After 38 years of service, Bill Hosking will retire as the equipment manager at Drew University at the end of October.

A true unsung hero of the athletic department, Hosking has served the Rangers and their 20 varsity sports teams by performing myriad duties, from purchasing and maintaining all athletic equipment to laundering of practice gear and uniforms. Since arriving at Drew in 1982, he has held additional roles at some point, including game management coordinator and building manager of the Simon Forum.

But Hosking's greatest gift to the University may well be the positive impact he has made on the students and student-athletes he has encountered throughout his career. Fittingly, in 2001 a group of former student-athletes established the William G. Hosking Scholarship, which provides need-based aid to a Drew student-athlete who is actively involved in extracurricular activities and serves the community. Its recipients are expected to exemplify some of Hosking's characteristics, such as dedication, honor, commitment, and loyalty to the University. It has become one of the largest endowed scholarships in Drew history.

Hosking has consistently been recognized for his service throughout his career. In 1988, he was honored with the Special Achievement Award from the Drew Student Government, and one year later was presented the "Honorary D Award" for his commitment to student-athletes. In 2004, he was named an Honorary Drew Alumnus by the Drew Alumni Association, and in 2013 he received the Special Recognition Award from the Drew Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. 

However, relationships are what Hosking cherishes the most when he looks back on his time at Drew.

"I can't say enough just how much I will miss the students," said Hosking. "I've really loved the interaction and the relationships I've formed over the years. My philosophy has always been that the students come first, because that's the reason we're here." 

"I have worked with Bill for 26 years," said Drew Director of Athletics Christa Racine. "During this time, he has proven over and over again his dedication to our student-athletes, our department, and our university. He has been a vital part of our athletics team that dedicates itself to helping our student-athletes not only perform their best on the field, but to be stellar representatives off the field. He has been a tremendous colleague and an even better friend.

"We are planning to celebrate Bill's time at Drew during the 2021-22 academic year.'

Hosking was raised in Geneva, N.Y., the son of two professors who worked at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He would go on to join them at Hobart, majoring in political science and third-world studies. Hosking also signed on as the team manager of the Statemen's highly-successful men's lacrosse team and worked closely with Hobart's equipment manager, Abe Solomon. He left such a strong impression that, just months after graduating, he was offered to replace Solomon when his former boss retired. Hosking accepted and spent the next four years as the equipment manager at his alma mater.

Hosking took a brief sojourn to Florida, joining his best friend from high school at a landscaping company. But a former colleague would help point Hosking back into college athletics.

Jerry Schmidt, Hobart's legendary Hall of Fame men's lacrosse coach, contacted Hosking to inform him of an equipment manager opening at Drew. Hosking followed up by calling then-athletic director Dick Szlasa, who invited him to Madison for an interview. Hosking was struck by the beauty of the town and campus, and accepted the position in July of 1982.

It was a different time in Ranger athletics when Hosking came on board. The University offered just 14 varsity sports  and competed in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). It would be another 12 years before the Simon Forum opened and 25 years before the Landmark Conference was formed.

The equipment room existed at what is now the concessions stand outside Baldwin Gymnasium. It would move to its current location in the Simon Forum when the new athletic facility opened in January of 1994, providing Hosking more room for ever-expanding athletic department.

When asked to name some of his top memories from his lengthy tenure at The Forest, Hosking notes "there were so many great moments from every team." He recalls the excitement of hosting a national championship game, which occurred in 2003 when the men's soccer team reached the final of the NCAA Division III Tournament. He witnessed multiple team championships, including the baseball team's thrilling 2012 Landmark Conference title on a walk-off home run. He was also present for exciting ECAC titles won by the men's lacrosse team in 1993 and the men's basketball team in 1997. Three months into his career, he worked an MAC field hockey playoff game that was played through a snowstorm. He also experienced memorable spring break trips with the men's lacrosse team to San Diego and San Francisco, and a summer trip to Ireland with the men's soccer team. 

A personal highlight for Hosking came in 2005, when he received a gift and letter of gratitude from Drew President Thomas Kean at the time of his retirement.

Hosking worked under five different athletic directors - Szlasa, Vernon Mummert, Connee Zotos, Jason Fein, and Racine. "They were all great to work for," noted Hosking.

For the last five months, Hosking has been the longest-tenured member of the Drew athletic department. The distinction was previously held by Associate Director of Athletics and former Baseball and Men's Basketball Coach Vince Masco, who retired at the end of May after 42 years with the Rangers.