Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg II , FAIA ( 1887 – 1980 ) was a leading architect , an American military and political leader , and a member of the Muhlenberg political dynasty . Biography . Early life . Muhlenberg was born in Reading , Pennsylvania , in Berks County on September 25 , 1887 . He was the son of Dr . William Frederick and Henrietta Augusta ( Muhlenberg ) Muhlenberg . He was the great - great - grandson of Rev . John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg , and the grandson of Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg . A 1904 graduate of Reading Boys ' High School , Muhlenberg attended Gettysburg College in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1908 . In 1912 , Muhlenberg earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia , followed by his Master of Science from Gettysburg College in 1915 . He received an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1942 from Muhlenberg College of Allentown . Military service . During World War I , he was a captain in the 314th Infantry Regiment serving from September 1917 to March 1919 . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross , the Purple Heart , the Verdun Medal , the Légion d ’ Honneur and the Croix de guerre with Palm for his actions in World War I . Lieutenant Colonel Frederick A . Muhlenberg served continuously in the regular army reserves for more than 20 years , before reentering the United States Army in 1940 , where he served in World War II as a Lieutenant colonel and then Colonel in the United States Army Corps of Engineers , as an aide to Gen . Brehon Summervell and as district engineer in Cincinnati . Architecture . As an architect , Muhlenberg apprenticed with Charles Barton Keen , Magaziner & Potter , and John T . Windrim in Philadelphia . On May 1 , 1919 , following his service during World War I , he announced a reopening of his Philadelphia office at 901 Flanders Building , Fifteenth and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia . Prior to this , Muhlenberg had been operating independently since 1917 . He is listed in the Philadelphia city directories as an architect in 1921 , 1922 and 1923 , with an office at 807 Flanders Building . Throughout this time , his residential address is given as Reading , Pennsylvania , with his offices at 1713 Sansom Street , room 232 . In 1920 , at age 33 , and following his service in the military during World War I , Muhlenberg founded the North Sixth Street firm of Frederick A . Muhlenberg , Architect , in Reading , Pennsylvania , presently known as Muhlenberg Greene Architects This second office was located in the Liberty Bank Building at Sixth and Court Streets , Reading . By the mid 1920s , the practice , now located exclusively in Reading , was thriving . The firm continued through several reorganizations to its present form as Muhlenberg Greene Architects . During the intervening years , to accommodate the reorganizations , the Firm operated for various periods under the following names ( dates , in some cases , are approximate ) : Politics . In 1946 , Frederick A . Muhlenberg was elected to the 80th Congress from Pennsylvania . He became the seventh member of his family to be elected to the U . S . Congress , where he served the House of Representatives from January 3 , 1947 until January 3 , 1949 ; but he lost a reelection bid in 1948 , defeated by Democrat George M . Rhodes . Retirement . In a personal biography he furnished to the " Reading Eagle " , Muhlenberg proudly listed the accomplishments of a " life built on service in four separate careers : architecture , military , social service and political . " Retiring officially from Muhlenberg Greene Architects in 1977 , one week after his 90th birthday , Mr . Muhlenberg continued to appear at the office daily , in the firm ' s second - floor suite at the Wyomissing New Home Federal Savings building , until physical limitations prevented him from doing so about a year later . " You can ' t actually retire , " he said at the time . " There really isn ' t any such thing . " In a 1977 interview , he said , " I don ' t intend to sit on my fanny and do nothing . At 90 years old , you change and have physical limitations . The pace may slow down , but the ideas are still there . " Frederick A . Muhlenberg died at 92 years of age in Reading , Pennsylvania on January 19 , 1980 . As a veteran , he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery . A collection of awards , military medals , paperwork and other items related to Representative Muhlenberg is held by the Historical Society of Berks County . Associations . Frederick Muhlenberg was involved in many organizations , including those beyond those related to his profession as an architect . He was an active member of the T - Square Club while at University of Pennsylvania , serving as a director in 1914 and as secretary in 1915 . During his years of architectural practice , he was a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects , having joined in 1920 . He was elected to the Reading City Council from 1932 - 36 and he was a councilman for the Borough of Wernersville during the 1920s , where he lived in his later years . He became the Republican Party chairman for Berks County , Pennsylvania from 1935 – 40 , and served as chairman for numerous civic and professional organizations , including the Association of Schuylkill River Municipalities , Director of the American Red Cross Berks County Chapter ( 1929 - ) , Chairman of the Red Cross Disaster Relief Commission ( 1935 ) , the State Board of Examiners of Architects , President of the Social Welfare League ( 1922 – 1935 ) , Public Charities Association ( 1927 - ) , the State Art Commission ( 1952 – 1963 ) , and most notably , the Berks County Planning Commission , where he served as Chairman from its inception in 1954 until 1972 when he retired from the Commission . In addition , he was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board . Muhlenberg served as commander of Gregg Post , American Legion , in 1924 , and a member of General Hunter Liggett Post , No . 38 , Veterans of Foreign Wars , and Reading Post , No . 10 , Disabled American Veterans . Awards . Listed in " Who ' s Who in America " , Muhlenberg was the recipient of scores of educational , civilian , military and social service awards .