Kevin Hong's Tribute to Bill
Olive
I have made countless friends
through my lifelong involvement in the great sport of bowling, but my
association with Bill Olive is one of my most cherished.
I lived and bowled in Columbia from
1994 to 1998 while attending the University of Missouri. When I joined the
Columbia Classic scratch league at Oakland Plaza Lanes, people said I
should go up and introduce myself to Bill. "He has more bowling knowledge
in his little finger than most people will ever have in their lifetimes,"
they said.
It wasn't an exaggeration. During the
remainder of my time in Missouri, Bill and I would have countless
conversations about bowling. When I felt it was time for a new ball, Bill
would help me navigate the dizzying assortment of equipment on the market.
Often he would take a piece of scrap paper - sometimes it was a
paper napkin - and fill it with sketches of various ball layouts along
with lane diagrams showing how each drilling pattern affected ball roll
and hook. He was quick to shoot down my ideas if he thought they would
hurt my game. If I had my eye on a new ball or a drilling that he didn't
think would work for me, he would talk me out of making the
purchase. Since I trusted Bill with my game, I would often tell him
simply to pick a ball and do with it what he thought was best for me. The
following Monday he would bring the drilled ball to me at the scratch
league at Oakland, ready to go. I was never disappointed with any bowling
ball he drilled for me; in fact, my favorites were not usually the ones I
had selected, but rather the ones I asked him to pick out for me.
When I graduated from MU and moved
back to the Pacific Northwest, I kept in touch with Bill through the magic
of e-mail. I was working as a newspaper photographer and he was an avid
amateur, so Bill and I would trade pictures we had taken and talk about
digital cameras. And of course, we talked shop about our favorite sport. I
was a frequent visitor to DigitalTalk.com since I could follow how all of
my old friends were bowling through league and tournament standings and
video webcasts on the site.
While known mainly for his skill at the drill press, Bill was also a
dedicated competitor on the lanes. Before moving away, I had the honor
of witnessing Bill bowl two perfect games. One was at Oakland Plaza, and
the other was during a tournament at Tiger Lanes in Versailles,
Missouri. And after I moved, I still got to see Bill and Keith
every June at USBC Nationals.
I was disappointed that Bill was not
able to attend the 2007 Nationals in Reno. I would very much have liked to
see him one last time -- to tell him how much his dedication to and
knowledge of our sport has had an impact on my bowling career, but more
importantly, to tell him how much our friendship has meant to me over the
past dozen years.
Bill Clarkston & Bill Olive having some fun.
Larry
Wright's Tribute to Bill Olive
I want to give my condolences to Bill’s
family. Bill was a good friend and I am going to miss our political
discussions and especially our talks about the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bill was always able to give me suggestions when I was bowling bad and he
was most always right. I am going to miss him very much. I want
to again express my condolences to his family.
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