William Griggs

Headshot of Bill Griggs

1994

Bill burst onto the wheelchair sports scene in 1967 and quickly established himself as one of the nation’s premier swimmers, dominating both nationally and internationally. Under the early National Wheelchair Athletic Association (NWAA) classification system, Bill was recognized as the USA’s top Class I swimmer, earning gold medals from 1967 through 1976.

Bill hit his stride in 1970, setting national records in Class I backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, and soon after was named Captain of the U.S.A. Swim Team for international competitions.

Throughout his distinguished career, Bill proudly represented Team USA in numerous international and Paralympic Games:

1967: Stoke Mandeville Games (England) and the Pan American Wheelchair Games (Winnipeg, Canada)

1968: Paralympic Games (Tel Aviv, Israel)

1969: Pan American Games (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

1970: Captain, U.S.A. Swim Team (Stoke Mandeville Games)

1971: Pan American Games (Kingston, Jamaica)

1972: Paralympic Games (Heidelberg, Germany)**

He was also named to four additional international teams, though professional commitments prevented his participation.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Bill was a leader and builder in the adaptive sports movement. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Recreation and Parks, applying his education to the development of sports and recreation programs in the Greater Detroit area during the height of wheelchair sports growth.

Bill also served from 1971 to 1976 on the National Wheelchair Athletic Committee, the governing body that would later evolve into the incorporated National Wheelchair Athletic Association Board of Directors.

Beyond his work in sports, Bill dedicated more than four decades of public service as the City Clerk for Wyandotte, Michigan, holding the position for 42 years.

Through his athletic excellence, leadership, and civic dedication, Bill [Last Name] exemplified the enduring spirit of wheelchair sports — proving that strength, perseverance, and service can change both a community and a movement.