William Gray Price Jr. was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1869, the son of William Gray Price and Jane Campbell Price. He was educated in both public and private schools in Chester, and in 1887 began his career as a clerk with the Delaware County Trust and Title Insurance Company. He left the company in 1893, and formed his own real estate development venture while residing in Philadelphia. Price's company specialized in residential construction, and built homes and apartment houses in the Chester, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh areas.
In 1901, Price was promoted to command of the 3rd Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel after winning an election held by the other officers in the regiment. In 1910 he was selected to command the Pennsylvania National Guard's 1st Brigade, and promoted to brigadier general. In 1916–1917, Price led his brigade and other Pennsylvania National Guard volunteers during their service on the Texas-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.
World War I
When the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Division was federalized for service in World War I, Price volunteered for overseas duty. In August 1917, he was appointed to command the division's 53rd Field Artillery Brigade, which he led throughout the war, including support to the 28th and 91st Divisions during the Hundred Days Offensive. Price received the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the French Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. After the war, Price was one of the founders of the American Legion, and presided over its organizing convention. He later headed the Pennsylvania Battlefield Commission, a committee appointed by the governor to determine the location for the 28th Division's World War I memorial. Price's committee ultimately selected a site in Varennes-en-Argonne, where a permanent monument was constructed; the commission also oversaw the emplacement of additional monuments and memorials in Pennsylvania and in France.
Post-World War I
In 1919, Price was promoted to major general and appointed as commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard. In this capacity, he worked with the state adjutant general to re-form the organization following its wartime mobilization, including implementing new tables of organization and equipment, fielding updated vehicles, weapons, and equipment, recruiting new soldiers, and appointing officers to leadership positions. In 1920, the reorganized 28th Infantry Division was federally recognized by the War Department as a ready unit. Price was appointed as its commander, and continued to serve as a major general. During his command of the division, Price was credited with selecting Fort Indiantown Gap as the Pennsylvania National Guard's primary training site, and overseeing its construction.
Retirement
Price retired in April, 1933; he was succeeded in command by Edward C. Shannon. He resided in Ridley Park, and in 1949 Price was honored at a large celebration in commemoration of his 80th birthday; Governor James H. Duff presented him with the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal. In 1955, Governor George M. Leader presented Price with a state promotion to lieutenant general at a ceremony during the Pennsylvania National Guard's second week of annual training.
Price was a longtime member of the board of trustees at Valley Forge Military Academy. In January, 1960 the school began construction on a new gymnasium, which was named Price Hall in Price's honor.
Family
In 1903, Price married Sallie Pennell Eyre. Their children included four sons and three daughters: Joshua, William G., Terrill, William A., Martha, Virginia, Elizabeth, and Sarah. William G. Price III was born and died in 1894.
