Honorary Degree Recipient William Rankin ‘60

WILLIAM RANKIN ’60

Westminster College recognized the outstanding achievements and leadership of William W. Rankin ’60 by awarding him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Commencement on Saturday, May 14.

Rankin, who holds a B.A. in economics and business administration from Westminster and an M.B.A. from Pace University, had a 33-year career in human resources management with Pfizer Inc., working in the New York City headquarters and the European management headquarters in Brussels. He retired as vice president-employee resources for Pfizer Inc. Consumer Health Care Group.

Prior to graduating magna cum laude from Westminster, he was a campus leader who excelled academically and athletically. While a student he served two terms as class president, was vice president of Student Council and the InterFraternity Council and president of Sigma Nu fraternity. A three-year letterman for tennis, Rankin was co-captain of the 1960 Titan team that went undefeated in the West Penn Conference. Rankin is only the fifth men’s tennis player inducted into the Westminster College Sports Hall of Fame. In his junior year, Rankin set a school record for singles wins in a season (13), which held for 24 years.

Rankin’s commitment to community service and volunteerism can be witnessed in his steadfast dedication to Westminster. Currently a trustee emeritus, Rankin was a three-term member of the Westminster College Board of Trustees. In 2016, in recognition of his commitment and service to Westminster, Rankin was honored with the Alumni Citation Award.

He established two endowed scholarships for Westminster students— one for students interested in pursuing a career in human resources and the other for those who are members of Valencia (Pa.) Presbyterian Church or other churches in the Beaver-Butler (Pa.) Presbytery.

A proud supporter of Titan athletics, Rankin is recognized for initiating the design of the Hall of Fame ring available to inductees. He has frequently traveled to Hilton Head, S.C., to support the tennis teams during their spring break training matches, and he has donated Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship rings to the women’s tennis and golf teams, as well as men’s golf. He was the lead donor and major fundraiser for the campus’ indoor Bill Rankin Golf Center, built in 2016. Most recently he donated men’s tennis and women’s golf trophy cases for the Huey Heritage Center in Memorial Field House.

Outside of Westminster, he is active with his church and many civic organizations, including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, It’s About the Warrior Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed American Veterans, United Service Organization, Veterans for Foreign Wars, Honduras Hope Mission, Light of Life Rescue Mission and The Lighthouse Foundation.

Rankin resides in Gibsonia, Pa., with his wife, Carla, and they have two grown sons, Mark and Matt, and four grandchildren.