William H. Sayre, Class of 1886, Collection

Copied from the Lehigh Alumni Bulletin, February 1921

"William H. Sayre, M.E., Class of 1886, died suddenly on January 5, 1921, at his home, No. 181 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, N. J. He was a son of the late William H. and Elizabeth Brooks Sayre, of Bethlehem. After graduating from Lehigh he was for some time engaged in the general contracting business. Then he organized the American Abrasive Metals Co., which manufactured and sold Feralun, a patented combination of iron and abrasive grit, which is largely used for floor plates, stair treads, ete., to prevent slipping accidents. It also has numerous industrial uses. With him were associated several other Lehigh men: R. S. Edmondson, ’06, is Vice-President of the Company; G. C. Hutchinson, ’96, is the District Representative in Pittsburgh, and B. P. Lamberton, ’05, is District Representative in Washington, D. C. Mr. Sayre was President of the Company, with offices at 50 Church Street, New York City. Besides his wife and one sister (Miss Clara Sayre, of Bethlehem, Pa.), he leaves to survive him four sons and two daughters—William H. Sayre, ’21, and Austin Sayre, ’24, are students at Lehigh University ; George, Ford and Sylvia Sayre are all at home, and Elizabeth Sayre is a student at Wellesley College.

It is with peculiar sadness we report the death of an alumnus so closely identified with Lehigh. The Sayre family has had much to do with promoting Lehigh interests and for almost forty years William H. Sayre has been an ardent, loyal son of Lehigh. Then came another generation of Lehigh men in his sons, who tied him even closer, if that were possibie, to his Alma Mater. As for the Alumni Association it has lost one of its strongest supporters. He was a life member, an advertiser in the BULLETIN, and the leader of his class in its support of all association activities."

Sayre was born on August 9, 1865.