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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. William "Bill" Bass (Deceased)
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Home Phone: -- September 17, 2009 – Bob Bass,Recollections of My Dad, Bill Bass; * * * * * * * * * * He was a graduate of Bolton High School, Alexandria, Louisiana; Dad was the first member of his family to go to college; The Bass family who followed him to UL included the following: wife, Becky, who he met at SLI; brother, Sam Bass; sister, Margie Bass Kirk; brother in law, Eldon Kirk; son, Bob Bass; daughter in law, Linda; grandchildren, Robin Bass Crook, Carrie Bass, and Amy Bass. He was a member of the UL Athletic Hall of Fame for Boxing and Football achievements; Dad was the first Director of UL Alumni Association; He was a two-time Louisiana College Coach of the Year in Golf; Bill and Becky have two sons, Bob and Bill, and eight grandchildren; Bill was a pilot in the 8th Air Corps European Theatre during WW II; The things I remember most about dad was the time he spent with Bill and me, teaching us football and golf. The greatest lesson he taught me was that honor and integrity came before any personal gain. Even if it meant sacrificing when there were easier ways. Submitted September 17, 2009 * * * * * * * * * * In more than a century of UL Lafayette history, many individuals have selflessly given of themselves and gone the extra mile in support of the university. In nearly a century of golf history in the Acadiana area, many individuals have given of themselves to grow, advance and promote the game. Probably only one person, though, has ever combined the two as did Bill Bass, whose name is synonymous both with UL Lafayette and with the development of local golf. For that reason, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association hosts the Bill Bass Open each year as one of the highlights of the university’s Homecoming celebration. The timing could not be better, since Homecoming was special to Bass – especially between 1965-78 when he left the insurance business to serve as the school’s first full-time alumni director. That was one of several areas in which Bass was deeply involved with the university, after earning accolades as a two-sport letterman in football and boxing from 1938-40. Bass served two different stints in two different decades as UL Lafayette golf coach, and In the mid-1950s, Bass helped supervise the construction of Oakbourne Country Club and was intimately involved in the development of what is still one of the South’s top courses – one that hosted a PGA Tour event for nearly a decade. Later, he designed and was one of the driving forces in the opening of Acadian Hills Country Club in 1962. Bass continued to be involved in university activities and the local golf scene up until his passing in 1987. It was shortly afterward that the Alumni Association began a scholarship fund in his honor and joined with his son Bob Bass – himself golf coach at the university for nearly two decades and named the top coach in the Sun Belt Conference’s first 30 years – to found the Homecoming tournament that now bears his name. Written by Dan McDonald as part of the 2009 Bill Bass Open Flyer. * * * * * * * * * * Golf: UL Alumni Association revitalizing Bill Bass Open Dan McDonald, Daily Advertiser Golf Writer, July 15, 2009 The date is set and plans are being made for a revitalized Bill Bass Open Tournament, one of the highlighted UL Alumni Association activities during the university’s Homecoming weekend. The tournament is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, one day before the Ragin’ Cajun football team takes on Sun Belt Conference rival Florida Atlantic for Homecoming, and a group of local golf enthusiasts has joined with the Alumni Association to help restore the event to its former luster. “We’re planning on boosting this up to a major event,” said Bob Bass, retired UL golf coach and son of the former long-time Cajun coach and alumni director. “Our goal is to make this tournament ‘the’ place for fans and former athletes to gather to get Homecoming started.” The four-person modified scramble will be played at Les Vieux Chenes and will likely be the first major event on the course after its renovation, which is still in progress. All the tees and greens at the city-owned course have been totally reworked along with other improvements, and the Bill Bass Open will provide players with an early opportunity to see the reworked facility. Years ago, the tournament was among the first stops for out-of-town alumni arriving for the weekend’s Homecoming activities, and the field was filled beyond capacity. Participation levels declined in recent years, but tournament officials are aiming at local golfers, local alumni and a targeted effort to draw in former UL athletes from all sports to increase tournament numbers. The tournament will also have a new format to “even the playing field” for all competitors. The modified scramble – where players play their own ball beginning with the second shot each hole after choosing the best tee ball – allows handicaps to be used, and awards will go to top finishers in both gross and net divisions. That means that players can make up their own favorite foursomes and still have an equal chance of hitting “in the money.” This year’s event will also feature a silent auction after play with several UL-related items available. The event honors Bill Bass, who served for over a decade as the school’s alumni director and also served two stints as Cajun golf coach. In addition to that post, Bass made a huge impact on golf locally, as he was involved with the construction of Oakbourne Country Club and also was the lead designer and among the founders of Acadian Hills Golf Club. Entry forms will soon be available at all local courses and golf shops as well as at the Alumni Association offices, and will also appear online in the near future on the Association’s web site at www.LOUISIANAalumni.org. Athletic Network Footnote: William Bass was a member of the SLI Boxing Team in 1938 & 39 and a member of the 1938-40 Football Teams. * * * * * * * * * * Informal History of the UL Alumni Association Compiled in the late 1990s and provided by Liz Landry, Executive Assistant to UL President Savoie 1965 (Byron Williams/Bass) 1966 (Robert Finley/Bass) 1967 (Tom Bartlett/Bass) 1968 (Allen St. Martin/Bass) 1969 (Vernon Bell/Bass) 1973 (Lester Soileau/Bass) 1975 (John Allen Prejean/Bass) 1978 (Ray DesOrmeaux/Bass/Etienne)
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