Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Mellinger,   Charles W.   December 2007
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Sharon S. Miller shabodeho@aol.com December 15, 2007, 9:16 am
  
  Lebanon  Daily News on 12/6/2007
  Mellinger, Charles W.    
   
   
  Charles W. Mellinger LEBANON He graduated in 1937 from Lebanon High School. 
  Majored in economics and accounting at Lebanon Valley College. Took Penn State 
  extension courses in metallurgy and public speaking. He began his business 
  career with Crescent Truck Company, Lebanon, manufacturers of material handling 
  trucks. He was secretary and board member. He began his career as a school 
  director in 1951, when he was elected to the board of North Cornwall Township. 
  He was 31 when he was first elected. He served continuously, except for one six-
  year break, despite two heart attacks, a triple by-pass and a stroke. He had 
  two purposes when he first joined the school board. He wanted to prevent the 
  Fairview Heights area from being annexed into the city of Lebanon, and he 
  wanted to join schools in Cornwall, West Cornwall and North Cornwall townships 
  into one district. He succeeded in both. North Lebanon Township was added to 
  the jointure later. He was the driving influence for putting together the 
  CornwallLebanon School District. He was also chairman of the committee that 
  planned the new school in 1965. Over the years he became known as the 
  district's financial guru. At his final board meeting he received many tributes 
  from board members and district administrators. He was commended for his 
  tireless commitment to the district and for his astute financial planning. It 
  was stated "...Mellinger saved the district millions...one Mellinger 
  initiative - moving Cornwall-Lebanon away from a district-owned transportation 
  system - has saved more than $1 million in the last seven years and continues 
  to save $190,000 annually." "Not only did you save our district money but you 
  saved money for other districts who are using methods you presented to us." He 
  stepped down as school director in 1999, after 42 years on the CornwallLebanon 
  School Board, a record in longevity for the state. He said, "I feel proud of 
  what I was able to do... but I didn't do one single thing on my own. Everything 
  was done with other people." He said his biggest disappointment as school 
  director was losing a national battle to return Bible reading to the schools in 
  the mid-1960s. He retired from the Lebanon Steel Foundry in 1981. Joined the 
  company in 1951 as priorities manager and cost analyst. Had been treasurer and 
  director of purchases, secretary and controller. He served as national chairman 
  of the Steel Founders' Society of America Management Accounting Program 
  Committee (SFSA) for more than three years, and was called back again to revive 
  the finance activities and to review the statistical output of the SFSA. He was 
  the only person in the history of the society who was invited to speak three 
  years at the annual meeting. During his term, 20 bulletins were issued on 
  accounting matters, and accomplishment not since duplicated. Prior to his 
  retirement, he was the SFSA delegate and vice chairman on the taxation 
  committee of the Cast Metals Federation. He bacame a national authority on 
  foundry accounting and tax matters and delivered over 25 speeches to various 
  sections across the country. He was recognized by the Cast Metals Federation as 
  the person responsible for the authorship of the 10-5-1 theme which later 
  developed into 10-5-3, an economic concept designed to recover investments in a 
  shorter time frame than currently allowed by law and which became a keystone in 
  President Reagan's Accelerated Cost Recovery System. He was vice-chairman of 
  their tax committee. Among his business innovations, was the creation of 
  FINSCO, a Bermuda insurance company devoted exclusively to workman's 
  compensation for Pennsylvania foundries. He was instumental in establishment of 
  the Lebanon Earned Income Tax Bureau and served as director and treasurer. He 
  was president of the Chamber of Commerce for two years and served as Chairman 
  of its legislative action committee. He was a member of the board of directors 
  of Dechert Dynamics Corp., Palmyra, and the Lebanon County Division of American 
  Bank and Trust Company. A notorious workaholic, when asked about hobbies, he 
  smiled wryly, and muttered, "At the risk of sounding dull, which I don't think 
  I am, I enjoy as play what other people label work." He served in World War II 
  and was awarded the Bronze Star. He served a 10-year term as secretary of the 
  Board of Trustees of what was then Centenary Methodist Church. He served five 
  years as secretary of Lebanon Lions Club. He was a member of F&AM Lodge 226, 
  Lebanon. He was born in Lebanon on January 18, 1920, a son of the late Earl 
  Reed and Elizabeth T. Kercher Mellinger. Surviving are daughter Judith I., wife 
  of William Stettler of Holland, Pa.; sister Betty Patches; and niece Susan Erb. 
  He was the husband of the late Mildred A. Dietz Mellinger, who died June 13, 
  2002. Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 226 F&AM service Monday, December 10, 2007, at 10 
  a.m. followed by viewing till 11 a.m. in Christman's Funeral Home Inc., 226 
  Cumberland St., Lebanon. Services conducted at 11 a.m. Interment in 
  Ebenezer "Covenant" Cemetery. 
  
  
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