President s Award for Excellence Presented to Bill Mulvihill, Capping Longtime UC Career

The presentation of one of the University of Cincinnati's highest honors capped a career of more than 44 years devoted to the University of Cincinnati.

Longtime athletics and foundation staff member William J. Mulvihill retired from the University of Cincinnati on April 30 and was honored at a presidential reception on May 31. UC President Santa J. Ono surprised Mulvihill with the presentation of the President’s Award for Excellence – one of the university’s highest honors.

“Bill Mulvihill is a man who cares so deeply for the University of Cincinnati that it is evident every time you talk to him,” said President Ono as he presented the Award for Excellence medal to Mulvihill at a reception at Nippert Stadium’s North Lounge. “He is there at the many games and tournament appearances. He knows just about everyone associated with UC and, as he admits himself, even their fathers and grandfathers.”

Consistent with his longtime dedication to the university, Mulvihill asked that instead of giving him retirement gifts, friends and family make donations to a scholarship fund that will benefit a student-athletic in the Lindner College of Business. Donations to the Mulvihill Family Scholarship Fund can be made

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Mulvihill graduated from UC in 1970 with a BBA as the outstanding senior in the College of Business Administration, now the Lindner College of Business. A member of Sigma Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Metro, he also earned a master’s in education from Ohio University in 1973, but came right back to UC to launch his career.

He first worked in Student Residence Life. Then,  President Warren Bennis added him to a three-person team to coordinate the university’s conversion from municipal university to state university.

Later, Mulvihill worked in the Division Public Affairs as well as Alumni Affairs. After that, he served for 26 years in Athletics -- mostly in fundraising -- as executive director of the newly formed UCATS, as an associate athletic director (AD) in development and as senior associate AD.

That was followed by seven years with the UC Foundation, where his service was capped by serving as the campaign director of the successful Proudly Cincinnati Campaign, UC’s first billion-dollar campaign, reaching its goal about six months before the deadline. Mulvihill’s final title at the UC Foundation was executive vice president before his next appointment as the executive director of the UC Bicentennial Commission in the Office of the President.

Before announcing his retirement, Mulvihill co-edited a newly released coffee table book of UC history and photos called “The University of Cincinnati: Soaring Into Our Third Century.” The co-editor is photographer Robert Flischel.

Diagnosed at 25 years of age with rheumatoid arthritis, Mulvihill also devoted many years as a volunteer with the local and national Arthritis Foundation. He served on its national board, served as national chair and was a founding member of the Alliance for Lupus Research. The Arthritis Foundation presented him its highest volunteer award, the Charles B. Harding Award for Distinguished Service, in 2003.

During his UC career, Mulvihill played key roles in creating and expanding UCATS, a private support organization for Bearcats Athletics. He executed several athletic capital campaigns, including one for Nippert Stadium renovation and the construction of the Richard E. Lindner Varsity Village.