ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610280153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
William Hybl, a former prosecutor who helped force Tonya Harding out of figure skating, was elected president of the U.S. Olympic Committee in balloting Saturday that was as close as a single vote.
Hybl, who served as interim president of the USOC in 1991-92, defeated committee vice president Michael Lenard by less than 2 1/2 points out of a possible 179.72 in the complex weighted balloting of the board of directors.
The 91.04-88.68 count, in the first contested presidential election in the USOC's history, could have come down to one vote by a heavily weighted delegate, or as many as three votes from lower-ranked representatives. The election, held at the USOC meetings in Indianapolis, was by secret ballot.
At least two board members generally expected to support Lenard were absent.
The vote, moved up a day after delegates said they didn't want to wait any longer, capped a rancorous year-long campaign that divided the USOC as never before. Major sports officials generally lined up for Hybl, while athletes backed Lenard.
Hybl said healing that rift was his No. 1 priority.
``We are going to reach out to all the gifted and talented people we have on this committee,'' he said.
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