Memorials keep memories of people close to Central Penn alive
The campus has many markers of thanks, fondness and tribute
to donors and people whose lives touched and were touched by the college
Editor’s note: This is the third of three articles about people and foundations described on plaques and other memorial and dedication markers across campus. You can read the first article here and the second one here.
By Elijah Huhn
Knightly News Reporter
While walking across campus, you may see a couple of small plaques placed in some places.
These plaques memorialize or honor people who have died or are living, or are notable in Central Penn’s history, such as for donating money or something else, to the Central Penn College Education Foundation, which helps support students earn degrees and certificates at the college.
The foundation acknowledges these donations by dedicating a tree, bench or other item in honor and in memory of the people, as well as other people and foundations.
This is the third in a series of three articles that highlight the people and foundations seen on the plaques found across campus.
The Byler Family
The Byler Family consists of John E. and Judy A. Byler, and their son Jonathan L. Byler and many others. Residing in Lancaster for most of their lives, John and Judy Byler were married for 40 years. John was a successful businessman who became a key owner in Carlos R. Leffler Inc. (named after Judy’s father, who was chairman of board and president of the company). After Carlos died, his company was sold to the Bylers, in 1997, and renamed Byler Management (and eventually to Byler Holdings years later). John and his son Jonathan worked together to expand the company’s investments in Central Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region, including purchasing many golf courses as well as cinemas and other enterprises. Despite John and Judy passing away in November 2015 and November 2011, respectively, Jonathan is still playing a big part for Byler Holdings as CEO and president of the company. At Central Penn, the Bylers were early supporters of the education foundation, and they established an endowed scholarship in their name. They were also given a dedicated plaque on a bench located by Millano Hall.
Park I. Barner Sr. (1922-1992) and Mary Barner (1927-2009)
Park I. Barner Sr., of East Pennsboro Township, was a graduate of Harrisburg Institute. After his time there, he married Mary C. Wolf Parker, who gave birth to Park I. Barner Jr., in 1944. Only a couple of months after their baby was born, Mr. Barner was drafted to serve for the Army in World War II. After the war, he took a job as an electrical technician. He was also a president of the West Shore Democratic Club, a Democratic committeeman and a member of West Fairview American Legion Post 984. Park Barner Sr. died on Aug. 29, 1992, at 69. Mary Barner died on May 21, 2009, at 81. A couple of years later, Park Barner Jr., now considered one of the greatest American ultrarunners of the 1970s and who participated in many running events, donated a scholarship in his parents’ names. A plaque was also made that can be found in the garden area by Teri Hall and Anne Hall, the student apartments in the college quad.
Craiger Carl Parker (1944-2000)
Of all the people featured on the plaques scattered across Central Penn’s campus, Col. Craiger C. Parker may have contributed the most to this college.
He was born on Jan. 15, 1944, in Utah. He graduated in Georgia and registered for military service in 1963. Years later, he was sent to Vietnam to fight there. During his time with the Army, he lived by the motto “Rocksteady” which was a term used by the men of his battalion as a sign of respect toward their commander. He served with the Army for more than 30 years and became one of the Army’s most decorated soldiers.
In 1996, Parker began to work with Central Penn to help create a high-quality living and learning environment at the college as well as promoting a protocol in which faculty members could achieve higher academic credentials.
His biggest accomplishment, though, was initiating the associate-degree program, resulting in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officially recognizing Central Penn as a two-year college, in 1999.
He also had a vision of Central Penn being a bachelor’s degree-granting institution, which would alter Central Penn’s future in the 21st century.
Before he could see that accomplished, though, he died, on Oct 31, 2000, in Lewisberry, at the age of 56. On Dec. 18 if that year, the state’s secretary of education approved Central Penn as a four-year, bachelor’s degree-granting, college, making Parker’s vision a reality.
In recognition of his accomplishments, the college built the Craiger C. Parker Amphitheater outside the entrance to the middle area of Milano Hall in his honor and memory in spring 2003. The amphitheater features plaques of people alongside a bigger one for Parker himself. On top of the amphitheater are also plaques of the five core values of the college (educational focus, professionalism, integrity, service and respect). Col. Parker was proclaimed dean emeritus by the college.
If you want to donate to the Central Penn College Education Foundation, visit its website. Donating gifts can lower income taxes and estate taxes. Gifts can be designated as dedicated scholarships with criteria of your choosing, while unrestricted gifts will have funds that will be used where need is greatest.
Comments or story idea? Also, if you know of anyone whose plaque is missing or a plaque we might not have noticed, please contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and this blog’s editor, Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
