A Legacy of Guidance: Bill Griggs and the William Penn Ladder

10/13/2026

Twelve simple instructions have greeted generations of William Penn students from the wooden rungs of a ladder on the University’s front lawn. Be Humble. Be Just. Be Patient. Be Grateful. The words have remained the same, even as the students who stop to read them have changed.

Known as the Penn Ladder, the landmark has stood on campus since 1972, representing principles written by William Penn in 1699. Its six rungs display twelve reminders about character, responsibility, and how individuals should treat one another. More than a familiar campus landmark, the ladder represents an enduring connection to the Quaker beliefs upon which William Penn University was founded in 1873.

The story behind its creation begins with Bill Griggs ’56, a former student, pastor, and campus minister whose own experiences at Penn inspired him to make those values visible to the campus community.

Griggs first became acquainted with William Penn College in the early 1950s, when his uncle took him to a basketball game. Although he had originally planned to attend Iowa State University, encouragement from individuals connected to the Quaker community led him to reconsider.

He enrolled at William Penn in 1952, beginning a relationship with the college that would continue throughout his life.

As a student, Griggs became involved in Penn Christian Fellowship, a group that brought students together through Bible studies and other activities. He also served as Student Body President during his senior year in 1956.

His years at Penn were personally significant as well. He met his wife while attending college, and their first daughter was born between his junior and senior years.

Griggs eventually returned to Oskaloosa, serving as pastor of College Avenue Friends Church from 1968 to 1972. He then became William Penn’s campus minister, serving from 1972 to 1976.

Griggs approached his role as campus minister with a genuine commitment to being present for students. Whether offering guidance, lending a listening ear, or simply providing someone to talk to, he summed up his philosophy in a few words: “my job is to always be available.”

That emphasis on the individual would also become central to the message behind the Penn Ladder.

While serving as pastor at College Avenue Friends Church, Griggs came across a book by William Penn in the church library. Among its contents were principles for Christian living that caught his attention.

He began thinking about how those words could be shared more broadly with the college community.

The opportunity came during his years as campus minister, when the college president was away on sabbatical and Griggs was responsible for Fall Convocation. With permission to proceed, he arranged for the college’s maintenance staff to construct a ladder displaying twelve of William Penn’s advices.

The project was supported by small contributions from several individuals, with the total cost coming to less than $500.

Griggs’ original plans included an interesting feature that never became part of the finished landmark: a swing attached to the back. He envisioned students sitting there after reading the advices, taking a moment to think about their meaning and how they might apply to their own lives.

Although the swing was not included, the ladder retained its intended purpose as a place for reflection.

At the top, a wooden sign reads “Wm Penn’s Advice – 1699.” Below it, the six rungs carry twelve principles:

Be Humble. Be Just. Be Meek. Be True. Be Patient. Be Grateful. Be Merciful. Be Diligent. Be Loving. Be Thrifty. Be Generous. Be Temperate.

Each instruction speaks to personal character, but together they represent something larger: a responsibility to live with purpose and consideration for others.

During a recent phone interview, Griggs reflected on what he originally hoped people would take away from the ladder.

“I would say those 12 ideas, my hope would be that all 12 of those would show up in the Christian life of persons who have learned of Christ and they would learn to incorporate those characteristics into their living,” he shared.

For Griggs, the ladder was a way to encourage individuals to put those principles into practice, rather than simply recognize them as words.

Griggs has been particularly encouraged to learn that the Twelve Advices have continued to find a place elsewhere on campus.

During his interview, he recalled being told that William Penn Athletics had incorporated the advices onto columns inside the Penn Activity Center.

“that was a great joy to hear the campus was still making use of those ideas,” he recalled.

Their presence in these different areas of University life reflects a commitment to carrying Penn’s founding values beyond a single campus landmark.

The same commitment is reflected in the University’s academic mission, including coursework that emphasizes Quaker values, self-reflection, and leadership.

Much has changed at William Penn since the ladder was erected in 1972. Academic programs have expanded, campus facilities have evolved, and students continue to arrive with new perspectives and aspirations.

Yet the University’s Quaker foundation remains an important part of its identity.

The Penn Ladder is a reminder that honoring an institution’s history means more than preserving the objects and traditions associated with its past. It also means continuing to practice the values those traditions were created to represent.

Griggs’ contribution was relatively modest in size and cost, but its significance has extended far beyond what he could have measured at the time. His idea gave generations of students a visible reminder of the principles that have guided William Penn since its founding.