FRITCHMAN, HARRY VERNON, b. 11-27-1907, McDonald, PA. Resident, Indiana. Past pres., chief executive officer & general counsel of Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Co. Retired 1-1-1973. Currently a director. Past Chairman, National Coal Assoc., Washington D.C., 1962-63; director since 1943. Education: Horace Mann School, Indiana. Indiana H.S., 1925. A.B., Pa. State Univ. 1929. LLB. & Juris Doctor, Univ. of Pgh. Law School, 1932. Religious affiliation: Calvary U. Presbyterian, Indiana. Business & professional career: R. & P. Coal Co. (above). Director, Savings & Trust Co., Indiana. Past director & pres. United Eastern Coal Sales Corp. & Helvetia Coal Co. Past director R. & P Coal Co. of Canada, Imperial Coal Corp., Vitro Minerals Corp., Bituminous Coal Operator’s Assoc., Central Pa. Coal Producer’s Assoc., National Coal Policy Conference & Keystone Coal Assoc. Civic & organizational activities: Past member, Indiana Hospital Board of Directors and present member of corporate board. Pa. Bar Assoc. Past pres., IC Bar Assoc. Lodge #313, Indiana, F. & A. Masons. Coudersport Consistory. Jaffa Shrine, Altoona. B. P. O. Elks #931, Indiana. Oakmont & Indiana Country Clubs. Beta Theta Pi & Phi Delta Phi. Political affiliation: Rep. Awards & honors: Honorary director, National Coal Assoc. Distinguished Coal Lawyer Award, Coal Lawyers Conference, 1978.
Mr. Fritchman was m. 10-14-1933 to Ethel N. Rendleman of Pittsburgh. They have one son, Vernon N., an attorney & sec. Kentucky Fried Chicken Corp., b. 5-22-1938, m. Donna Smeltz, of Harrisburg, Pa. 1-9-1965.
Our subject’s father, Frank Markle Fritchman, was b. 3-28-1873 in Westmoreland Co., son of William Page and Mary (Markle) Fritchman. Frank m. Magdelena Crilley and they had six children, three boys and three girls. They were the last family to reside in Memorial Hall, or Clark House, at S. Sixth & Wayne in Indiana 1913 until 4-1-1917. Frank d. 11-26-1949.
Our subject’s mother was born 4-15-1882 in Smithton, Pa. and d. Apr 1918.
Source: Clarence D. Stephenson, Indiana County 175th Anniversary History, Vol IV, Biographical Sketches of Noted Citizens, Past and Present, (The A. G. Halldin Publishing Company, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701, 1983), Page 239-240. (Special thanks to the Special Collections Librarian, Indiana University of Pennsylvania)