William H. McElroy

William Henry McElroy, Theta (Union), 1860, Phi Alpha 1901-1902

William Henry McElroy, Theta (Union), 1860,  was a distinguished editor,
published poet and journalist. After graduating from Union College, he completed his
law degree at Albany Law College, although he never practiced law.

Brother McElroy was editor of the New York Tribune and the Rochester Post-Express. He published several books, “Life sketches of executive officers and members of the legislature of the State of New York” (1873-1876) and “An Overture to William Tell” (6 editions, 1882 to
2010). He also published an article in Atlantic Monthly, “An Old War Horse to a Young
Politician.” (1880).

He was a life-long supporter of his alma mater, Union College and Zeta Psi. He served
as president of the Union College Alumni Association in 1890-1891 and as its
Commencement speaker in 1890.

For Zeta Psi, Brother McElroy was noted in The Story of Zeta Psi (1932) as “the unofficial, but, nevertheless, always accredited poet laureate.” Among his poems were “When this Old Pin was New,” “What’s Worthwhile,” “A Family Secret,” and “Cadmus and Zeta Psi.” Brother Charles M. Field also dedicated his poem, “Old and New,” to Brother McElroy.