He was also the competitions manager at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. 

Rosenberg died yesterday at his home in Jefferson in Georgia. 

"Bill was our first executive director of USA Judo; he led this organization thru its first years of growth," said Lance Nading, President of USA Judo. 

"He was dedicated to the sport and loyal to all of his friend in judo.

"The success that USA Judo has today, is based on what Bill Rosenberg did in those early years.

"On behalf of USA Judo family we express our condolences and prayers to [his wife] Alice and [son] Bill Jr."

Jose H Rodriguez, the chief executive of USA Judo, also paid tribute to Rosenberg.

"I had the real pleasure to work with Bill Rosenberg in the 1996 Olympic Games, as he became the judo competition manager," he said.

"Bill was indeed one of the best and hardest worker of all of the competition managers of those Olympic Games; he was good, fair and thorough and the success judo had in those Games was due in large part to the dedication Bill had for the sport.

"His wife, Alice was part of that Olympic judo family of 1996, and it was often that we would also see her next to him working.

"He was a good team leader and more important he was a great human being and a friend to all."

More details about his death and the funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly.