William L. Runkle III
William L. Runkle III '62
Loyalty to Mechanicsburg Area High School

Playwright, George Bernard Shaw’s words “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live”, are the perfect descriptor for Bill Runkle, whose loyalty to Mechanicsburg Area High School is evidenced by his decades of tireless work.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, his military family moved to Shiremanstown, PA when he was two years old. He attended Mechanicsburg schools, and graduated in 1962. While in high school, Bill was involved in JV football, Key Club, Intramural sports and the Junior and Senior plays. A terrible football injury included a broken femur, and ended his football playing days.This accident pushed Bill into his love for the sciences and health. He attended Clarion State College as a Biology major and chemistry minor, graduating in 1966.

After teaching just one year at Crafton High School, Pittsburgh, PA, in 1967, he returned to Mechanicsburg Area High School, now as a Biology teacher. While teaching tenth grade biology, he also ran the Key Club and was the Intramural School Director. By 1974, Bill was Dean of the sophomore class and utilized all environments for learning; often taking students outside to explore and engage in the biology curriculum. This included more than 26 years of academic trips to Wallop’s Island Marine Science Consortium, where they hiked marshes and coastal beaches, enjoyed an oceanography research cruise, and extensive organism lab time. Bill always made learning hands on, fun and exciting for his students. Outside of the classroom, Bill was involved in Mechanicsburg sports. He coached wrestling from 1970-1973.

In 1970, he established Mechanicsburg’s first Ski Club. He not only organized the group to travel to and from Ski Roundtop, but also taught lessons and, helped find student equipment and organized a yearly trip to Mount Snow and other Vermont resorts.

In 1971, Bill was asked to announce high school football games. Bill’s voice was heard over the loudspeaker for 46 years, missing only one game. His love for football, the students and Mechanicsburg was evident in his presence and excitement in his voice. He became known as “The Voice of the Wildcats” or Coach Lichtel’s name for him, “Old Golden Throat”.

In 1972, Bill was recognized by the Mechanicsburg School Board of Directors with the Outstanding Service to Students award.

In 1973, he organized Mechanicsburg’s first tennis team. What started as an intramural team, in just one year, became the Mechanicsburg High School Tennis team. He continued to coach and organize the team through 1979.

In addition to coaching, Bill started many clubs and intramural activities, including: Biking and Backgammon clubs, DJ, Frisbee, Game, Rollerblading, and Trivial Pursuit clubs.

In 1974, Bill became the Special Subject Coordinator, focusing on Elementary science and conservation activities. He established many summer camp programs to pique young learners’ interest in the sciences. He organized elementary class visits to high school biology classrooms. Here, he taught high school students to share their knowledge with younger students. Bill always said if you can teach information to others, you will have a deeper understanding of the curriculum yourself.

Bill became Science Department Chair in 1978, where he implemented Biology II and Advanced Placement Biology courses. Bill not only wrote curriculums, but also taught Biology I, II, and III, and Advanced Placement courses. Bill wanted his students to succeed, and encouraged study groups for all his courses; many of which would call him at home, with questions or for clarification. Years later, students often shared words of thanks for his Advanced Placement course, stating that his course was more difficult than their college course and that they felt prepared for their next step in college.

In 1978, Bill became president of the Mechanicsburg Education Association. Bill worked tirelessly for more than 12 years and negotiated four contracts. His motto was always “students first”. While Bill taught in MASD for 36 years, in 1988 he also started to teach a practicum at Messiah (then) College.

In spring of 1980, the courtyard at the high school welcomed a nesting mallard. Heavy teen traffic and with no water supply, this was an unusual nesting place. Bill saw the need and with the help of a colleague, created a pond and safe nesting place for mother duck and anticipated ducklings. Later, the mallard and her offspring were banded and relocated to Middle Creek.

In 1993, a Mechanicsburg colleague passed away. Bill turned student and faculty grief into a more positive experience by starting a high school garden in memory of the deceased. For years, many continued to enjoy and learn from the garden and wildlife.

In 1995, he co-authored a grant proposal for computer based research tools. Awarded funds helped Mechanicsburg gain access to updated technology and microscopes needed for student success.

Volunteer projects were another passion of Bill’s. While it is impossible to list them all, a few were noted in the local newspapers, such as Bill “hoofing it up” for a student council food collection, where he danced to the “YMCA” while holding a baby pig, or when he grew a mustache to support Shiremantown’s 100th Founding Day. He also served as disc jockey for numerous dances, donating proceeds back to the Mechanicsburg district and community.

In 1998, Bill was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa International certificate from Shippensburg University. There he was honored as a professional who worked diligently to learn and share his knowledge with others. He was applauded as someone who placed their students first and helped to transform the lives of his students.

Bill retired from teaching at Mechanicsburg Area School District in June of 2003, though he continued to announce the football games until 2016.

Bill’s Loyalty to Mechanicsburg High School is evidenced in his continued support of Mechanicsburg Area School District, sports, events and his community through his volunteer efforts
and in his work.