Roger ‘Bill’ Terwilliger Roger William “Bill” Terwilliger, 93, a former Mackinac Island summer resident, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, January 26, 2012.

He was born March 30, 1918, in Rock County, Wisconsin, to Fay Leon Terwilliger and Stella Beggs Terwilliger.

Mr. Terwilliger received his baccalaureate from Northern Illinois University, and his masters degree from The University of Wisconsin. He married Harriett Carlson December 24, 1942.

A 1936 graduate of DeKalb Township High School in DeKalb, Illinois, he was an outstanding athlete, winning four letters in football and basketball and three in track. He was recognized for his achievements his junior and senior year by selection to 1st team All-NCIC in both football and basketball. His crowning achievement his senior year was winning the Illinois State Track Championship 100-yard dash in 9.8 seconds.

Mr. Terwilliger had a brilliant collegiate athletic career at Northern Illinois State Teachers College (now Northern Illinois University). He won letters in track and basketball. He established records in the 100- yard, 220-yard, and 440-yard dash and anchored the record-setting relay team. These records stood for more than 25 years, when the cinder track was moved to the metered allweather track surface in 1966. In 1941 he played center on Northern’s Little Nineteen Conference Championship team.

He was selected for the honorary AAU All American Track and Field Team in 1941 and 1942. Mr. Terwilliger won the AAU National decathlon championship in 1942, a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events held over two days. Traditionally, the winner is known at the nation’s best athlete.

In 1983, he was elected into the NIU Athletic Hall of Fame and was selected for the NIU All-Century Basketball Team in 2001. He was the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.

He earned his private pilot’s license in 1940 and served during World War II in the Army Air Corps as a B-25 pilot and instructor. He was named outstanding cadet in his squadron. He served in the Air Force Reserves and attained the rank of captain.

Mr. Terwilliger was the owner of Terwilliger’s Athletics, Incorporated, an athletic supply store in DeKalb, and he also had gift shops on Mackinac Island. In 1973, he was one of the founding board members of the American National Bank of DeKalb. In 1974, he received the NIU Alumni-Varsity Citizens Award for outstanding achievement in a profession or occupation other than the field of education.

He and his wife retired to their farm in Hunting Country, Polk County, North Carolina, in 1980. They spent summers on Mackinac Island for more than 30 years until 2002. On Mackinac, he served on the board of Wawashkamo Golf Club, was active in the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association, was a member of the Little Stone Church, and was on the Mackinac Island Airport Commission.

Over the years he was active in the Carolina Carriage Club, FETA, Tryon Hounds, The Cotillion, The Golden Circle Club, Red Fox Country Club, Tryon Country Club, Meals on Wheels, and was a member of the Columbus United Methodist Church.

Mr. Terwilliger is survived by his wife; two children, John Landis Terwilliger of Troy, Ohio, and Cynthia Stell Terwilliger of Tryon, North Carolina; a daughter-in-law, Chris Terwilliger; and two grandsons, Matthew Landis Terwilliger and Luke William Terwilliger, both of Columbus, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, George Landis Terwilliger, and his sisters, Harriet Terwilliger Hunt and Mary Terwilliger Miller, all of DeKalb.

A memorial will be held at the Columbus United Methodist Church at a future time to be announced.

The family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of the Foothills or the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association.

Condolences may be sent to Harriet Terwilliger, 3016 River Road, Columbus, NC 28782.

Petty Funeral Home in Landrum, South Carolina, is assisting the family with arrangements.