About the Author
William Eberly (1926-2011) graduated from Huntington High School in 1944 and received his Bachelor’s degree from Manchester College in 1948. Following graduation, he taught music and science in the public school for five years. He received his Masters Degree and Ph.D. from Indiana University and in 1955 joined the faculty of Manchester College as a professor in the biology department.
In 1963 Eberly was invited as a visiting scientist to the Institute of Limnology at the University of Uppsala in Sweden. He also served as past president of Indiana Academy of Sciences. He started the Environmental Studies program at Manchester College in 1972 and served as its director until his retirement 1992, developing a program for outdoor education at the Koinonia Nature Preserve for public school and college students.
He served on the Indiana Pesticide Review Board representing limnologists of the State of Indiana and received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Gov. Robert Orr in 1983 for his strong advocacy for environment concerns.
Dr. Eberly was a member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren. As an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, he had served many congregations, including Pleasant View Church of the Brethren in South Whitley, Roann Church of the Brethren in Roann, and Buffalo Church of the Brethren in Buffalo, Indiana. He also served on the Church of the Brethren General Board for two terms and was Annual Conference Secretary for ten years. In 1980 he served as moderator of the denomination. He was also a former instructor in church history for Bethany Seminary.
He had a passion for genealogy, history, and research. As a result he authored and edited many books, most recently, The Story of the Natural Sciences at Manchester College. He was a member of the Brethren Encyclopedia Board of Directors from 1985-2008.