Gene Budig

Gene A. Budig (born May 25, 1939) was the last president of the American League (AL), from 1994 to 1999, after which the presidencies of the American League and the National League (NL) were eliminated by Major League Baseball (MLB).[1]

Gene Budig
Chancellor of the University of Kansas
In office
1980–1994
Preceded byArchie Dykes
Succeeded byDel Shankel
President of the West Virginia University
In office
1977–1981
Preceded byJames Gindling Harlow
Succeeded byHarry Bruce Heflin
President of Illinois State University
In office
1973–1977
Preceded byDavid K. Berlo
Succeeded byLloyd Watkins
Personal details
Born (1939-05-25) May 25, 1939
McCook, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln

Early life and career

Budig graduated from the University of Nebraska. Budig served as president of Illinois State University from 1973–1977 and of West Virginia University from 1977–1980 and was the chancellor of the University of Kansas from 1980-1994. A lecture hall at KU, Budig Hall, is named in his honor. Active in the Air National Guard, Budig retired at the rank of Major General in 1992.

Time at Illinois State University

Prior to becoming president of Illinois State University, Budig served as its Dean of Students for seventeen months.[2] One of Budig’s first actions was to restore the academic colleges and Student Services eliminated by the prior president, David Berlo.[3] Under Budig, several new degrees were added at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, ranging from agribusiness to curriculum and instruction.[3]

During Budig’s presidency, Normal ended its prohibition and lowered the legal drinking age to nineteen, leading to a drinking and drugs problem at the university that would cause some conflict and protest from the students.[4] Also during his presidency, Budig had to contend with the Rites of Spring in 1977, a rock concert on campus that saw thousands of dollars in property damage and dozens of students requiring medical attention, some for drug overdoses.[4]

Baseball

On June 8, 1994, Budig was named President of the American League. He served in that role for six seasons, before the position was officially abolished. In that role, Budig presented then-Yankee owner George Steinbrenner with the Commissioner's Trophy after the Yankees won the first World Series to be telecast by Fox in 1996, 4 games to 2. The trophy presentation was made in the Yankees' locker room at Yankee Stadium following Game 6. He also presented the trophy to the Yankees following their victories in 1998 and 1999. The position was abolished when Commissioner Bud Selig restructured Major League Baseball and eliminated the offices of American and National League President.[5]

In January 2007, Budig became part-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs, a minor-league affiliate of the New York Yankees who play in the South Atlantic League.[6]

References
  1. Chass, Murray (September 16, 1999). "BASEBALL; League Presidents Out As Baseball Centralizes". nytimes.com. New York Times. p. D-3. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  2. Champagne, Roger (1978-01-01). "A Place for Education". Illinois State University History Books: 114.
  3. Freed, John (2009-01-01). "Educating Illinois: Illinois State University, 1857-2007". Educating Illinois: 333.
  4. Freed, John (2009-01-01). "Educating Illinois: Illinois State University, 1857-2007". Educating Illinois: 334.
  5. "Budig At The Bat".
  6. "Dr. Gene Budig - Charleston RiverDogs Contact".


Preceded by
Bobby Brown		 American League President
1994–1999		 Succeeded by
Office abolished


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