Powerboat driver, owner

William Schumacher III began racing outboard hydroplanes at eight and went on to win virtually every class he competed in. During his 24-year career, he set 12 world records, won eight American and Canadian national championships, three National High Point Championships (1967-8, ’75) and two APBA Gold Cups (1967-8). Schumacher replaced 1993 inductee Ron Musson in inductee Ole Bardahl’s eponymous Unlimited after the tragic 1966 President’s Cup. Schumacher scored a record six victories in eight events in “Miss Bardahl” during the 1967 season, completely dominating the Gold Cup and National High Point Championship. Schumacher repeated as Gold Cup and National High Point Champion the following year. In 1975, he won his third APBA title and the end-of-year, high-stakes Bill Muncey Wide World Marine Invitational. Said 1995 inductee Chip Hanauer, "Billy was my hero in powerboat racing when I was growing up… and I will always value the fact that I had the opportunity to race against a childhood idol." Schumacher was inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions in 1975.