Bill Crawford recognized for work with LSSU athletics

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

********************

Former LSSU AD Bill Crawford receives GLIAC Donahue Award

Service award goes to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the GLIAC and intercollegiate athletics

BAY CITY - Bill Crawford, former Director of Athletics at Lake Superior State University, has been named the 2007 recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Tom Donahue Service Award.

The Donahue Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the GLIAC and intercollegiate athletics. The award winners exemplify the high standard of dedication to the league and its student-athletes as set by Tom Donahue, former commissioner of the GLIAC.

Crawford served the GLIAC with tremendous passion for more than 10 years. He was appointed to Vice President of University Relations and Marketing at LSSU on March 27, 2006, after serving 10 years as LSSU Director of Athletics. Crawford was LSSU's longest-serving AD since Bud Cooper, the University's first Director of Athletics.

Crawford was first hired at LSSU in 1988 as Director of Public Relations. During his first three years with the department of athletics, he served as an Assistant Director of Athletics, helping with NCAA compliance and public relations. As AD, Crawford brought in Laker women's basketball coach Kris Dunbar, who, in eight seasons, earned four straight GLIAC North Division titles, two GLIAC Tournament championships and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The LSSU track and cross country programs also gained momentum under his direction. During his tenure, 12 scholarships were added to LSSU's Division II programs.

Crawford played key roles in fund-raising for LSSU Athletics, including the Gem of the North campaign that saw Taffy Abel Arena finished, and the Arbuckle Student Activity Center. He was instrumental in establishing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, NCAA Oversight Committee and faculty advisors for most of LSSU's varsity teams.

Crawford served as GLIAC president in 1997-98. He has also been "the Voice of Laker Hockey" for 25 years.

Past LSSU representatives who have received the Donahue Award are Cooper in 1992 and former Faculty Athletics Representative Chuck Jones in 2002.

************************************************************