Dr. Bill Bankhead, a 2021 inductee into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 89.

Bankhead was born in Bay City, Texas, moved to Baton Rouge and attended Catholic High School. After serving with the U.S. Marines in Korea, Bankhead graduated from LSU and started the men’s gymnastics program, where he served as head coach for eight years.

Bankhead also continued the LSU swimming program, which had been discontinued due to World War II.

In the 1970s, Bankhead was one of the first administrators to coordinate women’s sports and Title IX compliance at LSU and the first director of the LSU Assembly Center, now known as the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Bankman also brought the 1983 Special Olympics World Games, the 1985 U.S. Olympic Committee National Sports Festival and the 2001 National Olympic Senior Games to LSU’s campus.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Ann Bankhead, sister-in-law, Janet Burja, sons John and Dan and grandchildren William, Elizabeth, Katherine and Ian. He was preceded in death by his father, William H. Bankhead Sr., mother, Cordelia Whiddon Bankhead and sister, Jolene Broussard.

Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge, on Friday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

If you wish to support the Bankhead family, please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.