Two-Time Basketball Gold
Medalist
In 1947, as a junior transfer, Bill Hougland
entered Beloit High School. That same year, the Beloit Basketball team made it
to the state championship game-the first time in Beloit history. The following
year they again played in the state championship game. After graduating, Bill
enrolled at Kansas University. During his senior year, the Jayhawks were the
champions of what is now the Big Eight Conference and of the 1952 NCAA
Tournament.
Bill was one of the seven KU players to work for Phillips Petroleum Company. Working for the company, he was eligible to play for the Phillips 66 team in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) league. In 1956, winning the Olympic playoffs, he and the team were qualified to go to Melbourne, Australia, to play in another Olympic Game which they won, bringing home a second gold medal.
Bill started working for Koch Industries in 1962 later becoming president of Koch Oil and president of Koch Oil Limited, a Canadian company.
He is now retired but has never forgotten KU. He and his wife Carolie donated $1.2 million to their alma mater. The income from the William M. and Carolie Miller Hougland Fund will assist four programs at the University.