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Bill Mark hasn't always been a super sports fan in Port Perry. For most of his life, he was just too darn busy to get out to the ball park to watch fastball or the arena for hockey games. For more than 30 years, he drove an ice cream truck for Goode's Dairy and Silverwoods, and with more than 50 calls to make each day, there were many nights twhen he wouldn't put the truck in the garage until 10 or 11 o'clock. And from 1962 to 1972, his job as manager of the Dairy Bar in Port Perry kept him pretty busy, too. Bill Mark, possibly the most ardent displays two of the softballs over the years. Bill hasn summer due to health reasons, the annual Midget fastball tour story) But on his retirement in 1972, Bill has the time to attend the fastball and hockey games, and he soon became a very familiar figure at sports events in this commun- ity. It didn't matter whether the team on the field was made up of eight year olds, stumbl- ing and fumbling as they learned the game, or the slick-fielding, hard hitting and fast pitching all stars on their way to an All-Ont- ario crown, chances are Bill was there, seated in his favourite spot right behind home plate. He knew all the play- ers by name, and most ~~ "MEY KIDg; - 3 WEEK - JUNIOR TENNIS PROGRAM Fun, Games and Instructional Tennis In the Sport of a Lifetime! of them knew him. They enjoyed the support of this loyal fan. A couple of weeks ago, Bill was the guest of honour at the Minor Softball parade, and the local organization paid tribute to him with the presentation of a wind- breaker, a baseball cap, and a sports seat. And a special spot in the bleachers behind home plate has been designat- ed with his name on it. It was a nice gesture to a fine gentleman, something that Bill appreciated greatly. But in his modest, unassuming way, he said later that they really didn't have to \ sports fan in Port Perry, presented to him by appreciative teams 't been able to attend any games so far this but he's hoping to take in some of nament this coming weekend. (See RACQUET SUPPLIED IF NECESSARY. Registration at the Courts: JULY 19th -5to 7 P.M. JULY 22nd - 7 to 8 P.M. BEGINNING MONDAY, JULY 23rd Boys & Girls - Ages 8to 16 Years MORNINGS 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 NOON At a cost of $20.00 per Child (2 Children per Family $35.00) * Performance Award Scheme Testing * Prizes - Drinks - Games For More Information CALL 985-3091 present him with any gifts. Even though it is now early July and the fastball season has been in full swing for several weeks, Bill has yet to attend a game this year. He's been under the weather with a variety of ailments recently including bouts with the flu that have kept him away from the ball diamond. "I just haven't been feeling very well at all", the 79 year old told the Star in a conversation recently at his home in Port Perry. But just as quickly he added that with the annual - Midget :tourna- ment coming up in the middle of the month (July 14 and 15), he's' hoping that he'll be feeling well enough to take in at least a few of the games. Bill has some very fond memories of the 1975 all-Ontario champ- ionship team from Port Perry led by pitcher Larry Elson. "That Elson was a good one. I don't think you'll see a pitcher like him for a long time", Bill recalls. On August 26, 1975, Bill watched Larry Elson mow down batter after batter en route to a no-hitter, and was thrill- ed after the game when the players presented him with the autograph- ed ball. He still has it. In the winter months, Bill would take in the hockey games at the old arena on Water Street. "I was sorry to see it torn down. I thought it would be good for a few more years," he says. He doesn't think hockey these days is any rougher than it was years ago, and besides, the players have better equipment and padding. "There were a few rough boys playing hockey here a few years ago," he said with a twinkle in his eye. Last winter, he attended just about every Junior C game at the Scugog arena. "I couldn't get to the last game of the season, I was in the hospital," he says. He enjoys watching the Blue Jays on telev- ision and has a soft spot for the Maple Leafs "even if they haven't won anything for a long time". Bill agrees that Wayne Gretzky is a great players, but "he gets too much publicity, he's always on TV." He was sorry to see Bobby Orr's playing } TROPHIES and l LENGRAVING DO-NO's § RECORD, CRAFT & HOBBY WORLD I p Queen St, Port Perry 1 3 952839 8 0200 tm vom = tN sme mm Tm) PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 10, 1984 -- 19 career end so quickly and he wonders if play- ers aren't making it to the big leagues at too early an age. Bill was born in Jersey City 79 years ago when his father was transferred there to work with his company. But the family returned to live in Prince Albert when Bill was two and he has never moved away since. He and his wife Ethel celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past March and have lived in the same house in Port Perry since 1941. He recalls how they paid $1000 for that home and wonder- ed at the time how they would keep up the payments on his $15 a week salary and a family to raise. '"That sure seemed like a lot of money at the time", he said, shaking his head at the thought. Back in the early 1920's, Bill worked for a butcher on Queen Street and did most of the slaughtering. He also delivered meat by horse and wagon. In 1930, he began to drive the ice cream truck for Goode's Dairy located in the building at Water and Casimir Street, a job he had until 1962 when he took over managing the Port rry Dairy Bar. Bill drove the ice cream route through all kinds of weather, but the incident that sticks in his mind was the morning he became trapped in the freezer. He was trying to straighten out some tubs of ice cream when the door slammed shut, and there was no way it could be opened from the inside. It was about 45 minutes before he was rescued by fellow work- ers from the freezer which was about minus 20 degrees. "When I got out of the freezer, my knees buckled. I couldn't stand up. They sent me home for the rest of the day," he said. Bill loves this comm- unity and has watched the many changes over the years. There was a time when the population was 800 people, that he knew just about everybody, or at least who lived in each house. But the town has grown to some 4000 people and it's no longer the little village it once was. Despite his keen interest in sports, Bill never took an active part as a young man, Bill Mark a great fan of local sports scene and today one of his other interests is six- handed euchre. He's really looking forward to the day soon when he's feeling well enough to walk down to the ball park in the evenings to take in the games. His many friends and acquaintances are hoping that day is not too far off. Streak still alive The Dennis Anderson 'robbed a Hampton Chev Olds Ladies Lob player of a sure single Ball team from Port Perry kept their winn- ing streak alive by defeating the Hampton Shoppers team 20 to 6 by grabbing a well hit line drive that should have been out of her reach, There was plenty of last Wednesday evening § action in left field while in Port Perry. Linda Fielding set the standard for her team by leading the DACO players with superb pitching. DACO was up to bat and Lynn Hornsby played an excellent game in that position for Hampton. DACO is away next Wednesday evening Debbie Mason played when they meet Enni- very well at second skillen at 6:30 p.m. in » on-one play she their home park. By Pool FRI. JULY 13 (Starting at Noon) SAT., JULY 14 (All Day) SUN., JULY 15 (All Day) Sponsored by the Scugog Chamber of Commerce - Western Days. Attention Kids! FREE SWIMMING Birdseye -- ANNOUNCEMENT -- PINE RIDGE GOLF CLUB "We are pleased to announce the arrival of Our New Chef ... Mr. Dennis Lombardy." FEATURING: BUSINESSMAN'S LUNCH 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hot Roast Beef Sandwich, plus lots more! From *3.25 DAILY AND DINNER SPECIALS! | "ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT" HOT & COLD SUNDAY BUFFETS AND SALAD BAR From 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Children Vz PRICE $ ( PPRICE) AS LITTLE AS . /. 95