After his undergraduate career at Ohio State, Hackett studied to become a veterinarian earning a D.V.M. in 1947 from Ohio State. Hackett moved to London, Ohio, and practiced general veterinary medicine for 10 years. In 1957, he took a job at Orleton Farms, Inc. as the livestock director. In 1963, he became the first veterinarian to serve on the Ohio State Racing Commission. While on the commission, he helped crack down on prohibited use of stimulants and depressants in race horses by establishing Ohio's race testing laboratory. In 1967, as founder and president of Ohio Feed Lot in South Charleston, Ohio, he focused on environmental cattle feeding operation. In conjunction with Searle Agriculture, Inc., he helped design and operate the first 150,000-ton capacity cattle waste fermenter for processing animal waste.[6]
Hackett died On June 2, 1995.[1] For his many accomplishments, he was honored several times including being named to the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame and named Distinguished Alumnus by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.[6][7]
Hackett played a part in the founding of the Cincinnati Bengals. While visiting his former coach Paul BrowninLa Jolla, California, Hackett urged Brown to try to become the NFL commissioner the next time the job became vacant. Brown told Hackett that what he really wanted was to own a pro franchise.[8] Brown explained that, his son, Mike Brown, thought Cincinnati would be a good place for a franchise. Hackett forwarded the idea to Ohio Governor, Jim Rhodes, and John Sawyer, president of Orelton Farms in London, Ohio, to gain political and financial support for the franchise.[9][10] He served on the team's board of directors for many years.[6]
^The Ohio State yearbook for 1944 (called "The Makio"), at p. 449, lists him as William Charles Hackett.
^Dates of birth and death are confirmed by the Social Security death index for William C. Hackett, SSN: xxx-xx-9621, last residence 43140 London, Madison, Ohio, USA, born 9 Dec 1923, died 2 Jun 1995. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line].
^2014 NCAA Football Records Book, Award WinnersArchived 2018-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 4 & 14 (2014). Retrieved August 19, 2014.
^ abc"Distinguished Alumni Awards". The Speculum. XXXVII (2). Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.: 7 1984.
