William F. Rothwell

William F. (Bill) Rothwell grew up in Breckenridge, Minn., graduating from Breckenridge High School in 1954. He attended NDSSS and received his Liberal Arts degree in 1956. His mother, Dorothy, was an NDSSS instructor in the Business Program from 1965-1974 and was honored as an Outstanding Educator of America in 1970. Bill commented, “My formative years were definitely influenced by my mother’s love for education.”

Bill pursued his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota. He then began his military career attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and was commissioned as an Ensign in May of 1959. Ensigns serve on naval vessels as division officers leading seamen and petty officers. Following five- and one-half years of active duty, which included serving in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Key West and the Great Lakes, he left active duty. Bill spent 22 years in the Naval Reserve, and he retired as a Commander.

In 1972, Bill completed his master’s degree in Industrial Relations at Loyola University of Chicago and spent 20 years in the business world. He then served as Administrator for Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill.

Growing up, Bill and his brother, Bruce, spent summers at their family cabin on Otter Tail Lake. He had a strong work ethic, even then, and worked a few summers on the track crew for the Great Northern Railroad. He met his wife, Janet, while taking classes at Northwestern University in 1962. They enjoyed 50 years together before she passed away in June of 2012. He currently resides in Lincolnshire Ill., and Presque Isle, Wis.  Bill is an avid Muskie angler and is spending time in his retirement years designing and making Muskie lures, and also takes time to enjoy his passion for cars.

Bill has supported the NDSCS Foundation with annual gifts since 1995. He started the William F. Rothwell Endowment to make a difference for students in Business Administration and Management with preference to Veterans. His generosity has continued with a significant gift to the NDSCS Science & Math Department, which generates funds from an endowment to fund the greatest needs of the Science and Math programs. In September of 2018, the NDSCS Science & Math Department on the 2^nd floor of Haverty Hall was named the William F. Rothwell Center for Science & Math in honor of Bill’s contributions to the programs.

Kim Nelson, NDSCS Foundation Director, said, “It has been a pleasure to get to know Bill over the years, as he shares in his mother’s passion for education and support to NDSCS. We thank Bill and congratulate him on becoming the 2024 Alumnus of the Year.” The NDSCS Foundation would like to thank Bill for being a “difference maker” for NDSCS students and the Science & Math Department!