The below excerpt from "The Board Talk," April 1999 issue, has this very special story written by Betty Parrish about the Michigan Shuffleboard Hall of Fame's new "Award of Excellence" and about Bill Kuebler's award being presented to his wife, in his behalf, during the February 1999 Saginaw tournament at McCabe's. Betty tells a wonderful heartwarming story about "Bill Kuebler" and the "Kuebler Cookies" that shall forever be remembered here at BOWERS CORNER! Read on.....

This "special" player is the backbone of the game, the reason that many of us have been attracted to it in the first place, and maybe even the reason we continue to play.

The Michigan Hall of Fame Committee realized a need to honor these outstanding players and we have done so by creating an Award of Excellence. This award is for the player who goes out of his/her way to welcome new and visiting players. This honoree sets the perfect example of good sportsmanship, fairness and conduct becoming a leader in their shuffleboard community, and this award is one of respect and appreciation for the fine examples of fair play that this player has set for all of us.

The Michigan Shuffleboard Hall of Fame Committee presented its first Award of Excellence in memory of Bill Kuebler, affectionately known as "Cookie Man," at McCabe's tournament in February.

Bill Kuebler loved the game of shuffleboard and one could always count on seeing him and wife Betty at Saginaw tournaments or ones nearby such as Durand or Houghton Lake. Betty told me once that being on retirement, Bill would do extra little jobs in order to have tournament money. Bill was doing an extra job for his shuffleboard nest egg when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Bill always carried himself proudly and didn't have a bad word for anyone.....well, maybe under his breath when the police officer tried to make him move his camper truck after he had first obtained permission to park it there. I wouldn't even know how to find a mayor during one of our out-of-town tournaments, but Bill hiked up his pants and squared off his hat and took the matter up to the top. The mayor let him stay. That's the kind of man that Bill Kuebler was. He followed the rules and expected everyone else to do the same. He gained the respect of those who knew him because of who he was and what he did; it was evident that here was a good man.

I was as fond of Bill Kuebler as anyone in the room the day we presented his award to his wife Betty. With Betty and her sons looking on, it was hard for me to express how much we missed Bill and how grateful we were that we had been blessed to know him. It's hard to say sometimes what the heart remembers, like Bill and Betty together at tournaments and how well they complimented one another and the unequated support for one another. And the heart recalls the look of awe and pride on the face of your own son when Bill sought him out as a partner. What a wonderful experience and memory for a young player to know that this man obviously liked and respected you or he would not have asked. And then there was the pride that the mother felt when she witnessed the respect her son showed to one who was older and more knowledgeable.

This sad heart also remembers, with a smile, the time I was sitting near some loud-talking "high fivers" who never show respect for anyone and hearing one of them say: "Yeah, man, I drew that old guy over there in the hat. Couple of ends and I'II be done with that game." I remember the respectable game of shuffleboard that the old taught the young that day. After Bill won the game, he extended his hand and walked away with the tiniest gleam in his eye that spoke volumes to me and all those who had heard the remarks and witnessed the game.

Lastly, I remember with pride the state championships over a year ago when Bill and Betty both took first place in their divisions. The support and pride they had in one another was incredible. Bill Kuebler will always be a state champion and I'm very thankful that he was able to enjoy that special win before he was taken from us. He deserved to be the first to receive the Award of Excellence. The committee only wishes it could have been handed to Bill personally."

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