Robert Coulter has always been a leader. Throughout his adult life, which he began as a teacher in 1956, Bob has loaned his talents to the education field, baseball, umpiring, coaching, politics and most importantly the promotion of five pin bowling.

Born in Godfrey, Ontario in 1937, Bob trained as a teacher in Ottawa but chose the Hamilton area to begin his academic career. Settling in Stoney Creek, Bob joined the Saltfleet Mens League at Wilf Barlow’s Bar Don Lanes in 1957 and that league continues this day

While Bob was not a high average bowler, he assumed the role of house councillor at Bar Don Lanes in 1966 and has remained on the Hamilton & District association board since that time handling lottery and as chairman of both their scholarships fund and publicity efforts. In this latter area, Bob has left a permanent mark on 5 pin bowling. In 1973, Bob began a local bowling column with the Stoney Creek News and his local success led to a position with the Hamilton Spectator as their bowling columnist in 1975. To this day, Bob has written over 1,000 columns and covered five pin bowling locally, provincially, and nationally for the Spectator.

While much if his coverage came as a reporter, Bob is a very respected coach at the provincial Open championships and has been selected thirteen times as a coach of the Hamilton ladies team. Bob won four Provincial Championships and, from 1976-1978, Bob coached the ladies team to three consecutive national titles. From these accomplishments, Bob was selected as the national ladies coach at the second international Small Ball Championships in Scarborough in 1982 and his charges earned gold and silver medals in the multi-event tournament.

Bob’s publicity efforts and leadership skills have not gone unnoticed. On several occasions, Bob has been called up to emcee numerous banquets and special bowling events. He hosted local cable television shows and exposure from the bowling column in the Spectator has earned Bob provincial honours as Publicity Director of the year through the Ontario 5 pin Bowler’s Association incentive program. As well, Bob received a life membership from the Hamilton and District Association in 1980 as well as several awards from local leagues and organizations.

When the need arose, Bob also served as President of two Stony Creek decentralized associations, at Bar Don Lanes for two years ad lucky Strike for three years.

In effect, Bob has been on the playing field all his life. As well as umpiring a hundred baseball games a year, Bob has coached at all levels or baseball and hockey and, through the years, his three sons, Michael, Patrick and Sean have always been a part of the teams and activities. Five pin bowling has also taken advantage of Bobs coaching expertise through his participation on the National Technical Committee, the group that has prepared all five pin bowling’s technical programs.

In 1994 Bob retired from the education field and his career was an outstanding example of dedication and hard work. From his first teaching post in 1956 at the age of nineteen, Bob proceeded to obtain his university degree through the McMaster night school program by 1964.
In that same year, Bob was named principal of the largest school in Saltfleet Township. Bob continued as a principal to 1987 and also finished a masters degree in education from the Ontario institute of studies in education in Toronto.

Bob completed his academic career with a six and a half year stint as a superintendent in Wentworth County and, in this position, he was the leader of over 700 teachers. To this day, Bob continues to work on behalf of children, serving on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton-Wentworth.

Bob also took his leadership skills to the political arena. Always a Liberal, Bob has worked on campaigns at all levels from the municipal to the federal arena and has helped to elect many notable politicians. In addition, in the Optimists, he engineered the election of Wilf Barlow to the position of Lieutenant Governor, the second highest position available in Ontario.

In 1990, Bob married Helen Bartkiw and together, they are enjoying a new chapter in their lives. Bob’s three boys, Michael, Patrick and Sean have four grandchildren while Helen’s three girls are establishing careers, with Esther in radio, Laura of our industry and, hopefully, the final chapter of Bob’s involvement in five pin bowling is still to be written.