Many SigEp brothers come from humble beginnings and propel themselves to great prominence. Few have done it quite as dramatically as Bill Schmidt, North Texas ’70.

For Schmidt, SigEp was one step in a journey toward becoming an Olympic medalist and sports marketing guru.

Schmidt grew up poor, in a tiny western Pennsylvania town with a tworoom school. Schmidt’s father was a coal miner who took his own life when Bill was young. He was the youngest of seven siblings. He and his twin brother were the only two who went to high school.

His first love was baseball, and he harnessed his strong arm on the pitcher’s mound. In high school he took to the javelin, despite not having much experience. Armed with raw talent, but no guarantee of a scholarship, Schmidt took a risk and trekked down to North Texas.

Once at school, he found in SigEp an extended family who would help him face down any lingering uncertainty. He was 1,200 miles from home, and would spend Thanksgiving with his Fraternity brothers’ families. The bonds of brotherhood came at a critical point after a difficult childhood. “It was a great life experience,” Schmidt said. “I may not have thought about that at the time, but it’s filled a variety of voids.”

Always a hard worker, Schmidt kept busy with class, track and the Fraternity. It wasn’t long before his javelin career took off. He focused heavily on technique and film study, and his arm strength grew every year. In one memorable meet, televised on ABC’s famous Wide World of Sports, Schmidt won the California Relays on the final throw of the competition.

“You’re going to face failure. And it’ll only make you more resilient.”

Schmidt was considered an underdog at the trials for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but that was a role he was comfortable playing. He qualified; and after arriving in Munich, threw a javelin 276 feet, 11 1/2 inches to win a bronze medal. No Americans have medaled in javelin since.

After his javelin career, Schmidt earned a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, where he also served as an assistant track coach in charge of recruiting. Fortuitously the World’s Fair came to Knoxville in 1982, and Schmidt wrangled a role as the director of sports for the fair.

He took on the challenge of planning 26 weeks’ worth of activities with a measly budget. Schmidt threw himself into the opportunity, planning everything from exhibition NBA and NFL games to a national bass fishing tournament.

Schmidt’s experience set him on a path that eventually led him to Gatorade, where he helped the brand develop into the titan it is today. He helped broker sponsorship deals that led to events like the Homerun Derby, NBA Slam Dunk Contest and the Punt, Pass and Kick program. He also signed athletes like Michael Jordan.

His willingness to jump in without fear of failure has carried him throughout his career. “You’re going to face failure,” Schmidt said. “And it’ll only make you more resilient. People who’ve been the most successful have had the highest failure quotient.”

After leaving his mark on Gatorade, Schmidt went on to become CEO of Oakley. Today he lives in Knoxville, where he is president of Pegasus Sports Marketing. He’s also a guest lecturer at the University of Tennessee and devotes time as a mentor.

Self-confidence has been critical to Schmidt’s success, but he hasn’t done it alone. Schmidt also credits his success in business to his ability to build relationships, much of which traces back to that pivotal time in his life when he found SigEp at North Texas.

“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” ~ DEMOSTHENES