Charleston, S.C. William (Bill) Sansom, Class of 1964, is one of 12 recipients of the Southern Conference's Distinguished Service Award. The citation will be presented at the league's Honors Dinner on May 27 at the Crowne Plaza on Hilton Head Island.
“Mr. Sansom was selected for this award for his many contributions over the years to The Citadel and especially for his contributions to the Johnson Hagood Stadium Project, athletic scholarships and to our basketball program,” said Director of Athletics Larry Leckonby. “He has been very generous with his time, professionalism and resources, and his loyalty and dedication to his alma mater is greatly appreciated and admirable.”
“Bill Sansom is a professional and loyal graduate who is quick to state that his years at The Citadel were a vital part of his career successes,” said Citadel President Lt Gen John W. Rosa. “His generous gift to the stadium project will benefit our Department of Athletics in both the short- and long-ranges.”
The annual award recognizes one person from each of the conference's 12-member institutions who has provided exemplary leadership and support for the respective intercollegiate athletics programs.
Since 1983, Sansom has been chairman and CEO of The H.T. Hackney Co., a diverse enterprise involved in wholesale grocery, gasoline and oil, and furniture manufacturing. He served the State of Tennessee as both commissioner of transportation and commissioner of finance and administration prior to 1983.
Currently, Sansom is serving as chairman of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public power provider, and on several public boards. He is former president of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and was on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees for 16 years including a stint as chairman.
At The Citadel, where he graduated in 1964 with a BS in Civil Engineering and served as the Regimental Commander (the highest ranking cadet), Sansom is a member of the board of The Citadel Foundation, The Citadel Advisory Board, Campaign Steering Committee and a member of the board of The Citadel Trust. He purchased the first executive suite at the revitalized Johnson Hagood Stadium, setting the stage for all of the suites to be sold out. He has made significant contributions to his alma mater for athletic and academic endeavors.
He has been married for 42 years to Elisabeth, and they both remain active in the community and church - he with the Boy Scouts, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Bible studies; she with Bible teaching and missions work. They were instrumental in building the Boy Scout Council's new Lewis M. Sansom Scout Center facility, named in memory of their son, a Citadel graduate. Their daughter and husband have four boys who participated in The Citadel's basketball camp.
The Citadel's Recipients
2008 Dr. Sam Pearson '55
2007 - Gene Moore III '50
2006 - Tommy McQueeney '74
2005 - Dr. Kenny Caldwell '79
2004 - Gene Brooker '68
2003 - Julian Frasier '59
