William Kreger - Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority

William E. Kreger has devoted more than one-half of his life to supporting the recreation needs of the people of Southeast Michigan through nearly 50 years of service representing Wayne County on the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board of Commissioners. But his leadership in public recreation began in 1940, more than ten years before he was appointed to the HCMA Board.

While in high school, Bill played football, basketball, swam and became active in rowing. He helped start a rowing program for the Wyandotte High School in 1940, and in 1942 began to coach rowing. In 1944 he procured 11 acres of land for the Wyandotte Boat Club and the rowing program in the city. The teams he coached at Wyandotte High School and the Wyandotte Boat club won many national and international championships.

In 1954, the Wayne County Board of commissioners appointed Bill to represent Wayne County on the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board of Commissioners. He was reappointed for four more terms through 1983. In 1988, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners again appointed Bill to the HCMA Board. He has since been reappointed to serve three consecutive terms, with his last reappointment made in 2001, which will end in 2007.

Nearly 17000 acres of the 24000 acre Metropark system, now one of the largest regional park systems in the country, was developed during Commissioner Kreger's tenure. Practically all the facilities that exist today, with the exception of the swimming beaches at Kensington and Metro Beach Metroparks, and some of the picnic areas in other parks, were planned or opened under Commissioner Kreger's direction. Bill currently serves as the Chairman of the HCMA Board of Commissioners.

Bill has been inducted into the Wyandotte Sports Hall of Fame, the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame and the Wyandotte Boat club Hall of Fame.

Bill is also a past member of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors, the Wayne county road Commission and the Michigan Transportation council. He served as commissioner of the Wayne County Airport for 15 years. He has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Wyandotte Junior Chamber of Commerce, Henry Ford Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wyandotte Henry Ford Hospital, Salute to Excellence Award from the Downriver Council of the Arts and the Man of the year in Athletics Award from the Wyandotte Athletic Association. The William E. Kreger Marshlands Museum and Nature Center at Lake Erie Metropark was named in his honor. He is a long-time resident of Wyandotte, where he served as mayor and was publisher of the Wyandotte News-Herald Newspaper.

He has also been associated with several business interests, with a lifetime interest in the beverage industry. Bill was vice president of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Wyandotte for forty years and served as the president of the Coco-Cola Bottling Company of Port Huron for ten years. He is Chairman of All Star Services Inc. of Port Huron.

lso served on the Board of Directors of Downriver Federal Savings & Loan Association, for over 23 years (from 1965 to 1988) and also served on the Board of Directors of the Heritage Bancorp Inc. (from 1989-1992). He was designated Director Emeritus-1992. He served as a former Director of the Board of Directors for both Dearborn Bancorp Inc. and the Community Bank of Dearborn in 1998.

William E. Kreger is recognized for ensuring that all citizens in the five county region (Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority) will have access to exceptional outdoor recreation facilities and services now and for generations to come. A true sportsman.