Bill Fiesinger, front, accepts the honor, with, from left, Clarkson President Tony Collins, Karen Collins, Athletic Director Steve Yianoukos, and Bill’s daughter Ann Fiesinger.

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University recently dedicated the Fiesinger Athletic Director’s Office in the Alumni Gymnasium in honor of F. William “Bill” Fiesinger and his wife, Jane Fiesinger, both of Potsdam.

The dedication was made possible by a gift from Richard P. (Class of 1967) and Jean S. Fiesinger to honor Richard’s uncle.

“It is perfectly fitting that every Clarkson athletic director, from today forward, will occupy the Fiesinger Athletic Director’s Office. Bill and Jane Fiesinger’s names will endure at Clarkson and this is a great thing,” said Clarkson President Tony Collins in his remarks during the dedication ceremony.

A star athlete, student leader and scholar, Bill Fiesinger graduated from Clarkson in 1937 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. A three-sport star at Clarkson, he played football, basketball and baseball for the Golden Knights and made a significant impact every time he stepped on the field or court. He was the leading scorer for the football team, a class officer, a member of Lambda Iota fraternity and was elected Ice Carnival King. At his graduation in 1937, Fiesinger was presented the Frederica Clarkson Award in recognition of his outstanding undergraduate accomplishments.

In 1937, Fiesinger turned down an offer to play professional football with the Cleveland Rams, and instead began his career as an engineer at Corning Glass. He was very involved with Clarkson alumni activities, and in 1959 left a successful safety engineering and insurance brokerage practice in Syracuse and moved his family to Potsdam to become the first full-time director of the Clarkson Alumni Association.

Fiesinger served Clarkson in a number of other external relations roles, and in 1974 was named Clarkson’s director of athletics, where he served until his retirement in 1979. He played a major role in keeping Golden Knight athletics teams competitive at the intercollegiate level and in expanding recreational activities for all undergraduates.