| Membership level: Hall of Fame William G. Huskisson Inductee Year 2008 |  |
| The late Bill Huskisson is being honored as an outstanding Hinsdale Central athlete, as a long-standing teacher and coach at his alma mater, and for his dedicated service with various youth organizations around town. He graduated from Central in 1975 as one of its best-ever football players. Twice he was an All-Conference lineman, was named to the All-Area football team, was a letter winner on the track team, and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bill attended Western Illinois University after high school where he was a four-year letterman for the football team, was named All Conference and All-American (for that school’s division) as a defensive tackle. He was involved in Campus Crusade and was inducted into Western Illinois University’s Hall of Fame. After college, Bill became a professional football player. He was a defensive MVP for the Chicago Fire Football Team, was its team captain, and was all-pro nose tackle in the American Football Association. Bill later was on the Chicago Blitz team in the United States Football League. He even made the NFL for a while on the injured reserve roster of the Chicago Bears. Thereafter, for 26 years, Bill taught and coached at Hinsdale Central, serving as head wrestling coach, assistant football coach, track coach, strength coach, and was the Assistant Athletic Director. In 1997, Bill received the Presidential Distinguished Teacher Award. Off campus, Bill was a coach and board member of the Hinsdale Falcon Youth Football Program, and he re-started the Hinsdale Youth Center by soliciting donations and coordinating the rehab of an abandoned building near the Hinsdale police station. He lost his courageous battle with cancer in September 2006. Bill was married for sixteen years to Lynda, a 1982 HC graduate; fathered three children, Abby, and twin sons Brock and Cole; and attended Christ Church in Oak Brook. All who walked with Bill in his last years were deeply inspired by his strength, his love for family and friends, and his religious faith. His passion for Hinsdale Central never wavered. When anyone asked him how things were going, his standard response was, “It’s a great day to be alive and to be a Red Devil.” |
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