Asa S. Bushnell was not an athlete, but he became one of the most influential figures in intercollegiate athletics for nearly half of the 20th century.
The son of Ohio Governor Asa S. Bushnell, the younger Bushnell attended Princeton and later returned to his alma mater as editor of the Alumni Weekly. Five years later, he became the graduate manager of the Princeton athletic department, the equivalent of a present-day athletic director.
Bushnell was named commissioner of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference upon its inception, a position he held for 32 years.
He also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors for 25 years, including 20 years as the organization’s secretary treasurer. Bushnell was presented the Olympic Torch Award in 1966 for his contributions to the Olympic Movement.
