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William D. “Bill” McHenry, 90, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., former athletic director at Washington and Lee University, died Wednesday, Jan. 4.
He was born in 1932 to William Rodman and Bonita Passehl McHenry in Swarthmore, Pa., and graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1950. He was active in sports, playing football, serving as co-captain his senior year. He also played basketball and lacrosse. He graduated from Washington and Lee University from the school of commerce and achieved a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Bill was the captain of the last W&L subsidized football team. He was twice named to the United Press International All-American team as an honorable mention selection at center. Bill also was a three year letterman in lacrosse. Following his senior season, he played in the Blue-Gray Football Classic in Alabama. He also played in the College All-Star game in Chicago. He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins but the Army drafted him at the same time so he never had the opportunity to play.
Following his service time, he was an assistant football coach at Pennsylvania Military College (now Widner) for two years. He moved on to Williams College as head lacrosse coach and freshman football coach for three years. Bill then took over the Lebanon Valley College football team as head coach and athletic director for 10 seasons. His football teams won the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship two times. He and his brother, Bob, started the lacrosse program at LVC as a major spring sport.
His alma mater called him back to W&L in 1971 where he took over as athletic director and also coached football. Bill’s final assignment was at the College of Wooster in Ohio as athletic director. During the summers, Bill was on a staff of coaches who traveled to Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany to assist in introducing American Football to Europe. He retired from the College of Wooster in 1996.
Bill was active in the NCAA administration serving on numerous division III committees. He was inducted into the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (NACDA). He was also inducted into the W&L Hall of Fame, LVC Hall of Fame and the State of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. Upon retiring to Hilton Head Island, Bill was on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) board for 10 years and active with the FCA summer camps. He worked with the Impact Mentoring program in Hilton Head schools. He also worked with the fishing club during their summer camp. He and his wife, Joan, worked with Heroes on Horseback for nine years.
Bill stayed very active in his retirement exercising regularly. He and Joan shared a love of swimming laps, playing tennis and bike riding together. They were members of the EZ Riders Bike Club. They enjoyed skiing and white water rafting in Colorado, trips to Sanibel Island, Fla., and Ocean City, N.J., where he spent his summers growing up.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Joan Acker McHenry. He is predeceased by his brother, J. Robert McHenry and daughter, Deborah McHenry Hennis.
Bill is survived by his son, Robert Charles McHenry (Lynette); six grandchildren, John (Tori), Katie (Jacob), Ryan (Candace), Jordan, Austin, Adam, Kellan and Brendan; six great-grandchildren Mac, Jack, Madeline, Emmet, William and Jacob; son-inlaw, Patrick Hennis (Melissa).
Bill was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, coach and friend.
A memorial service in honor of Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the South Coastal FCA, PO Box 5192, Hilton Head, SC 29938.
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