Photo by Tom Campbell Bill York has been a fixture at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the 1950s. He is in charge of the statistical crew for the Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and the U.S. Grand Prix.

You’d never guess that Bill York, BS ’58, plays a major part in almost every sporting event in Indianapolis, except baseball.

He comes off as a proud grandparent, a proud Purdue alumnus, and a man with a demanding presence. But Bill York is an extraordinarily humble man.

During a conversation, he’s unlikely to volunteer that the media center at Conseco Fieldhouse is named for him, or that his name is on two awards in the nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

But when it comes to Indianapolis’ sporting events, his passion is obvious. York is media director for all sporting events at the RCA Dome, the Fieldhouse, and the Speedway. That means free tickets to go to all the Pacers, Colts, and Fever games, every Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, and the Formula 1 race, as well as Boilermaker Blockbuster and Wooden Tradition basketball events. Throw in free parking and free food, and who wouldn’t envy what Bill York has achieved in his retirement?

Retired, maybe. Relaxing lifestyle? Definitely not.

For each event, York makes sure all the reporters get to their appropriate press box locations and that they have enough room to work. He makes sure all of the luxury suites are ready, and that all of the equipment — including shot clocks, computers, fax machines, copiers, and telephones — is functioning properly.

York also has to make sure the National Anthem starts on time and that all of the statistics are correctly figured, recorded and sent off to the appropriate places like ESPN, CNN, or the NBA.

And he is the man who puts together the refereeing crews for all Indiana High School Athletic Association-sanctioned events for football, basketball and wrestling championships each year.

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