Long before "leadership" became a buzz word, there was William "Bill" Fegley of Tamaqua and West Penn Township, a man who led by personal example. Those words were used to describe the late philanthropist on Friday, when a new education room was dedicated in his honor at St. Luke's Miners Campus in Coaldale.

Fegley, who passed away last December at the age of 91, served as chairman of the hospital's board of directors in the 1990s, a time of transition from being owned by the state to being a member of the St. Luke's University Hospital network. During those days, directors were personally involved with every aspect of keeping the hospital running smoothly, from finances to equipment to employees.Although busy with the three enterprises he co-founded with his brother, Edgar Fegley (Fegley Oil Company, Fegley Tire Company and Fegley Mini Marts), Bill also found time to give back to his community. He was a member of numerous civic organizations in Tamaqua, but was especially active with the Tamaqua Lions Club, where he was a life member and past president. His contributions of time, effort and financial support earned him the Tamaqua Citizen of the Year Award in 1989.Paying tribute to Fegley were current hospital board chairwoman Maureen Donovan, state Rep. Jerry Knowles, St. Luke's Miners Campus President Bill Moyer and St. Luke's Miner's Campus Director of Development Micah Gursky.The new education room will be used "to keep all employees up to date on the latest technology and medical components," said Donovan, who sees it as a place for "leadership training."Moyer said the Coaldale campus is pretty much removed from the bulk of St. Luke's network, which makes it difficult for employees and local health care providers to attend continuing education classes and seminars."We conduct Grand Rounds here every six months, inviting all local physicians to hear guest speakers or attend classes, thanks in large part to the generosity of the Fegley family"Knowles and Gursky, who personally knew Fegley for many years, also thanked his widow, Florence "Flossie" Fegley, and the couple's three children, William Jr., Mark and Lynn Fegley Meadows."Bill Fegley led the board in the search for a partner when the state decided it divest all of its state-run hospitals. Board members visited many potential partners, some of which would have eventually closed the hospital. They chose St. Luke's, a decision that led us here today, where the Miners Campus is a regional leader in health care," Knowles said.Gursky had an even more personal connection."When my father finished his military service in the 1970s and came home, there wasn't a lot of work available. Bill took a chance, hired him and supported him throughout his career. The Gursky family will be forever grateful."Fegley's daughter, Lynn, spoke on behalf of the family."Thank you for honoring our dad's commitment to this hospital. He remained one of St. Luke's biggest cheerleaders until the time of his death in December."