980. Member, public relations committee Southeast Philadelphia Chapter American Red Cross, 1978—1979. President & board directors Friends of Benjamin Franklin, from 1979.
Member, advisory committee International Association Students Economic & Commercial Sciences, 1979—1980, Wharton School University Pennsylvania. Board directors, eastern chapter Arthritis Foundation, 1982—1983. Fellow: College Physicians Philadelphia, Royal Society Medicine.
Member: History Society Pennsylvania (director since 1979), Pennsylvania Society, Academy Political Science, American Academy Political & Social Science, American Public Health Association, Manufacturers Association Delaware Valley 1978-1981, Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce 1976-1979, Philadelphia Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society America (past director, Philadelphia chapter), Union League Club (Philadelphia).
Married June Wilkins, November 5, 1943 (divorced March 1961). Married Babette Liversidge Jensen, November 22, 1963. 1 child Christopher Wells.