William A. Welch (1868-1941) received the Pugsley Gols Medal fro meritorious services in the cause of furthering the development of the parks of America. He was born to a family whose U.S. lineage traced back to the 1600s. The family migrated west, first to New Jersey then to Kentucky where William was born. Wlech graduated from the University of Virginia in 1886, majoring in engineering. With the degree in hand, he ventured first to Alaska for six years and then he designed railroads in southwest Mexico, Equador, Colombia and Venezuela. In 1890's the population of New York City was increasing rapidly which led to a concomitant demand for paved streets and skrscrapers. By 1894, at least five quarry operators were defacing the cliffs of the Palisades.In 1900 the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) was formed.
In 1912, when William Welch was hired as assistant engineer, the PIP consisted of a ribbon of land hugging the Hudson River and the 10,000 acre Highlands parcel near Bear Mountain donated by the Harriman family. Over the next 40 years, Welch created a unique environment that married recreation and conservation and became a model for state parks accross America. By 1922 a special " Trail Conference" was created to lend assistance to the PIPC with Welch named as chairman. In 1930s Welch suffered several bouts of ill health son on Feruary 1, 1940 he retired as chief engineer and took a position as consultant to Commission. He died on May 1941.