From Okemos High to Michigan State: Bill Beekman's Journey From
From Okemos High to Michigan State: Bill Beekman’s Journey from Chieftain Brave to Spartan Top Jock By Kerry J. Byrnes (Okemos High Class of ’63) Over the past 35 years (1985-2020), William “Bill” Beekman, 1985 graduate of Okemos High School (OHS) rose from a Michigan State University (MSU) new hire in 1995 to holding one of that university’s highest leadership positions. After graduating from OHS, and having completed several academic degrees, Beekman landed a job at MSU as the first step on a journey that, within 25 years, would lead him to becoming that university’s newest Athletic Director, in effect, the Spartan “Top Jock” responsible for leading one of America’s largest athletic programs comprised of 25 sports and 800 student-athletes. But just a year or so on the new job Beekman would suddenly be confronted by two of the biggest challenges of his life. Drawing on several quoted sources, this article looks back on the life of Bill Beekman, how his journey brought him to Michigan State University, and how he now continues to lead, just as he did in high school, with brain over brawn to build Sparty’s “blue blood” credentials in university-level athletics. William Russell Beekman Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Okemos High School William “Bill” Beekman, the son of Edward and Kay Beekman, was born on May 14, 1967. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1985. Bill Beekman Class Photos (Okemos High Tomahawk 1982 - 1985) Interestingly, while in high school, Beekman’s only participation in competitive athletics was running on the Chieftain’s cross country team in the fall of 1984 during his senior year.
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