Bill Williams was born and raised in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia and, in his childhood, he won a five year battle with rheumatic fever as his life was saved by penicillin.

In his teenage years, he discovered bowling and, of course, candlepin was the bowling variety in Nova Scotia. Bill initially set pins and, in time, the Williams family bowled as a team for several years.

Bill excelled in this particular bowling game and he led his local team to two consecutive provincial championships. In 1965, he qualified for the world candlepin championships and, in Brewer, Maine, Bill finished third. His highest game was 184 and he bowled a high triple of 485.

Looking for a change of scenery, Bill moved to Ontario and settled in St. Catharines. He was employed at Hayes-Dana, a local manufacturing plant where he worked for 32 years, retiring in 1999.

Living in Niagara, Bill joined the local leagues, bowling at Dorado Lanes and the Pen Centre. He joined the Master Bowlers’ Association (MBA) and won three events. His victories started with the 1983 Mixed Doubles as he partnered with Hall of Famer, Shirley Chiki. He also won the 1988 Rose Festival. Overall, Bill bowled 960 games in the MBA and averaged 247.24.

In the Provincial Championships, Bill qualified seven times. That said, the 1983 team was special. The Niagara men won the provincial title in Hamilton and advanced to the national finals in Thunder Bay. In these finals, Bill led all bowlers with a 10 game score of 2732. This score qualified him for the second International Small Ball Championships scheduled for Rouge Hill Bowl in Scarborough that summer.

At Rouge Hill, Bill was a dominant force for Canada. In the 5 pin singles, Bill was the top qualifier and, in the final game, he defeated Jorge Guzman of Argentina 269-220. The Canadian team was second in the duckpin variety and Bill’s scores were 132, 140, 138, 140 and 132. The Canadians lost a final game 615-603 to hold second place.

Bill’s highest league average was 268 and he owns a 1002 triple. As well, on November 20, 1993, Bill bowled a perfect game at Plantation Bowlerama.

Bill completed the MBA Instructors course in 1978 and he coached at both Fairview Lanes and Pla-Mor Bowl in St. Catharines, coaching, among others, a young Bryan Bridgett, now the owner of Pla-Mor Lanes.

Bill married Barbara in 1989, and together they opened a coffee shop (Java Joes) at the local mall. They were there from 1995-2007 and, during that time, Bill retired from Hayes Dana.

Bill and Barb now live in a retirement community near Fort Erie. Bill enjoys some golf and there is a blended family with Bill’s daughters, Debra and Cheryl, and Barb’s son, Shawn. As well there are eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren to enjoy.