Urban Reininger ‘57: From road trips to world travel

From Prohibition in the 1920s through 2003, Pennsylvania’s blue laws prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays, so that meant college students needed to plan ahead or make other arrangements if they ran out of booze midway through the weekend, which often led to impromptu road trips.

Urban Reininger ‘57 recalled, “Because of the local blue laws at that time, [we’d be] heading out of state for the beer.”  

The chapter had a strong social reputation during his years in school and Urban said the chapter was known for “the weekend parties.” He said that when he wasn’t hanging out at the chapter house, he was across the street at Smokey Joe’s. Among the stories that Urban could share from his days in the chapter was a time when “a brother going face down in his soup.” 

When he reflected on the past, Urban said Harry Mueller ‘52 was a brother who made a big impact on him during his time at Penn. Other favorable memories included chapter traditions, including “undergraduates hosting cocktail parties [at] every football home game” and “the pledge house project, such as a new powder room in the basement and re-do[ing] the kitchen.” 

Urban studied transportation and was the only person from Wharton with that major. He worked in the corporate sector for 33 years, with his last position as Vice President with Coleco. After his retirement, he has traveled all over the world.