Kline honored by WCCF
Washington County Community Foundation recently announced William M. “Tripp” Kline III has been named the recipient of this year’s Richard L. White Excellence Award for Board Service.
Created by the WCCF Board of Trustees in 2012, the award recognizes an individual who serves as an exemplary member of the board, wholeheartedly sharing his or her time, talent and treasures to support the foundation and its mission. Both current and former trustees are eligible to receive the award, which is named in honor of Founding Trustee and Past Chairman of the Board Richard L. White. The inaugural award was presented to White in 2012.
A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Kline earned a bachelor of arts degree from Catholic University. After relocating to Pennsylvania, he secured a license in auctioneering and a real estate salesperson’s certificate. He maintains professional memberships in both the National Auctioneers Association and the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association.
With extensive experience in the field of antiques, Kline has served as a consultant in federal bankruptcy court and has appeared on the ABC news program, “Primetime Live,” to offer his insights on fakes, frauds and reproductions in the antiques industry. He has also served as an appraiser on the popular public television program, “Antiques Roadshow”, and was regularly featured on KDKA-TV’s “What’s It Worth?” television segments.
Kline often speaks to clubs and professional organizations on antiques, auctions and appraisal practices. He has lectured at Washington & Jefferson College, Institute for the Study of Antiques and Collectibles, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Washington County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.
As a volunteer auctioneer, Kline has helped to raise over $1 million for local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, he serves as a member and past president of the Washington Rotary Club, board member and past president of the Bradford House Historical Association, board member of the American Heart Association and a member of the Washington Bicentennial Executive Committee and the Washington Whiskey Rebellion Festival Committee. He has also served as a board member of the United Way of Washington County and is a player in the W&J incubator project.
Not many nonprofits seek out volunteers with deep knowledge of 19th century antiques, but WCCF has unique needs, and Kline was just the man to meet them.
“My experience in antiques allowed me to take a leadership role in telling the story of the Brownlee house, decorating the interior as it might have been in the mid-19th century in Western Pennsylvania. We want to tell the story of the Brownlee family through the decades they lived here,” he said.
Each room on the first floor is decorated in its own style, reflecting the passage of time. Kline’s vision and dedication involved hundreds of hours, finding the right pieces and fabrics.
“Like every house, this one will never be finished. For years to come, I’ll be at an antique store and I’ll say, ‘We need that for the Brownlee House!’ But in the next few weeks it will be about 90 percent finished,” he said. “I get great satisfaction using my skills. It was a case of being the right person at the right time.”
The Richard L. White Excellence Award for Board Service was presented to Kline at the WCCF’s annual Legacy Luncheon Friday.
For more information, visit www.wccf.net.