thedrifter
02-12-07, 05:29 PM
Local man’s careers span 60 years
By MARVINE SUGG/Lifestyles Editor
After graduating high school, the Huntsville, Ala., native went into the Navy where he served four and one-half years during the Korean War.
This is where Bill Stewart’s baseball career began.
Upon meeting this kind, mild-mannered man, one becomes aware of his ability to entertain both children and adults for hours with stories about his two careers — baseball and golf.
“When tryouts were announced for the Navy team, the manager said they were full up,” he recalled. “But I tried out anyway and made the team. I played first and second base for awhile. Then, when we played the Fleet Marines, we only had nine players and needed a pitcher. I got elected. I struck out 19 Marines, and from that day on I was the team’s pitcher.”
The big game came while he was stationed at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii. His team won the All-Navy Championship, beating the Quantico Marines.
After his discharge from the U.S. Navy, Bill came to Columbia, where he worked and played baseball for the Monsanto Maulers League.
In January 1953, after being approached by a scout from the Professional Baseball Association, he signed a contract with a AAA club — the Hollywood Stars in California.
“They couldn’t fulfill my contract, and I was put on hold,” he recalled.
In January 1953, he met George Sisko (a Hall of Famer) at the old Bethel Hotel in Columbia, who encouraged him to sign a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which he did and played for them from 1953-1955.
“Back then, baseball wasn’t like it is today. I couldn’t make any money, so I quit and came home,” Bill said.
While working for the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Ill., he also played baseball and made the All-American team. He was named the third best pitcher in the 75-year history of the league.
After ending his 20-year career as a baseball player, Bill became interested in golf course work.
After working at the Peoria (Ill.) Country Club for a few years, he came back to Scottsboro, Ala., where he built the first recreational complex.
He also built golf courses at San Destin Resort in Florida and served as superintendent of maintenance and grounds for the Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola. For nine years, he worked at Perdido Bay, where the Pensacola Open Golf Tournament was played. During this time, he came in contact with many celebrities. Among them were President Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, the Gatlin Brothers, Roy Clark, Ray Charles and Floyd Kramer.
After leaving Pensacola, Bill continued his work at Rocky Bayou Country Club in Niceville, Fla., until his retirement in 1998, when he came to Columbia, ending a 40-year career in the golf course business.
“We played golf because we loved it,” he said. “Today, professional golfers play for the money.”
Bill is one of two AA members of the National Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America.
He holds degrees in agronomy and turf management from Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., and business management and supervision from the University of Wisconsin.
In 1990, Bill was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 2003 he was named to the Madison County Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill is married to the former Betty Scroggins of Columbia, whom he describes as “the best thing that ever happened to me. She’s been my rock,” he said of his 54-year marriage.
Bill said his golf career was most enjoyable because he and Betty worked together.
Although the couple has lived in several areas of the country, they have always found a church in which they could serve. They are currently members of Highland Park Baptist.
As the 77-year-old reminisces, it instantly becomes clear that he has a passion for working with youth. In former churches, both he and Betty worked with youth. While serving as director of the YMCA in Huntsville, the couple taught 1,900 kids to swim in one year.
“During his baseball career, I sat in the stands and listened to derogatory remarks as well as praise from the crowd,” Betty recalled.
Bill said he once read a quote that said, “Say something good about everybody, and let God do the rest,” a statement he’s tried to live by most of his life.
He continues to play golf on local courses, but the job he enjoys most is serving as a greeter for Williams Funeral Home.
Bill and Betty are the parents of three children. They have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ellie
By MARVINE SUGG/Lifestyles Editor
After graduating high school, the Huntsville, Ala., native went into the Navy where he served four and one-half years during the Korean War.
This is where Bill Stewart’s baseball career began.
Upon meeting this kind, mild-mannered man, one becomes aware of his ability to entertain both children and adults for hours with stories about his two careers — baseball and golf.
“When tryouts were announced for the Navy team, the manager said they were full up,” he recalled. “But I tried out anyway and made the team. I played first and second base for awhile. Then, when we played the Fleet Marines, we only had nine players and needed a pitcher. I got elected. I struck out 19 Marines, and from that day on I was the team’s pitcher.”
The big game came while he was stationed at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii. His team won the All-Navy Championship, beating the Quantico Marines.
After his discharge from the U.S. Navy, Bill came to Columbia, where he worked and played baseball for the Monsanto Maulers League.
In January 1953, after being approached by a scout from the Professional Baseball Association, he signed a contract with a AAA club — the Hollywood Stars in California.
“They couldn’t fulfill my contract, and I was put on hold,” he recalled.
In January 1953, he met George Sisko (a Hall of Famer) at the old Bethel Hotel in Columbia, who encouraged him to sign a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which he did and played for them from 1953-1955.
“Back then, baseball wasn’t like it is today. I couldn’t make any money, so I quit and came home,” Bill said.
While working for the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Ill., he also played baseball and made the All-American team. He was named the third best pitcher in the 75-year history of the league.
After ending his 20-year career as a baseball player, Bill became interested in golf course work.
After working at the Peoria (Ill.) Country Club for a few years, he came back to Scottsboro, Ala., where he built the first recreational complex.
He also built golf courses at San Destin Resort in Florida and served as superintendent of maintenance and grounds for the Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola. For nine years, he worked at Perdido Bay, where the Pensacola Open Golf Tournament was played. During this time, he came in contact with many celebrities. Among them were President Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, the Gatlin Brothers, Roy Clark, Ray Charles and Floyd Kramer.
After leaving Pensacola, Bill continued his work at Rocky Bayou Country Club in Niceville, Fla., until his retirement in 1998, when he came to Columbia, ending a 40-year career in the golf course business.
“We played golf because we loved it,” he said. “Today, professional golfers play for the money.”
Bill is one of two AA members of the National Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America.
He holds degrees in agronomy and turf management from Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., and business management and supervision from the University of Wisconsin.
In 1990, Bill was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 2003 he was named to the Madison County Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill is married to the former Betty Scroggins of Columbia, whom he describes as “the best thing that ever happened to me. She’s been my rock,” he said of his 54-year marriage.
Bill said his golf career was most enjoyable because he and Betty worked together.
Although the couple has lived in several areas of the country, they have always found a church in which they could serve. They are currently members of Highland Park Baptist.
As the 77-year-old reminisces, it instantly becomes clear that he has a passion for working with youth. In former churches, both he and Betty worked with youth. While serving as director of the YMCA in Huntsville, the couple taught 1,900 kids to swim in one year.
“During his baseball career, I sat in the stands and listened to derogatory remarks as well as praise from the crowd,” Betty recalled.
Bill said he once read a quote that said, “Say something good about everybody, and let God do the rest,” a statement he’s tried to live by most of his life.
He continues to play golf on local courses, but the job he enjoys most is serving as a greeter for Williams Funeral Home.
Bill and Betty are the parents of three children. They have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ellie