Bill Roach
2018 Hall of Fame Inductees
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2018 Hall of Fame Inductees
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.Bill Roach’s history with the Indiana water ski community started in June 1991 when Bill spotted a sign directing skiers to a water ski tournament in Plainfield. He followed the sign to Lake Me-Ski. There he met John Kniesly who happened to be skiing with Lynn & Dr. Steve Olvey.
With a reference from John, Roach contacted the Fairland Water Ski Club, and he and his family became members in Sept. of 1991. Bill says the club didn’t want him as a member for his slalom or jump prowess (ask him about his jump history). No, the guys at Fairland needed Bill’s dues to pay for a new jump surface!
Bill’s first Ski Tournament was at Fairland shortly after he joined that club. He skied thru the gate and fell around one ball…… and still won 1st place! - he was the only one in his age-group! Maybe that is why Bill Roach always has a smile on his face when at the lake.
Fairland hosted several ski tournaments the summer of 1992. We should all thank the tournament official who gave Bill a microphone and told him to announce. He announced at every ski tournament he attended for 25 years.
In the fall of 1992, Bill attended a AWSA Safety Director’s Clinic in Anderson hosted by Don & Peggy Bucher. The summer of 1993 he became the Safety Director and Announcer for all Fairland Ski Tournaments, special events and clinic’s. Over the years he completed his Regional and National Safety Director’s Certification and served as Safety Director for more than 80 local and state tournaments as well as the World Police & Fire Games, the 2007 US Disabled Nationals, and the combined 2010 Pan-Am and US Disabled Nationals.
Serving on the IWSA Board from 1996 – 2014, he was President for 3 years, and Membership Chair (twice) totaling 4 years. As Awards Chair, Bill organized, developed, and MC’d eleven IWSA Fall Awards Banquet’s.
As IWSA President, he organized and wrote 3 issues of the Fall Newsletter, designed new IWSA decals and banners, initiated the trick clinic and commissioned the board, with Terri Branson as Chair, to accumulate, organize, and publish the IWSA Operations Handbook.
For almost 20 years, Bill annually conducted Safety Director Certifications Classes, and volunteered at the RHI Sports disabled water ski clinics. He often invited disabled water skiers Raquel Rooney and Dan Reed out to Fairland for extra water time and some friendly coaching. He also could be found driving or coaching at many of the Monday Night Ski Clinic’s.
In 2005 Bill was named recipient of the “Rollie William’s Award”, recognizing his outstanding sportsmanship and leadership during his service to organized water skiing in Indiana.
For the past 5 years, Bill has been working for US Masters Swimming as the National Safety Compliance/Coordinator for open water swimming. Using the AWSA Safety Director’s Manual as a model, Roach helped develop an Open Water Safety Directors certification program for all US Masters open water swims. Within the first year of the program, he certified 83 new Open Water Safety Directors across the country.
With a reference from John, Roach contacted the Fairland Water Ski Club, and he and his family became members in Sept. of 1991. Bill says the club didn’t want him as a member for his slalom or jump prowess (ask him about his jump history). No, the guys at Fairland needed Bill’s dues to pay for a new jump surface!
Bill’s first Ski Tournament was at Fairland shortly after he joined that club. He skied thru the gate and fell around one ball…… and still won 1st place! - he was the only one in his age-group! Maybe that is why Bill Roach always has a smile on his face when at the lake.
Fairland hosted several ski tournaments the summer of 1992. We should all thank the tournament official who gave Bill a microphone and told him to announce. He announced at every ski tournament he attended for 25 years.
In the fall of 1992, Bill attended a AWSA Safety Director’s Clinic in Anderson hosted by Don & Peggy Bucher. The summer of 1993 he became the Safety Director and Announcer for all Fairland Ski Tournaments, special events and clinic’s. Over the years he completed his Regional and National Safety Director’s Certification and served as Safety Director for more than 80 local and state tournaments as well as the World Police & Fire Games, the 2007 US Disabled Nationals, and the combined 2010 Pan-Am and US Disabled Nationals.
Serving on the IWSA Board from 1996 – 2014, he was President for 3 years, and Membership Chair (twice) totaling 4 years. As Awards Chair, Bill organized, developed, and MC’d eleven IWSA Fall Awards Banquet’s.
As IWSA President, he organized and wrote 3 issues of the Fall Newsletter, designed new IWSA decals and banners, initiated the trick clinic and commissioned the board, with Terri Branson as Chair, to accumulate, organize, and publish the IWSA Operations Handbook.
For almost 20 years, Bill annually conducted Safety Director Certifications Classes, and volunteered at the RHI Sports disabled water ski clinics. He often invited disabled water skiers Raquel Rooney and Dan Reed out to Fairland for extra water time and some friendly coaching. He also could be found driving or coaching at many of the Monday Night Ski Clinic’s.
In 2005 Bill was named recipient of the “Rollie William’s Award”, recognizing his outstanding sportsmanship and leadership during his service to organized water skiing in Indiana.
For the past 5 years, Bill has been working for US Masters Swimming as the National Safety Compliance/Coordinator for open water swimming. Using the AWSA Safety Director’s Manual as a model, Roach helped develop an Open Water Safety Directors certification program for all US Masters open water swims. Within the first year of the program, he certified 83 new Open Water Safety Directors across the country.
