The Penn Stater Magazine

Living History at the University House

May 8, 2009 at 1:12 pm Ryan Jones Leave a comment

Working in the “old” part of the Hintz Family Alumni Center — University House, home to Penn State presidents until 1970 — it’s not not unusual for those of us on The Penn Stater staff to see curious alumni wandering through our halls. We assumed that was the case today when a couple came up the stairs near our offices on the second floor. I happened to be standing at the printer when they came up and, since they seemed unsure of where they were going, I asked if they were looking for anyone in particular.

“Not really,” the gentleman said. “I used to live here.”

We just got an unexpected visit from the grandson of former University President Ralph Dorn Hetzel

The man was Roger Williams — it’s only a coincidence that he has the same name as our boss, Alumni Association Executive Director Roger L. Williams ’73, ’75g, ’88g — who with his wife, Kathy, had come to see the house he lived in as a young child. Roger’s grandfather was Ralph Dorn Hetzel, the University president from 1927-47 and namesake of the Hetzel Union Building. As a child, Roger lived for a few years in the University House with his mother, Harriet Hetzel Williams ’38, while his grandfather ran the University during the Great Depression and World War II.

The Williamses now live in upstate New York but returned to town for a memorial service for Roger’s mother, who died a few months ago. Among the family they’ll see this weekend is Roger’s cousin, Ralph Dorn Hetzel III ’66, an associate professor in the College of Communications. Roger said it’s been years since he visited the building (his family moved out when he was six), but a trip up to the third floor rekindled his memory. That’s where the kids’ rooms were, he said. He still remembers sliding down the banister to the second-floor landing.

Ryan Jones, senior editor

Entry filed under: Alumni Association, College of Communications, Hintz Family Alumni Center, The Penn Stater magazine, University Park campus. Tags: Harriet Hetzel Williams, Hetzel Union Building, Hintz Family Alumni Center, HUB, Ralph Dorn Hetzel, Roger L. Williams, University House.