CHAMPIONS SPEAK  -  2013 Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Milnthorpe -- Builder

Introduction of Bill Milnthorpe

by ​ ​ ​ Don MacMillan

Honoured Guests, Inductees and Families 

It is my privilege to introduce, on behalf of the Sports Hall of Fame, our latest inductee Bill Milnthorpe. 

I sat down with Bill last week to get some background information that I could relay to you.  I won’t speak of what he was involved in and what he did – the program tells you all the various clubs and organization he was involved with.  What I would like to talk to you about is why he became so involved with community programs, and who influenced him. 

The first person that came up in Bill’s mind, and who got him involved immediately when he moved to town, was the singing cowboy, Moe Litvak.  Moe was installing Bill’s phone at the time.  Moe suggested that he get involved with the Kinsmen club.  They had the Suit of the Month Draw which featured a man’s suit donated by Jack Smith, a men’s clothing store owner her in town.  As luck would have it, Bill’s name was drawn.  Bill never did wear that suit.  Instead he took the $100 in exchange.  Being a new beginning teacher in town for him that hundred dollars went a long way to buy groceries for the next few months.

Being involved with the Kinsmen club was invaluable to Bill’s development as a volunteer.  It enabled Bill to make many important contacts that were key to his successes in our town.  One of these contacts in the Kinsmen Club was Len Roberts, a man we inducted into the Hall of Fame for his hockey three years ago. 

As Bill and Pat’s family grew, so did their participation in community sports.  It was about this time Bill teamed up with another parent whose family was also heavily involved in sports programs.  The Milnthorpe’s and the McEachern’s paired up to help coach and manage their kid’s hockey and figure skating programs.  This partnership lasted for many years.  It’s fitting that along with Bill, Ross MacEachern is also being inducted into the Hall this year. 

One of the most influential individuals who came along in the early nineties to our community, was a bearing on all of us here tonight and particularly with Bill, was Jim Pelehos.  Jim was a man of vision like Bill.  Together the two laid the foundation for sports programs that continue today. 

It must be said that one of the important qualities that we see in Bill is his ability to pick the right people to get the job done.  And I’ll quote him, ”You must have the right people to have any program work?.  Presently Bill is still doing that.  Along with a few chosen people, he is contacting various service clubs and businesses for financial support towards the future Aquatic Centre. 

Enough said.  At this time, I’d like to call on Randy Wyness, one of the directors of the Hall of Fame, to present to Bill that plaque that will be hung in the Civic Arena.  It gives me great pleasure to ask Bill Milnthorpe to step forward to receive his plaque.