Page, W. Byrd (William Byrd), 1866-1940

William Byrd Page was born in Philadelphia in 1866, the son of a prominent lawyer. He was a weak and sickly child with legs that necessitated heavy iron braces. He was given a bicycle at an early age and prescribed exercise as a way to strengthen his legs. Bicycling and jumping exercise became routine, and by the fall of 1883, upon entering the University of Pennsylvania, Page was prepared to compete in intercollegiate competitions. He set the American, collegiate, and world records in the Running High Jump. Following his graduation from the University (B.S. 1887, M.E. 1888), Page went on to a career in engineering that included positions with the Edison Electric Light Company, the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Pullman Company. He worked on railroad projects in Alaska, Mexico, and Russia. In his leisure time, Page developed an interest in magic and fashioned a stage show that he presented in the 1920s. He died after a series of strokes in 1940.