GAMBIER, Ohio -- A pioneer for men's lacrosse at Kenyon College, William C. Stiles was inducted Saturday into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame. A ceremony celebrating the occasion was held at The Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, and was attended by Stiles' daughter, Betsy Stiles Nelson.

In 1948, the Kenyon men's lacrosse program got to its feet under the direction of Roy Styers. The following year, Stiles took over as the Lords' head coach and remained in that position through the 1958 season. During those ten years, Stiles put the Kenyon program on the map by guiding the Lords to a combined 64-23-2 record.

A 1943 graduate of Hobart College, Stiles was a three-year letterwinner in both football and lacrosse. After his coaching stint at Kenyon, Stiles returned to his alma mater to serve as both the lacrosse and football coach. In 1963, he was named the college's athletics director and remained in that position until his death in 1979. While serving as athletics director, he was also a member of many NCAA administrative committees and the chairman of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Rules Committee.

Stiles was awarded the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference's James Lynah Award, the highest honor awarded to an ECAC athletic director. He was inducted into the Hobart Hall of Fame in 1987. The college named its playing field after Stiles and annually presents an athletics award in his name.

Prior to his athletics career, Stiles was a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was twice awarded the Purple Heart and also was honored with the Silver Star.