The 2024 Outstanding Alumni award is presented in appreciation of Nick Cusick ’69, whose exemplary service and leadership in the Lincoln community and Diocese of Lincoln are fulfilling the Pius X High School vision to “Restore All Things in Christ.”
Nick graduated from Pius X High School in 1969, and from UNL in 1972 and 1973 (MBA). He married Ann Schroeder (Pius X class of ’69), who he began dating near the end of senior year. A three-generation Pius X family, Ann and Nick have four daughters, three of which graduated from Pius X, as well as a granddaughter who graduated from Pius X.
In 1974, Nick started a small manufacturing business with his classmate, Elmer Wessel, in Elmer’s parents’ garage. After moving to Lincoln with his family from Fremont, Nick met Elmer on his first day as a Junior at Pius X. Together they grew the business into multiple product lines and companies in the 39 ½ years that Nick and Elmer were 50/50 partners, before splitting up the businesses in 2014.
Currently, Nick is the majority shareholder and CEO of Bison, Inc. that manufactures Team Sports equipment for basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, tennis, pickleball, and other sports. Bison has offices in Inman, Kansas and Grand Rapids, Michigan, but all manufacturing is done in Lincoln. Combined, they employee approximately 100 staff members.
While Nick enjoys fishing, hunting, and golfing, his primary passion, other than family, is community involvement. Nick served on the Pius X Foundation Board of Trustees from 1993-1997 and on the Pius X Foundation Board of Directors from 2011-2017, and also served on the Pius X strategic planning Pillar Team, and the BOLT Executive Committee. He has been a board member on more than 25 local non-profit and civic boards, often serving as chairperson, and often co-chairing Capital Campaigns for organizations as varied as the YMCA, The Lincoln Children’s Zoo, St. Michael Parish, and others. Nick believes that 75% of the people he knows in Lincoln he originally met working on a board.
Current community board involvement includes:
- Nebraska Wesleyan University Board of Governors
- Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Board
- Junior Achievement Trustee Chair
- Teammates Board of Directors
- Villa Marie Board of Advisors
- Saint Michael Parish Finance Council
At age 73 Nick still enjoys working fulltime in his business and has no plans to retire and no urge to end his community involvement.
