117th Convocation Welcomes Students & Friends

To encourage a positive start to the year, The Williamson Free School hosted its 117th Convocation Service on September 18th.  This annual event welcomes a special guest speaker who shares a personal and professional message of motivation with Williamson family.

This year, we welcomed guest speaker Frank J. McKee, President of The McKee Group, a Springfield, Delaware County company that has specialized in active adult housing for 30 years.  Over the past few years, Mr. McKee has become a significant part of the Williamson family as he plays a major role in many of the community service efforts in which Williamson students have the opportunity to participate.

Mr. McKee’s presentation was followed by the dedication of the Class of 0W8 Clock --  the generous donation Williamson’s senior class has made to the School’s new Strine Learning Center. The clock which stands thirteen feet tall is located outside the front entrance to the Learning Center and along the walk to Williamson shop buildings.  Class officers formally presented the gift to Wayne Watson 4W8 Chairman of the Board of Trustees in memory of their classmate Matthew Lizzio who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident during his freshman year.  Matthew’s family was present for the dedication.

Concluding the meaningful program was a presentation of a $5,000 scholarship grant from the Home Builder’s Association of Delaware County by Mr. Rick Sudall, president of the organization

Convocation closed a month of meaningful chapel services which traditionally begins each School year at Williamson.  During Values Week, September 10 through 15, members of Williamson’s staff and faculty address the students on each one of the School’s core values – faith, integrity, diligence, excellence and service.

Mr. McKee’s address on character and integrity, along with Williamson’s Values Week
Chapel presentations can be heard and downloaded from Williamson’s Chapel Audio Archive. 

More about Mr. McKee…
The McKee Group also develops manufactured housing communities, owns and operates several office buildings, mini warehouses, apartment complexes and Schooner Island Marina, a 330-slip full service marina in Wildwood, NJ.

Frank J. McKee has been involved in all aspects of the real estate and construction industry since his graduation from Duquesne University in 1973.  He has served as both President and Treasurer of the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties and is a life director of that organization.  He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Home Builders, and a member of the Builder 20 Club.  He has been the featured speaker on active adult housing at the National Association of Home Builders convention and on manufactured housing at the Industrialized Housing Manufacturers Association symposium.  The HBA of Chester and Delaware Counties honored him with the President’s Distinguished Service Award and The David Slott Memorial “Builder of the Year” Award.  Frank McKee also served as President of the Concord Central Sewer Authority and is Vice Chairman of the Delaware County Soil Conservation District.

A life-long boater and avid pilot, he is a past Commodore of the Great Oak Yacht Club, in Chestertown, MD, and currently serves as President of Brandywine Airport in West Chester, PA and a member of the Board of Directors of Philadelphia International Airport. He and his wife, Karen, are residents of Newtown Square and have three grown children.