February 2026
Dick Dilworth: The cocktail-shaker dilettante who became the greatest reformer in the history of Philadelphia
Henry Donner will present the life and accomplishments of Dick Dilworth. Dilworth was Mayor of Philadelphia and was instrumental in shifting Philadelphia from longstanding Republican rule to Democratic party majority, and established the form of city governance we have today.
This interesting talk will include anecdotes from Henry’s working relationship with Joe Clark and Dick Dilworth both with whom he had the good fortune to work in his early career as a Philadelphia attorney
Presenter & Host: Henry Donner
Henry Donner was born in Atlantic City during the hurricane of 1944 which wiped out the boardwalk in Margate, NJ. It was no doubt a difficult Labor Day, literally and figuratively, for his mom.
He was raised in Elkins Park and attended Cheltenham Township schools. He attended Dickinson College (1962-64) and completed his undergraduate degree at American University 1964-66 while working as a staff assistant to US Senator Joseph S. Clark of Pennsylvania. He continued to work Clark while attending for Villanova Law School (1966-69) until Clark was replaced by Richard Schweiker in 1968. Henry Donner worked as an attorney for Dilworth Paxson Kalish and Levy (1969-1973), as partner and managing partner at Jacoby Donner (1974-2017), and at Kang Haggerty (2017-present).
Henry Donner will present the life and accomplishments of Dick Dilworth. Dilworth was Mayor of Philadelphia and was instrumental in shifting Philadelphia from longstanding Republican rule to Democratic party majority, and established the form of city governance we have today.
This interesting talk will include anecdotes from Henry’s working relationship with Joe Clark and Dick Dilworth both with whom he had the good fortune to work in his early career as a Philadelphia attorney
Presenter & Host: Henry Donner
Henry Donner was born in Atlantic City during the hurricane of 1944 which wiped out the boardwalk in Margate, NJ. It was no doubt a difficult Labor Day, literally and figuratively, for his mom.
He was raised in Elkins Park and attended Cheltenham Township schools. He attended Dickinson College (1962-64) and completed his undergraduate degree at American University 1964-66 while working as a staff assistant to US Senator Joseph S. Clark of Pennsylvania. He continued to work Clark while attending for Villanova Law School (1966-69) until Clark was replaced by Richard Schweiker in 1968. Henry Donner worked as an attorney for Dilworth Paxson Kalish and Levy (1969-1973), as partner and managing partner at Jacoby Donner (1974-2017), and at Kang Haggerty (2017-present).