United States Eventing Association

Lifelong horseman Elkins “Elky” Wetherill passed away on August 11, 2011 at his summer home in Waldoboro, ME. He was 91. Mr. Wetherill had resided in Plymouth Meeting, PA since 1949.

Mr. Wetherill was born in Philadelphia and attended St. George’s School, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 1941 his studies were interrupted as the First Troop Philadelphia Cavalry was called to active duty. His army service during World War II included the Cavalry, Signal Corps and OSS in the U.S. and Europe. He returned to school in 1945 and graduated from Penn Law School in 1948.

Mr. Wetherill founded the Norristown, PA law firm of Henderson, Wetherill, O’Hey and Horsey and was president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Wetherill was active in local and state politics. He served as the solicitor to Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, he was Montgomery County treasurer, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, and chairman of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission. He was also chairman of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and of the Montgomery County Open Space Board.

Mr. Wetherill served on a number of boards, including First Pennsylvania Bank, Germantown Savings Bank, Davis and Elkins College, and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. He served as chairman and director of WHYY Channel 12, as well as chairman of the Philadelphia Drama Guild.

Mr. Wetherill was very active in land preservation. In 1996, he sold a piece of his Plymouth Meeting farm to Montgomery County. This became the Harriet Wetherill Park to honor his late wife. He was the author of “A Field Guide to Common Grasses of Southeastern Pennsylvania,” published by the Brandywine Conservancy.

Mr. Wetherill had a lifelong love of horses. He foxhunted from childhood through the age of 90, and was a member of Cheshire, Radnor, Brandywine, and Andrews Bridge foxhounds as well as several farmers packs. He also participated in all ranges of horse sport as a competitor and owner. As a young man he rode timber horses for George Strawbridge. Later in life he competed in three day eventing and dressage, as well as in the show ring at the Devon Horse Show. He owned horses for many top level riders including show jumpers for Joe Fargis and event horses for Bruce Davidson, Buck Davidson, Stuart Black, and Ashley Leith. In 1993 his horse Regent Lion was Bruce Davidson’s alternate horse for the World Championships at The Hague. In 2002 Mr. Wetherill’s horse Midnight Magic was an alternate for the Canadian Olympic Team with Stuart Black. Mr. Wetherill was also a patron and sponsor to many local horse shows, including the Devon Horse Show, Fair Hill International and Plantation Field International.

He is survived by his second wife, Ethel B. Wetherill; his children, Elkins Jr. (Ellen), Alexandra W. Gerry and Stephen H. Wetherill (Susan) and his stepchildren, Edwin B. Nalle (Karen), Horace D. Nalle (Patricia), Ellen N. Hass (Jay), Alexander B. Nalle (Alison) and Lucy N. Weed (Timothy). He leaves behind seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 14 step-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Montgomery County Lands Trust, Box 300, Lederach, PA 19450-0300.