Bill Spencer

Bill Spencer was one of the pioneers in biathlon in the United States. At the 1960 Winter Olympics, he was the forerunner on the ski course in Squaw Valley. He attended college at the University of Utah, graduating in 1961. Spencer was US champion in 1965-67 and Canadian champion in 1966-67. He was in the US Army during the 1960s, serving at Fort Richardson in 1968, and competing in the CISM Winter Games from 1964-67.

Spencer spent 23 years in the US Army, doing two tours of duty during the Vietnam War as an infantry officer. He was awarded three Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, and three Army Commendation Medals before retiring from the service as a Lieutenant-Colonel.

After his competitive career, Spencer was a coach or team leader for US biathlon at five Winter Olympic Games, was an official for the International Biathlon Union at three others, and served as deputy chief of the biathlon competition at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He worked as the USA Biathlon shooting coach from 1976-82 and was team leader in 1972 and 1988.

Spencer was inducted into the U.S. Biathlon Association Hall of Fame in 2000, received the IBU Bronze Medal of Honor in 2002, was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame in 2004.