Interview with Bill Zern – ca. 2002

Mr. Bill Zern was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 13, 1919. He was an only child raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania where 1935 he graduated from Altoona High School. Three years later, in 1938, he graduated from Penn State University. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Zern spent the next years intermittently in Miami, Florida where he was employed by AEIA (the brokerage firm for Pan American), and in Altoona where he worked in life insurance. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Zern moved to West Palm Beach and enlisted in the 3rd Army Air Force Band, serving his country until 1943. After, his military service was complete; Mr. Zern began working in the mortuary business with Mizell-Simon Mortuary, where he became partner. Mr. Zern is semi-retired and works one day a week at the mortuary. Also discussed in the interview are the following topics: Great Depression, segregation, integration, racism, and expansion of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach.