William James Olcott (February 22, 1862 – April 29, 1935) was an American football player and mining and railroad executive in the Mesabi Range. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1881 to 1883 and was captain of the 1882 and 1883 teams. After receiving his degree, he worked in the iron ore mining industry for more than 40 years. He was president of the Oliver Iron Mining Company from 1909 to 1928 and president of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway from 1901 to 1909. Early years Olcott was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1862, the son of Harlow and Elizabeth Olcott. He moved with his family to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and attended school in Marquette, Michigan. University of Michigan He subsequently attended the University of Michigan where he studied chemistry and mining. He played on the Michigan Wolverines football team, was the starting "three-quarter back" from 1881 to 1883 and served as captain of the 1882 and 1883 teams. Mining and railroad career Olcott graduated from Michigan in 1884. After receiving his degree, Olcott returned to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where he worked in the mining business. In 1885, he was employed as an assistant engineer to the Chapin Mine on the Menominee Range. In 1890, he was reported to be living in Ironwood, Michigan, and working as an assistant superintendent of five mines at a salary of $3,600. Olcott later moved to Duluth, Minnesota, where he lived for three decades. He became superintendent of the Lake Superior Consolidated Mines on the Mesabi Range. In 1897, he was appointed first vice president of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway and in 1901 became the company's president. He served as the railroad's president from 1901 to 1909. In 1905, Olcott was promoted to the position of vice president of the Oliver Iron Mining Company; he had previously been the general manager of the company. In 1909, he was appointed as the company's president. The Oliver Iron Mining Company was at the time the subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation responsible for the company's iron ore mining operations. He testified in 1913 in a government suit seeking to break up the steel company. Olcott had 40,000 men working for him and reported directly to John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller and his family stayed at the Olcott's home in 1928. Family and later years On December 26,