Denison University

George Bodenheimer is a 1980 graduate of Denison and was the recipient of the 2006 Varsity D Association Athletic Citation for achievement in sports.

He has known several titles in his professional career; such as President of ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, and Co-Chairman of Disney Media Networks. Since becoming ESPN’s fifth president in November of 1998, Bodenheimer’s vision has led to industry-leading innovations in integrated sales and marketing, original programming, acquisitions and new technologies. At the same time, he has solidified and enhanced ESPN’s position as the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Bodenheimer joined the company in January of 1981 in an administrative role and quickly moved up the ladder, working in sales and marketing throughout the 80’s. He was named vice president, affiliate sales, Eastern division in 1989 and was promoted to vice president, national affiliate sales in June 1991. He was appointed to senior vice president, sales in marketing in May 1995. In 2003 The Sporting News selected him as the “Most Powerful Person in Sports”, and in 2001 he received the “Sports Industrialist of the Year” award given annually by Sports Business Daily.