Thank you for the excellent article you published this week on my work and career, especially your focus on the inspirational aspects of my efforts. I feel fortunate to have been inspired by my opportunities in life, even though they have involved at times a lot of hard work and struggle.
With deep appreciation and respect for the others who made it possible for me to work, I am writing to add notes of credit and thanks. I graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1964, and the next year was one of the founding staff of the international musical program, “Up With People,” which was born out of an international student leadership conference held in the Midwest that summer ( 1965). The founder, leader, and president of “Up With People” was J. Blanton Belk, of Tucson, Arizona, and I later became the vice president.
When I first met Peter Ueberroth in 1982 he had by then been president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee a few years, prior to which he was president of the second largest travel agency business in the U.S. Both of these leaders were a tremendous source of inspiration to me and my work, which could not have been possible without what I learned working under them.
I sincerely appreciate the credit and attention your article has given my life’s efforts, and hope you may be able to print this letter with my expression of recognition and appreciation for a few of those who have made it possible for me to have such great adventures in life.
William N. Wishard, III president
Wishard and Associates