Hybl Elected to Interim USOC Presidency : Olympics: He succeeds Helmick and pledges commitment to ‘highest ethical standards.’

William J. Hybl, chairman and chief executive officer of the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colo., and a prominent Republican, has been elected interim president of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

After Hybl was the sole candidate nominated Monday by the 28-member executive committee, the 105 members of the board of directors had until Friday to return ballots by mail or fax to USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs.

In announcing Saturday that Hybl, 49, was elected to serve the final 14 months of a four-year term vacated on Sept. 18 by Robert Helmick, USOC officials did not announce the vote total. A majority was required.

“The USOC has been troubled in recent weeks by adversity, and it’s time for us to pull together,” Hybl said in a statement.

“I will work to ensure, in the next few weeks, that the USOC will commit itself to the highest ethical standards in its membership, volunteer leadership and staff, with increased emphasis on oversight, disclosure and accountability.”

Helmick, 54, resigned after six years as president because of controversy created by concerns that his work as a sports law attorney and consultant for clients who either had or sought associations with the USOC and International Olympic Committee represented conflicts of interest.

The USOC’s executive committee commissioned a special counsel, former U.S. deputy attorney general Arnold Burns, to investigate. He since has been asked to also review accusations made by U.S. Skiing that the USOC’s executive director, Harvey Schiller, committed ethical and procedural violations.

U.S. Skiing officials have indicated in recent days that they soon will come forward with charges against other executive committee members.

Hybl, a former member of Colorado’s House of Representatives, became active in the Olympic movement after serving as a special counsel in 1981 to President Reagan’s White House transition team. One of his responsibilities was to advise Reagan on issues associated with the previous administration’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Since returning to Colorado Springs in 1981, Hybl has been an administrator of the El Pomar Foundation, which, with assets of $280 million, is the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. He also has remained active in Republican politics. In 1988, he was co-chairman of President Bush’s presidential campaign in Colorado.

Hybl will introduce Bush at the first Olympic Dinner Tuesday night in Washington, a black-tie event that USOC officials will use an opportunity to strengthen their ties with the White House and Congress.