Gene Arthur Budig (May 25, 1939September 8, 2020) was an American
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
executive and academic administrator. He was the last president of the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
(AL), serving from 1994 to 1999. After his tenure concluded, the presidencies of the American League and the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
(NL) were eliminated by
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB).
Budig went on to become part-owner of a minor league baseball team, a position he held until his death.
Prior to baseball, Budig was a
chancellor
Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
at the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
and
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
at
Illinois State University
Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of th ...
and
West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State College ...
.
Early life
Gene Arthur Budig was born on May 25, 1939, and was placed in an orphanage and adopted shortly thereafter.
He was raised in
McCook, Nebraska
McCook is a city in and the county seat of Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,446 at the 2020 census.
History
McCook was platted in 1882 when the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was extended to that point. I ...
; his childhood goal was to become
second baseman for the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
. He attended the
University of Nebraska
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
, where he earned a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in journalism in 1962. He subsequently undertook
postgraduate studies
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree.
The organization and stru ...
at that same institution, obtaining a
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. in English one year later and a
Doctor of Philosophy
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common Academic degree, degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields ...
in education in 1967.
He went on to serve as president of
Illinois State University
Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of th ...
from 1973 to 1977 and of
West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State College ...
from 1977 to 1981. He was also chancellor of the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
from 1981 until 1994.
A lecture hall at KU,
Budig Hall
Budig Hall is an academic building on the main campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The building houses one 1,000-seat lecture hall, two 500-seat lecture halls, and a computer lab.
Hoch Auditorium
Hoch Auditorium was a ...
, was named in his honor.
[ Active in the ]Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
, Budig retired at the rank of major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
in 1992.[
]
Tenure at Illinois State University
Prior to becoming president of Illinois State University, Budig served as its dean of students for seventeen months. One of Budig's first actions was to restore the academic colleges and Student Services eliminated by the prior president, David Berlo. Under Budig, several new degrees were added at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, ranging from agribusiness
Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy,
in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise.
The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit w ...
to curriculum and instruction.
During Budig's presidency, Illinois State ended its prohibition and lowered the legal drinking age to nineteen, leading to a drinking and drugs problem at the university that would cause some conflict and protest from the students. Also during his presidency, Budig had to contend with the "Rites of Spring". In 1977, a rock concert on campus saw thousands of dollars in property damage and dozens of students requiring medical attention, some for drug overdoses.
Tenure at the University of Kansas
Gene Budig served as KU's fourteenth Chancellor from 1981 to 1994. During Budig's tenure, the university experienced impressive growth of the physical campus in Lawrence and elsewhere with numerous projects, including construction of the Dole Human Development Center, the Adams Alumni Center, the Anschutz Science Library, the Lied Center, and the Regents Center in Overland Park (now known as the Edwards Campus).
The university also achieved impressive growth in enrollment and endowed professorships. In 1992, KU set a record with an enrollment of 29,161 students, and endowed professorships more than tripled, from just 44 at his arrival to more than 130 at his retirement. In 1991, Hoch Auditorium was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Through Chancellor Budig's efforts, KU received an $18 million State appropriation to rebuild the structure. In recognition, the new building was named Budig Hall when it was officially dedicated in 1997.
Baseball
Budig was named president of the American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
on June 8, 1994. He served in that role for six seasons, before the position was officially abolished. From 1992 through 1998, the office of Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive officer of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the associated Minor League Baseball (MiLB) – a constellation of leagues and clubs known as "organized baseball". Under the direction of the Commiss ...
was officially vacant, with Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig
(; born July 30, 1934) is an American baseball executive who currently serves as the Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth Commissioner of Baseball from 1998 to 2015. He initially served as ...
exercising the Commissioner's power as Chairman of the Executive Council, therefore during those years the league president of the winning team presented the Commissioner's Trophy. Budig presented New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
owner George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930July 13, 2010) was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1973 until his death in 2010. He was the longest-serving own ...
with the Commissioner's Trophy after the Yankees won the first World Series to be telecast by Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
in 1996, 4 games to 2. The trophy presentation was made in the Yankees' locker room at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the origi ...
following Game 6. He also presented the trophy to the Yankees following their victories in 1998 and 1999.
During Budig's tenure as president, he brought in Larry Doby
Lawrence Eugene Doby (December 13, 1923 – June 18, 2003) was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) who was the second black player to break baseball's color barrier and the first black pl ...
– the AL's first African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
player – to be his special assistant in 1995, observing how "few have done more for Major League Baseball than Larry Doby."[ He also handed down a suspension to Mike Stanton for the latter's role in a ]bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl is a form of fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which most or all players on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches, and charge onto the playing area in order to fight on ...
between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
in 1998. The move infuriated Steinbrenner, who said about Budig, "I’m not sure when the last time he wore a jockstrap
A jockstrap, also a jock (male), jill (female), strap, cup, groin guard, pelvic protector (female), supporter, or athletic supporter, is an undergarment for protecting the testes and penis or vulva during contact sports or other vigorous physic ...
was".[ Budig declined to counter Steinbrenner publicly; instead, he arranged for his friends at the University of Kansas' athletic department to send him the largest jockstrap they had, which he duly autographed and dispatched to Steinbrenner.][ The position of President of the American League was abolished when Commissioner ]Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig
(; born July 30, 1934) is an American baseball executive who currently serves as the Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth Commissioner of Baseball from 1998 to 2015. He initially served as ...
restructured Major League Baseball and eliminated the offices of American and National League president.
In January 2007, Budig became part-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League. They are located in Charleston, South Carolina, and are the Single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The RiverDogs' home stadium is Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
Hi ...
, a minor-league affiliate of the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
who play in the South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...
.
Death
Budig died on September 8, 2020. He was 81, was in hospice care at his home in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
, in the time leading up to his death.
References
External links
Gene A. Budig (1994–2000)
at ''Sports Encyclopedia'' (American League Presidents)
Gene Budig , Milner Library – Illinois State
Gene A. Budig Presidential Papers, 1969–2002 , Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Budig, Gene
1939 births
2020 deaths
American League presidents
United States Air Force generals
University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni
Presidents of Illinois State University
West Virginia University faculty
University of Kansas faculty
People from McCook, Nebraska
Military personnel from Nebraska
Chancellors of the University of Kansas
Presidents of West Virginia University