12/12/2025
WILLIAM A. HANLEY, CLASS OF 1912, SIGMA PHI EPSILON
William A. Hanley was Eli Lilly & Co.’s first professional engineer, joining in 1911 and retiring in 1951 as head of engineering. He expanded company facilities from 14 to 65 buildings and led construction of one of the first air-conditioned pharmaceutical plants in the U.S. Hanley also established a steam and power interchange agreement with Indianapolis Power & Light. Beyond Lilly, he served as a Purdue University trustee and board president (1950–65), earning honorary degrees from Purdue, Rose Polytechnic, and St. Joseph’s. His civic service included leadership roles with the Indianapolis-Marion County Building Authority, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A fellow of the AAAS and past president of ASME and the Newcomen Society, he also aided the U.S. Army Air Force and Navy during WWII.
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