William H. Clegg

1925 - 2017

(News story) William H. Clegg, a decades-long instructor at the University of Toledo with a storied history of military service, died Wednesday at ProMedica Ebeid Hospice Residence, Sylvania. He was 91.

He died from a septic leg infection, his son William said.

Mr. Clegg taught as a full-time faculty member at the University of Toledo's college of business administration for 19 years before retiring in 2000 as professor emeritus. He taught courses in statistics and quality management, areas reflective of his status as a certified quality engineer and certified project manager.

"I think he was an educator at heart," his son said. "[I remember] we'd be driving off somewhere to get ice cream, and he would make math problems while we were driving along for [my sister and me] to solve. There were a lot of quizzes every day. I think that's why both of us ended up pursuing advanced degrees."

Mr. Clegg was born Dec. 30, 1925, in Toledo to Raymond and Margaret Clegg.

He was a 1943 graduate of DeVilbiss High School. After graduation he attended the University of Toledo before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in engineering.

He first served on active duty as assistant navigator of the U.S.S. Missouri battleship, where, at 22 years of age, he showed President Harry Truman how to spot the Southern Cross constellation in the sky. A year after his graduation, he returned to the Naval Academy in Maryland to teach courses in navigation.

He was later promoted to executive officer of the minesweeper U.S.S. Chatterer.

He then taught officer-candidate courses at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Mr. Clegg retired as a captain after 30 years of active duty and federal reserve service.

Mr. Clegg was employed at Owens-Illinois Inc. in industrial management and quality management for 32 years.

While there he took night courses at UT and eventually received a master's degree in business administration and a doctorate in education. After working as a part-time instructor at UT for three years, he retired from Owens-Illinois in 1981 to pursue a full-time faculty position. During his time as an instructor, he "liked getting dressed up in his cap and gown and leading the convocation" at university graduation ceremonies, his son said.

"He was a man of so many parts," said son-in-law Mark Cheren. "He loved learning as well as teaching. It was one adventure after another for him. He was somebody that really enjoyed people and getting to know them, and appreciating their strengths."

Mr. Clegg, whose father and older brother were Boy Scouts, was a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He began participating in the program as a child in 1936, and worked several summers at the DeVilbiss Scout Reservation's Camp Miakonda. His Boy Scout commitment was a big influence on his son William and his children in turn.

In his retirement, he enjoyed visiting you-pick strawberry fields around Toledo and playing golf. He and his wife often traveled west to visit national parks in addition to watching stage performances, especially those at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

He enjoyed using new technology to stay in touch with his grandchildren, and in his later years entertained himself by taking math courses. He took care of his wife at the Woodlands at Sunset House in her later years before she succumbed to dementia.

"He was very devoted and loyal," daughter Kathleen said. "A lot of staff know him and appreciate him from how devoted he was to my mom all her life but especially in her later years."

He was married to Pauline R. Clegg; the two met when she, serving as a Navy nurse in the Yokosuka Naval Hospital, treated the cyst infection he'd sustained while on duty in Japan. Their wedding took place Aug. 2, 1952, in Quantico, Va.

Surviving are his son, William; daughter, Dr. Kathleen Clegg; brother, Donald; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Blanchard-Strabler Funeral Home and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Gesu Roman Catholic Church where the funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m.

This is a news story by Blade staff writer Ahmed Elbenni. Contact him at: aelbenni@theblade.com or 419-724-6194.