William M. Denny, Sr., age 98, passed away on January 15, 1998 in Devon, Pa. He had been a resident of ManorCare at Devon for the past eight years. A 1921 graduate of Texas A & M University with a B. S. degree in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Denny spent his entire business career with the General Electric Company spanning forty-three years, during which he was directly involved in many contributions to major technological advancement. At the end of World War 11, the U. S. government contracted General Electric to evaluate Hitler's potentially destructive V-2 rocket arsenal which had been captured by American troops just prior to Germany's fall. Working out of G.E.'s main office in Schenectady, N. Y., Mr. Denny headed this combined project group of some three hundred people, which would include the brilliant young German rocket scientist Dr. Werner Van Braum and about ninety of his fellow scientists willing abducted and brought to the U. S. in 1946 with the V-2 missile acquisition. Based at While Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico during the next six years working with the U.S. Army under tight security this group would compile ballistics data and probe the earth's upper atmosphere from firings of the the more than thirty captured operational V-2 rockets.

Mr. Denny retired from G.E. in 1964 and later moved from his home in Schenectady, NY to his birthplace in Crockett. A widower, he was married for 54 years to the former Beth Lundy, also of Crockett. After her death in 1982, he renewed his activity in the Masonic order, service as master of his lodge at the age of 89, and was recognized for seventy-five years of service at age 96. He was an active member of the Texas A & M Association, having participated in football and tract as an undergraduate and was a conference champion and AAU medallist in the pole vault events. He served briefly during WW1 as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army.

Survivors include a daughter, Lone Elizabeth Head of New London, N.H.; and a son William M. Denny, Jr., of Malvern, Pa; nine grandchildren, Ellen O. Denny of New Haven, Ct., Nancy B. Denny of Indianapolis, In and Linda A. Denny, of Parsippany, N.J., Carl D. Cooperider of Woltasion, Ms. Stuart L. Cooperrider of Boston; David C. Cooperrider of Marsions Mills, Ma., Seth M. Cooperrider of Martha's Vineyard, Ms. Kathryn M. Head of Denver, C., and Sarah M. Head, of Portsmouth, N.H. Burial will be in his birthplace of Crockett. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Crockett, the Crockett Public Library, the Union Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, or to the one's favorite charity. (The family may be contact at P. O. Box 458, Paoli, Pa. 19301 or a Tele. No. 610-647-2774) Source: Excerpts from Houston County Courier of 18 January 1998.