Bill JURGENS Bill Jurgens: Versatility key to success John A. SEITZ AWARD Hearing Bill Jurgens speak of the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, one cannot miss a sense of pride, dedication, and excitement in his voice! “The Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta is the best regatta in the country,” says Jurgens a steadfast volunteer who has been personally instrumental in the evergrowing success of this storied event, a record without a doubt spurred on by Bill who now stands at a milestone as the third longest serving member of the Board of Directors of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee. Foreseeing the need to be ever vigilant to accommodate to an exceptionally dynamic world in the arena or rowing, Bill proposed formation of a Dad Vail Board Sustainability Committee. Sustainability equates to optimizing service to collegiate rowing programs, encouraging development of new rowing programs and giving coaches a voice in Dad Vail Regatta operations. As Sustainability Committee Chair, Bill assembled a diverse cross section of rowing volunteers committed to persevering and adhering to Bill’s favorite aphorism that “Persistence PreVAILS When All Else Fails” however Bill prepared all the committee meeting agendas, scheduling all committee meetings, set up all committee TEAMS calls, and then, alone, wrote up all committee meetings’ minutes! Bill persistence has been a lifelong practice fostered for the better part of four decades at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) as the school’s first rowing coach and Athletic Director. Under his coaching tutelage, the Panthers won 17 Dad Vail national championships amongst which were two men’s and women’s overall championship titles in 1982 and 1987 and three men’s overall titles from By Ed Levin
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