William Schreyer
Encyclopedia
William Allen Schreyer was chairman emeritus and former CEO of Merrill Lynch
& Co. He is also a past president of Pennsylvania State University's
Board of Trustees.
on January 13, 1928. His father managed the local office of a stock brokerage that Merrill Lynch later acquired. While in high school, Schreyer worked at the firm part time. Schreyer then attended Penn State, where he joined Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1948. After graduating college, he worked at Merrill Lynch as a junior executive trainee. He became the head of the Trenton, New Jersey
office in 1963, eventually becoming the New York
metropolitan regional director in 1972. The next year, he was appointed the head of the company's government securities subsidiary. Schreyer became President of the firm in 1982 and then Chairman and CEO in 1985.
at Pennsylvania State University
(whence he graduated, class of 1948) with a gift of $30 million. The honors college was created in 1980 as the University Scholars Program. On November 17, 2006, the Schreyers pledged an additional gift of $25 million to the Schreyer Honors College. Having contributed more than $58 million to Penn State, they are the largest family donors in the school's history.
In March 2007, Schreyer and his wife gifted $5 million toward Princeton HealthCare System's proposed Plainsboro hospital to fund a state-of-the-art community and professional education center.
In August 2007, Schreyer donated $5 million to the education foundation of the Sigma Phi Epsilon
fraternity, of which he is an alumnus.
William Schreyer died on the morning of January 22, 2011 after battling an undisclosed illness for some time.
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
& Co. He is also a past president of Pennsylvania State University's
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
Board of Trustees.
Early life and career
William Schreyer was born in Williamsport, PennsylvaniaWilliamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
on January 13, 1928. His father managed the local office of a stock brokerage that Merrill Lynch later acquired. While in high school, Schreyer worked at the firm part time. Schreyer then attended Penn State, where he joined Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1948. After graduating college, he worked at Merrill Lynch as a junior executive trainee. He became the head of the Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
office in 1963, eventually becoming the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
metropolitan regional director in 1972. The next year, he was appointed the head of the company's government securities subsidiary. Schreyer became President of the firm in 1982 and then Chairman and CEO in 1985.
Philanthropy
In 1997, he and his wife, Joan (Legg), endowed the Schreyer Honors CollegeSchreyer Honors College
The Schreyer Honors College is the honors program of the Pennsylvania State University. Founded in 1980 as the University Scholars Program, it was expanded and renamed in 1997 in response to a $30 million gift by William and Joan Schreyer...
at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(whence he graduated, class of 1948) with a gift of $30 million. The honors college was created in 1980 as the University Scholars Program. On November 17, 2006, the Schreyers pledged an additional gift of $25 million to the Schreyer Honors College. Having contributed more than $58 million to Penn State, they are the largest family donors in the school's history.
In March 2007, Schreyer and his wife gifted $5 million toward Princeton HealthCare System's proposed Plainsboro hospital to fund a state-of-the-art community and professional education center.
In August 2007, Schreyer donated $5 million to the education foundation of the Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
fraternity, of which he is an alumnus.
William Schreyer died on the morning of January 22, 2011 after battling an undisclosed illness for some time.