WATERVILLE — William E. Haggett of West Bath, one of Maine’s premier business executives, will receive the Maine Sports Hall of Fame President’s Award at its annual induction ceremony on May 4, 2014, at the Augusta Civic Center.
The President’s Award is presented to an individual who has bettered athletics and become a leader at the state and national levels.
“Bill Haggett’s achievements identify naturally with the criteria for this recognition,” said Richard L. Whitmore, president of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. “On behalf of the board of directors, and very personally, this expression of gratitude and respect honors his commitment and administrative skill.”
A native of Bath, Haggett is a distinguished graduate of Morse High School and Colby College. He has been a Maine Sports Hall of Fame board member for more than a decade and is the board’s first vice president.
“Honoring his service and achievements is a significant milestone for the Maine Sports Hall of Fame,” said Whitmore. “Bill Haggett embodies the goals, spirit and energy of our organization. The contributions he has made to the state of Maine are of great significance to our people and economy. This honor is a heartening testimonial to his remarkable career.”
Haggett was a multi-sport athlete at Morse and Colby. He coached American Legion baseball for several years in Bath; his Smith Tobey Post team finished runner-up at the 1963 Northeast Regional tournament.
His leadership was key in the creation of athletic opportunities for youth in the Bath area through his work with the Bath YMCA and other sports groups in the city of shipbuilders. He serves on the board of the Maine Winter Sports Center in Aroostook County, which has been one of most successful in the nation in its support and development of winter athletes to reach Olympic-level caliber.
In the corporate sector, Haggett had a long and successful career at Bath Iron works, rising to CEO and chairman of the board of one of the nation’s premier shipyards. He subsequently served as president of Saint John Shipbuilding in Canada, undertaking a major combatant shipbuilding program for the Canadian Navy.
After completing his shipbuilding responsibilities in the late 1990s, Haggett returned to Maine. He has managed several Mainebased agricultural businesses, including Pineland Farms Natural Meats, Pineland Farms Potato Company and Pineland Farms Cheese Operation. Pineland companies, headquartered in New Gloucester, have become national in scope while maintaining a significant presence in Aroostook County.
While pursuing business objectives has been Haggett’s passion, his support of the MSHoF as the standard-setter for athletes of all ages and skill sets has helped solidify the organization’s role — recognizing athletic excellence at the highest level and supporting Maine’s most worthy scholar athletes.
For more information about the MSHoF, including how to become a member, visit www.mshof.com
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