William White Niles (1860-1935) received the Pugsley Gold Medal in 1933. He was born in Waterford, New York and was the beneficiary of a privileged education: attending prep school in Norwalk, Connecticut; Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire; receiving A.B and A.M. degrees from Dartmouth College in 1883 and 1886, respectively; and a L.L.B from Albany Law School in 1886. Niles joined the New York Bar in 1885 and established the firm of Niles and Johnson to practice Law in New York City in 1991. Nile was elected to the New York State City. He served as counsel to the sub committee on borough government of the New York City Charter Revision Commission.
His consciousness was aroused after a visit with the director of the New York Zoological Society to see Andreww Carnegie at Skibo Castle in Scotland. There he walked the banks of the River Ness through the city of Inverness and was surprised to find the water was as clear after the river passed through the city as it was before it entered the city. In recognition of the impact that Niles had in the development of Bronx Parks and the Bronx River Parkway, Niles 'triangle, which is part of the greater Bronx Park, was acquired and named after him in 1990.