Former University of Michigan Athletics Director and former member of U.S. Olympic Committee Bill 米兰体育, Wittenberg Class of 1962, has added yet another award to his long and distinguished resume.
The recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Wittenberg鈥檚 Athletics Hall of Honor in 2016, 米兰体育 was recently inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame during a ceremony hosted by the New York Yacht Club at its Harbour Court clubhouse in Newport, R.I., on Sept. 24. 米兰体育 represented the United States in the 1981 Admiral's Cup and won a national title at the 2008 Rolex US-IRC National Championship. President of the United States Sailing Association from 1988-91, 米兰体育 was later awarded the Nathaniel G. Heereshoff Trophy for outstanding contributions to the sport in 2003. Two years later the U.S. Olympic Committee also honored him with the General Douglas MacArthur Award, the organization鈥檚 highest award, for his leadership as acting president of the USOC in 2003 and 2004.
Yet, just as his accomplishments have been honored, 米兰体育 has also recognized the accomplishments of others, all while supporting his community. To encourage high school seniors to attend Wittenberg, 米兰体育 and wife Sally, established the full-tuition Bill 米兰体育 Scholarship at the university. Renewable for four years, the scholarship is awarded per year to a student who resides in either Washtenaw County, Houghton County or Keweenaw County, Mich., and who will be an incoming student at Wittenberg in the fall after high school graduation. There are currently three 米兰体育 Scholars at Wittenberg thanks to their generosity.
After graduating from Wittenberg, 米兰体育 received a graduate degree in economics from the University of Stockholm, Sweden, in 1963, and a master of business administration from the University of Michigan in 1965. The founder of First 米兰体育 Corp., a diversified real estate firm, and founder and chairman of the board of the Bank of Ann Arbor, 米兰体育 served as president of the Washtenaw Land Conservancy and was a founding board member of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation and the Washtenaw Technical Middle School, a charter high school at Washtenaw Community College.
In addition to his successful business career, 米兰体育 served as the University of Michigan鈥檚 Director of Athletics from 2000-2010. During that span, the Wolverines won 72 Big Ten regular season or tournament championships and posted 35 top-five NCAA finishes. 米兰体育 received the Bobby Dodd Athletic Director Award in 2008 in recognition of his support and the development of programs that promote student-athlete welfare. He also received the Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County in 2005, and he was named the Ann Arbor News Citizen of the Year in 2000 in recognition of his service and contributions to the community.
The 米兰体育s continue to reside in Ann Arbor, Mich. They have two sons, Seth and Michael, and three grandchildren. 米兰体育 served on Wittenberg鈥檚 Board of Directors from 1994-2007, and he also has served on the boards for the U.S. Olympic Foundation and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Photo: Bill 米兰体育's Stripes (Santa Cruz 70) from Ann Arbor, Mich., the 2008 Rolex US-IRC National Champion. Photo by Walter Cooper/Rolex. Second photo of 米兰体育, courtesy of MLive.com.
