William (Bill) Newton - Athletic Alumni 2019

William Newton, Ann Arbor High Class of 1962, is an Athletics Alumnus Award and now becomes a member of the Ann Arbor Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame for his exceptional achievements in athletics.

 

Bill’s entry with the Class of 2019 is based on his accomplishments as a three-year member and letter winner with the Golf team. Named captain in his senior year, Bill helped lead the team to three 6A League Championships, one state championship second place finish, and one state championship. Individually, Bill was runner-up in the state tourney his senior year and named All-State that year as well.

 

Bill’s skills also garnered him personal trophies in 1960 as the Ann Arbor Junior Golf Champion, in 1962 as the Detroit Junior Golf Association Champion, and in 1964 as the Ann Arbor Senior Golf Champion.

 

Hockey was another of Bill’s athletic interests. From 1956 to 1962, Bill played in the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association. In 1961, he was named the Association’s Player of the Year. In 1961-1962, he was a member of the association’s All Star “Rainbow” Team which played high school and junior teams in Michigan and Canada. The “Rainbow” team and the AAAHA ultimately led to the creation of ice hockey as a varsity sport at Ann Arbor High.

 

After high school, Bill’s golf talents enabled him to become a member of the University of Michigan’s team, where he lettered for three years and was team captain in his senior year.

 

Bill won the Big Ten individual championship in 1965 and finished as high as fifth place in the NCAA Individuals. In 1965 and 1966, Bill earned All-American status, the first Wolverine golfer to do so and the first to be named All-American twice. Academically, Bill was named to the Druid’s Society and received the Yost Honor Award twice.

 

In 1967 and 1968, Bill served as UM’s Assistant Golf coach while attending UM’s Dental School.

 

Having earned his DDS,  Bill served in the US Army Dental Corps for 23 years, rising to the rank of Colonel. He did three overseas tours of duty in Vietnam, Berlin, and Wurzburg. He was awarded 14 service ribbons, including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. During his military service in Vietnam, Bill provided free dental services to South Vietnamese children, including hundreds of orphans and disadvantaged youngsters.

 

Bill also continued his golf game while in the service. He won the Berlin (Germany) Open four times in the mid-70s. He also won more than 50 tournaments in Europe and was captain of the Third Army Golf Team champions in 1972.

 

Overall, Bill’s dental career spans 50 years, including three years as an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School. Bill currently provides dental services as the Senior Dentist for the Florida Department of Corrections. Bill resides in Ocala, Florida, and will celebrate 48 years of marriage. He has two children and two grandchildren.

 

It is with great pride that the Ann Arbor Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2019, adds to its roll call Dr. William Newton.