William Sangster Dies; Businessman, Ex-USC Fullback

William Cheyne Sangster, a fullback on USC’s 1939 national championship football team, died Monday after a long bout with emphysema. He was 78.

Sangster, a longtime resident of Balboa and a businessman in Orange, grew up in Pasadena and was captain of the football team at Muir Tech High, where he also won a state hurdles championship. He was known as “Wild Bill” at USC, where he played football from 1937-39 and also ran hurdles.

While at USC, Sangster married Margaret Norswing. The couple recently celebrated their 55th anniversary.

After graduation, Mr. Sangster served in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office before entering the Navy. After the war, he opened a dry goods store in Orange. He later served on the board of directors of the First National Bank of Orange County, now Wells Fargo Bank, for 17 years. In 1952, he was elected as trustee of the Orange Union High School District.

In the mid-1950s, he was secretary of the Orange County Republican Central Committee. He also was director of the 32nd Agricultural District, which includes the Orange County Fair. Mr. Sangster is survived by his wife, sons Robert and Jeff, daughter Karen, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar. Mourners are encouraged to make a donation to their favorite charity in lieu of flowers.