Ralph F. Palaia Hon. 1689

Born and educated in New Jersey, Ralph Palaia graduated from Miami University,Oxford, Ohio, in 1942, with a B.S. in education. As an undergraduate, Mr. Palaia competed in varsity basketball (team captain as a senior), baseball and track; he was named to the Associated Press basketball team. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army, was selected for Officer Candidate School and attended the Army Air Corps Officer School in Harrisburg. He was assigned to the 358th Fighter Group - 367th Fighter Squadron. He also attended Officer Intelligence Training School in Miami Beach, Florida (with mates including William Holden, Clark Gable and Robert Preston). He was commissioned in 1943 and rejoined his squadron. He then served overseas for two years as a “Strategic Air Commander” in the European and African theaters, receiving numerous citations, including three Presidential Citations from Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. He attended the R.A.F. Intelligence School of Escape and Evasion at High-Holden, England. After the war ended, he served in active Reserve as a commander of the 9014th Air Reserve unit in Philadelphia, retiring from active duty in 1977 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Ralph Palaia taught school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Freehold, New Jersey. In 1950, he received his master’s degree in administrative psychology from Rutgers University. He came to William Penn Charter School in 1948 and remained for 34 years. His longevity, loyalty and accomplishment earned him the moniker “Mr. Penn Charter.” He was assistant headmaster, director of admissions, director of the Middle School and director of guidance. He also coached varsity baseball for 17 years. During those 17 seasons, he won 14 Inter-Ac championships, ending with 12 consecutive championships. He was named Best Baseball Prep School Coach in the country. Upon retirement, the Ralph F. Palaia Scholarship Fund was established by the Board of Overseers, parents and alumni. Palaia was named an honorary member of the Class of 1689; he also received the Alumni Award of Merit in 1982, the highest honor a graduate can receive. He was honored twice by the Penn Charter Athletic Society, in 1997 for his overall record and 1999 for coaching one of the outstanding baseball teams in the history of Penn Charter, the undefeated 1958 baseball team.

The Nov. 12, 2005, dedication of the Ralph F. Palaia Baseball Field in honor of Palaia’s outstanding contributions to Penn Charter and in memory of his son, Ralph F. Palaia Jr.
OPC ’68 (1950-2002), is a cherished moment in the storied athletic history of William Penn Charter School.

by Carolyn Palaia