3x Olympian Bill Kerslake, Case ’51 passes away

WILLIAM ROY "Bill" KERSLAKE ObituaryWilliam “Bill” Kerslake passed away on September 29th, 2015 at the age of 85. Kerslake, a 1951 graduate of Case Institute of Technology (later to become Case Western Reserve University), was a three time Olympic wrestler (1952, 1956, 1960) and 1955 Pan-Am champion, all at heavyweight. He was the United States national champion at heavyweight 15 years in a row while simultaneously working forĀ the National Advisory Committee for AeronauticsĀ and later NASA where he developed rocket propulsion technology including the first ever ion engine.

He was a three sport athlete at Case, setting school and conference records in the shot put will winning nine varsity letters among wrestling, football, and track. Read on for more.

William Kerslake Obituary (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Wikipedia Entry for William Kerslake

Case’s Three-Time Olympian and Rocket Scientist (UAA website)

Kerslake in action in the 1950s (Wikipedia image)