Harry Willcox Pfanz, 93, Civil War author and former chief historian of the National Park Service, died of natural causes at his home in Gaithersburg, Md., on Jan. 27. Dr. Pfanz grew up on a farm near Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of Harry E. Pfanz.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the 912th Field Artillery Battalion and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He later earned a Ph.D. from Ohio State University before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked as an historian for the Department of the Army. Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at Gettysburg National Military Park in 1956. Over the next 10 years he rose to become the park's chief historian and earned a reputation as the battle's foremost authority. His three books about Gettysburg, written after his retirement in 1981, are still considered by many to be the most definitive books on the subject.
In 1966, Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and was its superintendent when the structure was opened to the public in 1968. In 1971, he left St. Louis and returned to Washington, becoming the National Park Service's chief historian in 1974. As a result of his accomplishments in Washington, he received the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award, Special Achievement Award, and its Distinguished Service Award. A devout Christian, Pfanz held many positions while a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He also served as vice-president of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary fraternity; president of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table; and resident of the Gettysburg-Adams County Torch Club.
Dr. Pfanz was preceded in death by his wife, Letitia Earll, and his eldest daughter, Letitia Elizabeth Pfanz. Three children survive him: Frederick, of Columbus, Ohio; Donald of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Marion Ake of Woodsboro, Maryland. He has five grandchildren.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the 912th Field Artillery Battalion and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He later earned a Ph.D. from Ohio State University before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked as an historian for the Department of the Army. Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at Gettysburg National Military Park in 1956. Over the next 10 years he rose to become the park's chief historian and earned a reputation as the battle's foremost authority. His three books about Gettysburg, written after his retirement in 1981, are still considered by many to be the most definitive books on the subject.
In 1966, Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and was its superintendent when the structure was opened to the public in 1968. In 1971, he left St. Louis and returned to Washington, becoming the National Park Service's chief historian in 1974. As a result of his accomplishments in Washington, he received the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award, Special Achievement Award, and its Distinguished Service Award. A devout Christian, Pfanz held many positions while a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He also served as vice-president of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary fraternity; president of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table; and resident of the Gettysburg-Adams County Torch Club.
Dr. Pfanz was preceded in death by his wife, Letitia Earll, and his eldest daughter, Letitia Elizabeth Pfanz. Three children survive him: Frederick, of Columbus, Ohio; Donald of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Marion Ake of Woodsboro, Maryland. He has five grandchildren.
Harry Willcox Pfanz, 93, Civil War author and former chief historian of the National Park Service, died of natural causes at his home in Gaithersburg, Md., on Jan. 27. Dr. Pfanz grew up on a farm near Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of Harry E. Pfanz.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the 912th Field Artillery Battalion and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He later earned a Ph.D. from Ohio State University before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked as an historian for the Department of the Army. Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at Gettysburg National Military Park in 1956. Over the next 10 years he rose to become the park's chief historian and earned a reputation as the battle's foremost authority. His three books about Gettysburg, written after his retirement in 1981, are still considered by many to be the most definitive books on the subject.
In 1966, Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and was its superintendent when the structure was opened to the public in 1968. In 1971, he left St. Louis and returned to Washington, becoming the National Park Service's chief historian in 1974. As a result of his accomplishments in Washington, he received the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award, Special Achievement Award, and its Distinguished Service Award. A devout Christian, Pfanz held many positions while a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He also served as vice-president of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary fraternity; president of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table; and resident of the Gettysburg-Adams County Torch Club.
Dr. Pfanz was preceded in death by his wife, Letitia Earll, and his eldest daughter, Letitia Elizabeth Pfanz. Three children survive him: Frederick, of Columbus, Ohio; Donald of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Marion Ake of Woodsboro, Maryland. He has five grandchildren.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the 912th Field Artillery Battalion and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He later earned a Ph.D. from Ohio State University before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked as an historian for the Department of the Army. Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at Gettysburg National Military Park in 1956. Over the next 10 years he rose to become the park's chief historian and earned a reputation as the battle's foremost authority. His three books about Gettysburg, written after his retirement in 1981, are still considered by many to be the most definitive books on the subject.
In 1966, Dr. Pfanz accepted a position at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and was its superintendent when the structure was opened to the public in 1968. In 1971, he left St. Louis and returned to Washington, becoming the National Park Service's chief historian in 1974. As a result of his accomplishments in Washington, he received the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award, Special Achievement Award, and its Distinguished Service Award. A devout Christian, Pfanz held many positions while a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He also served as vice-president of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary fraternity; president of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table; and resident of the Gettysburg-Adams County Torch Club.
Dr. Pfanz was preceded in death by his wife, Letitia Earll, and his eldest daughter, Letitia Elizabeth Pfanz. Three children survive him: Frederick, of Columbus, Ohio; Donald of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Marion Ake of Woodsboro, Maryland. He has five grandchildren.
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