He was born on August 8, 1926, in Bradford, a son of the late James and Anne Griffith Higie. He attended the St. Bernard School and graduated from the St. Bernard High School in 1944. On June 20, 1953, in the St. Bernard Catholic Church, he married Pauline Gorman who survives.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II; serving from 1944 until his honorable discharge in August 1946. He attended the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Maine. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a BA in January 1949. He attended Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle from 1949 to June 1, 1952; he graduated first in his class with a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. He was Editor in Chief of the Law Review and a member of the Order of the COIF.
He practiced law in Emporium at the law firm of Rydesky, Higie & Malizur from 1952 to June 1955 when he joined the law firm of Wolfe & Wolfe in Bradford. He joined the Forest Oil Corporation in February 1956, retiring in 1991 as Vice President, Secretary, and Corporate Counsel. He served Forest Oil as a member of the board of directors from 1977 until March 1992. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board.
He was President of the United Community Service in 1960-1961 and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Bradford Area United Way. He was the Exalted Ruler of BPOE #234 of Bradford in 1965. He was an adjunct faculty member at St. Bonaventure University; teaching Business Law from 1960 to 1970. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Bradford Hospital where he served as Vice Chairman.
He became a member of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Advisory Board in 1972. He was named Chairman of the Board on November 13, 1973, and served in that capacity until November 1995. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh from 1993 to 1995 serving on several committees. He served as a member of the Religion Committee of the Chautauqua Institution from 1990 to 1993 and as a member of the Finance Committee of that Institution from 1993 to 1996. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Chautauqua Catholic Community.
He was a member of the McKean County, Pennsylvania, and American Bar Associations. He was admitted to practice before the several courts of McKean County; the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Supreme Court of the United States and several federal agencies. He was one of the founders and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bradford Educational Foundation, and was currently serving as its Vice President and Secretary. He was the Managing Director and a former Trustee of the Glendorn Foundation from 1970 to 2017.
He was a member of the St. Bernard Catholic Church.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, Pauline “Boots” Gorman Higie he is also survived by children, William (Anne) Higie, Jr. of Punxsutawney, David (Gigi) Higie of Carnegie, Ellen (Jeffrey) Bauman of Gibsonia and Jonathan (Lisa) Higie of Bridgeville; eight grandchildren, Sarah (Eric) Mazurek, Mary Elizabeth (Mathias) Schmotzer, Kathleen (Paul) Manners, Alexander Higie, Matthew Bauman, Margaret Bauman, Kyleigh Higie and Benjamin Higie; six great-grandchildren; sister, Joanie Douglas of Bradford; brother, Thomas Higie of Wayne and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, John “Jack” Higie, James Higie and one sister, Elizabeth Harten.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mascho Funeral Home, Inc. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Bernard Catholic Church with the Rev. Raymond Gramata as celebrant.
Entombment and committal services will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Bradford Educational Foundation (William F. Higie Scholarship Fund) at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, 300 Campus Dr., Bradford, PA 16701.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Mascho Funeral Home, Inc.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.maschofuneral.com.