The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics is proud to announce the creation of the Bill Knecht III
Athletic Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship
Endowment Fund.
The Bill Knecht III Athletic Scholarship is being awarded for
the first time this year. The 2013-14 recipient is senior John
Seaver, a thrower on the men’s track and field team. Seaver
won the shot put at the 2013 indoor and outdoor championships and
was placed 13th at the NCAA Regionals, one spot shy of
advancing to the NCAA Championships in the outdoor event.
This scholarship was created to honor F. W. “Bill”
Knecht III, a 1960 graduate of Youngstown University. Knecht had a
lifetime devotion to his alma mater and most especially was an avid
fan of Penguins Athletics.
He served as President of the Penguin Club from June 1975 until
July 1977, and in 2003 was named “Penguin of the Year”,
the highest honor bestowed by the YSU Penguin Club. He also served
as a University Trustee and received the University’s
Distinguished Citizen Award in 2001. After a successful 16-year
career in sales with IBM, Knecht purchased Wendell August Forge in
1978 and served as Chairman of the company until his passing in
2004.
The annual recipient must be a student-athlete who will
represent YSU with loyalty and pride, as Knecht always did
throughout his life.
Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, said the Knecht
played an active role in the creation of the Penguin Club and
Wendell August Forge provided commemorative plates to Youngstown
State following the four football National Championships.
"Bill Knecht always had a smile on his face and was a terrific
supporter of the University and athletics for many years,”
McFadden said. “He received many awards from organizations
for the impact he made on the community and he was the 2001 YSU
Distinguished Citizen Award honoree, the highest mark of
distinction given by the university. His legacy will continue to
live on with this scholarship.”
For more information or to endow an athletic scholarship at
Youngstown State University, contact the YSU Foundation at (330)
941-3211 or pmcfadden@ysufoundation.org
