Hard work, patriotism, and trust in those he employed are just some of the values Bill White holds dear. As a local entrepreneur and bowling champion, White has worked in and owned many of the bowling alleys of Portage County over the years. Including Twin Star of Kent (now known as Spins Bowl) and SkyLane in Garrettsville. White will be co-hosting his 91st birthday in combination with the 50th Anniversary of being a well-known bowling professional and one time owner of the SkyLane bowling alley where the event is set to be held.
Mr. White has lived a life of fulfillment most people only hope to achieve. As a humble, regular guy who as he puts it “was born and raised among the Amish,” has worked as a machinist, had the option to play for the New York Giants and yet chose to serve in the Navy during World War II in the South Pacific when he was 17. He has contributed to socialization and community development in Portage County, starting in 1960 running the Twin Star Pro Shop and by 1969 he was manager of the bowling center. White later becoming owner of the bowling alley in 1972.
In June 1969 he left Twin Star to take over as ownership of SkyLane, where with the help of staff, he created “a great mixed doubles tournament, which ended up being the biggest in the state of Ohio by 1971, and summer leagues, which had not been done before,” when he took over ownership.
The birthday party and fundraiser are set to benefit the United Way of Portage County and Miller Community House, which is a program of Family and Community Services, Inc. Pete Mahoney is the primary organizer for the fundraiser. He is the Community Relations Director for FCS and serves on the board of directors with Bill White. Mahoney stated, “We wanted a fun event that people could participate in and at the same time pay tribute to Bill White who has had such a powerful impact on so many people in Portage County.” The objective is to create awareness about the United Way and all the programs benefiting from the generosity of county residents.
The Miller Community House is the only family emergency shelter in Portage County that provides emergency refuge and supportive services to men, women and children experiencing a housing crisis. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for residents by offering a 30-day lodging with services such as advocacy, information and referrals to area resources with collaborative agencies.
Bill Childers, President and CEO of United Way of Portage County, stated that since its founding in 1970 the UWPC has responded to the needs of residents by organizing an annual fundraising campaign to support services and programs addressing needs in the areas of education, income and health. The Miller House receives a portion of its funding from the United Way. White said the purpose of the event is for the UW to make a larger impact in northern Portage County.
I am so happy to host Bill White’s 91st birthday party here. Bill is a living legend in the bowling industry. He has been a huge help to us here at SkyLanes and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his start here is a true honor.
Aaron King, owner/general manager of SkyLane, said “I am so happy to host Bill White’s 91st birthday party here. Bill is a living legend in the bowling industry. He has been a huge help to us here at SkyLanes and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his start here is a true honor.” “The Tournament looks like it may sell out, at 40 teams, which is great,” King said.
As a young man at the age of 13, White was sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Millersburg, OH. White recalls there being very little money to go around; so it was necessary for him start helping the family. In town there was a six-lane bowling center where he “started setting pins” by hand as a source of income because everything at the time was manual. “There was no automatic, naturally!” “We got seven cents a line back in them days.” White explained he had worked at night setting up the pins for league bowlers and only made seven cents per game.
The proverbial “lanes” have turned for that young boy from so long ago to the living legacy Bill White has become today. A man who grew up without any “indoor facilities until the age of ten” has been able to turn his life’s passion into a catalyst for charity within his own community. White helped his employees and the underprivileged when and where he could, and at 91-years-old continues promoting his passion for philanthropy with eagerness and sincerity. “As long as I am alive, I will help charity fundraisers in every way I can.”
The Bill White Charity Bowling Tournament and Birthday will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 from 5-10pm. The entry fee for the tournament is $60.00 per couple and will include dinner. Dinner on its own is $15.00 per person. To learn more about the event, purchase tickets for the tournament or dinner, please contact SkyLane Bowling at 330-527-9999.
