William H. Quasha

William Howard Quasha (May 19, 1912 – May 12, 1996) was an American lawyer , industrial psychologist and mechanical engineer. Serving in the Pacific Theater on the staff of Douglas MacArthur, Quasha remained in the Philippines following the end of World War II and founded William H. Quasha & Associates.

In 1933, Quasha earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and his Master of Science in 1935. He endeavored to reestablish relations between Masonry and the Catholic Church by paying a visit to the Pope in the Vatican. As he toured the country and visited lodges, he encouraged brothers to include prayers in their work.

Quasha co-authored the Revised Minnesota paper form board test still in use today assessing mechanical aptitude. Quasha served as Scoutmaster of Troop 1, American School. He joined the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Manila Council in 1949, and later was conferred the Silver Tamaraw. He received the Silver Buffalo of the Boy Scouts of America in 1974. In a speech to introduce President Clinton to the Filipino people he said, "the Americans have no better friends than the Filipinos". Before his death he received an honorary doctorate from Lyceum and was recognized for his service to the Filipinos having facilitated the Fulbright Scholarships by Philippine President Fidel Ramos. On his death he donated his estate to St. Luke's. The "Quasha law," which proved onerous for the American community in the Philippines, however, was later overturned by President Ferdinand Marcos citing the grandfather rights of Americans who owned property in the Philippines during the time of the commonwealth.

He was a Senior Warden, and Lay Reader of the Episcopal Church who later became the president and chairman of St. Luke's Medical Center.

Personal life Quasha had four children. The couple had at least one son before divorcing in 1946. Quasha later married Isabel Abad Santos Quasha.

On May 12, 1996, Quasha died at St. Luke's Medical Center aged 83.

Legacy

After his death, the St. Luke's College of Medicine was renamed the St. Luke's College of Medicine, William H. Quasha Memorial Foundation.

In 2000, the National Gallery of Australia acquired Australian photographer Max Dupain's (1911–1992) New Guinea portfolio from the Quasha family. The portfolio is made up of 27 prints that were acquired by William Quasha while he was a captain in the US Army in Australia.