William Leroy Pettingill
1886 – 1950

Born August 27, 1886, William Pettingill received only a fourth grade education because of precarious family finances. Saved at thirteen, serious Bible study began a decade later after his first encounter with C. I. Scofield.

From that point, Pettingill moved from Y.M.C.A. work into the pastorate and teaching. (Many of his twenty-one books are revised sermon studies.)

In 1913, Scofield and Pettingill co-founded the Philadelphia College of the Bible, with Pettingill serving as dean. In addition to stimulating students with his vivid visualizations of the Word and his hearty laugh, Pettingill wrote widely, served on the council of the Central American Mission, and was a staunch supporter of the fundamentalist movement.

From 1928 to 1950, Dr. Pettingill traveled across North America, Central America, and Europe sharing his gift of stirring people to action from the word. “Keep looking up!” was his motto and it became the challenge to many. Dr. Pettingill exchanged his faith for sight on September 15, 1950.