Swimming and Diving Honors Former Meet Referee
10/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Oct. 22, 2002
The Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving team awarded the first William Heusner Memorial Service Award at the Alumni Meet on Saturday, Oct. 19. Jack Seibold (Class of '47) and Dave Seibold (Class of '50) presented the inaugural award to the family of William Heusner, who passed away over the summer.
Dr. Heusner was the Spartans' meet referee for 40 years, beginning in 1962. During that same time, he also acted as the head referee at the Men's Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships and spent 40 years as either the head referee or head judge at the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.
A two-time NCAA champion and three-time Big Ten champion in the 1500 freestyle while an undergraduate student at Northwestern, Heusner was a member of the 1948 Olympic Team and was a finalist in the 1500. He was the head swimming coach at Southern Illinois (1955-57) and Minnesota (1957-62). He also served as the head swimming coach of the 1962 U.S. National Team.
Heusner was the chief recorder at four U.S. Olympic Trials (1968, '72, '76 and '80), as well as a five-year editor of the 'NCAA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Rules Handbook'.
