Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Finance, Insurance & Real Estate William S. Vanderpool, Jr. (February 1, 1922 - ), retired college professor and attorney, was born in El Paso, Texas, the son of a Methodist minister. The young William grew up in various parsonages across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. He graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1939. During his high school years, he demonstrated what was to be his lifelong talent of public speaking by being elected State champion in extemporaneous speaking and debate. This honor helped spur his lifelong interest in public speaking. After high school graduation Vanderpool began studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, on a full scholarship, majoring in political science and economics. After having received the B.A. degree, he commenced a term of military service with the United States Navy in February, 1943. During this time he served as deck officer on a ship in the Pacific Theatre until May, 1946. After the war Vanderpool returned to his studies, obtaining the LL.B. degree from the Duke University School of Law in 1948, at which time he was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar Association. For three years pursuant to obtaining the LL.B., Vanderpool worked as a trial attorney with the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. During this time he also spent the fall semester of 1950 serving as a visiting instructor at Illinois Institute of Technology. Following his years of service with the Department of Justice, Vanderpool again pursued further education by obtaining first the M.A. degree (granted in 1952) and then the Ph.D. degree (granted in 1953) at Louisiana State University. After obtaining the Ph.D., Vanderpool served twenty years at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, teaching there from 1953 until 1973. During his years at Grinnell, Vanderpool participated in a number of research and civic activities. Most notably in civic activities, he was elected to and served on the Grinnell City Council from 1970 until 1974; and served as trustee and president of the Grinnell Community Hospital Board from 1962 until 1973. Additionally, he twice obtained fellowships from the General Humanities Board Ford Grant; in 1971, he studied with the Federal Communications Commission, and in 1973, he was granted a fellowship in London to study Communications Law. During this time, Vanderpool additionally wrote published articles relating to health law, parliamentary procedure, and semantics and logic. Vanderpool also served as the Director of the Supervisors Training Program for General Telephone Company of Iowa in 1962, and for Iowa Southern Utilities Company in 1964. In 1973, Dr. Vanderpool accepted a position on the faculty of Appalachian State University, bringing with him all of the expertise of his previous professional, research, and teaching experience. He immediately became a popular and highly respected professor with both his students and colleagues. His outstanding contributions to the art of teaching won him the Teacher of the Year Award from the John A. Walker College of Business at Appalachian in 1980. During his time at Appalachian, Dr. Vanderpool continued to distinguish himself as a busy and consummate professional by serving as president of the Southeast Business Lawyers Association in 1980-81, and by continuing his research in the areas of art and the law, and employment at will. Dr. Vanderpool's professional affiliations included memberships in the National Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association; the Public Employments Disputes Settlement Panel of the American Arbitration Association; the District of Columbia Bar Association; the Southeast and American Business Lawyers Association; Phi Alpha Delta; and the American Arbitration Association. Dr. Vanderpool's retirement in 1986, has in no way slowed his lifelong pursuit of knowledge and dedication to his field. He continues to devote time to the study of foreign languages, particularly Spanish, and is also becoming actively involved as an arbitrator in commercial disputes. In his spare time, Dr. Vanderpool plans to exercise his more literary side through testing his creative talents by trying his hand at a little playwriting. Source: Personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Miss Maryon Urquhart
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