Bill Brill was born in Philadelphia, but moved with his family to Middlesex County, Virginia. The Duke University graduate began his career in 1952 as a sports writer with the Covington Virginian. In 1956, Brill joined the Roanoke Times and became Sports Editor in 1960, before retiring in 1991. Brill became a columnist for the Durham Herald-Sun from August of 1992 until April of 1994. He accomplished numerous career goals such as receiving the Virginia Distinguished Service to Sports Award in 1967, President of the Atlantic Coast Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association (ACSWA) from 1982 to 1984, named the Virginia Sportswriter of the Year in 1991, and President of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters from 1993 to 1995. He is the 1995 recipient of the Jake Wade Award for lifetime contributions to college athletics from College Sports Information Directors. Brill was also inducted into the Duke University Sports Hall of Fame on September 13, 1996. He received the Marvin “Skeeter” Francis Award for special contributions to Atlantic Coast Conference, presented by ACSWA in March of 1998. He has covered a total of 35 Final Fours, more than anybody else has in the nation.
