Photo By Master Sgt. Alexandre Montes | William Huefner, 9th Force support Squadron bowling lanes manager, repairs a bowling...... read more read more
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Compared to the NHL, NBA and MLB, the U.S. Bowling Congress is the pinnacle for bowling communities and the manager of Beale Air Force Base Bowling Lanes has caught their attention.
Knocking them down and setting them back up is what William Huefner, 9th Force Support Squadron bowling lanes manager, known as Will by his friends, has been doing since he took over ten years ago. While working towards helping build a better community, Huefner was unknowingly submitted by an Airman for a California State Bowling Association award.
“You have the USBC, which is headquartered in Arlington, Texas then the states are broken down into different districts,” Huefner said. “I was nominated by one of the bowlers as bowling center manager of the year and the state liked the nomination.”
There is a long line of military members and bowlers in his family. Huefner, a Yuba City native, remembers bowling at Beale when he was just a child. The opportunity to manage the lanes where he played as a child has given him a great sense of purpose within the military community.
“My family bowled growing up from my parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, you name it,” Huefner said. “Both sides of my family are military, so by the time they settled I was born here.”
Huefner’s love for the sport has brought him full circle to the place he now manages and is truly proud of. Now the appreciation from the military community he supports felt Huefner deserved the Bowling Center Manager of the Year award.
“Every year, CAUSBC recognizes the hard work and efforts of bowling center managers and the enormous amount of time and effort they put into making their bowling centers appealing to bowlers of all types,” Lt. Col. Bryan Williams, 195th California Air National Guard plans and programs chief said. “The opportunity to submit Will for this recognition was a no brainer.”
Williams, an avid bowler himself, knows the passion that Huefner has for the sport and the people around it. He explained some of the hurdles Huefner had to bring the Beale Lanes to life.
“When Will took over Beale Lanes, he took over a fledgling operation that had outdated equipment, poor maintenance on the lane machines, and league bowling was almost non-existent,” Williams said. “Looking at where the bowling alley has come from in just the last three years…no one could have done this without the passion and desire that Will has.”
Humbled by the award, Huefner still continues to work at the front desk, cook at the grill, repair bowling balls and maintain the lane machines. The future is bright for Huefner but he feels and is very much appreciated here at Beale.
“Will being affiliated with Beale AFB will make this bowling center and bowling here better and stronger than ever,” Williams expressed. “What Will has brought to Beale AFB is incredible and nothing short of amazing. He is deserving of this accolade and so much more.”
Huefner mentioned that he is working on expanding the bowling center to host more squadron and family events. For him, earning this award is just the beginning.
For more information about what the center go to http://www.bealefss.com/beale-lanes/.
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2019 17:37 |
| Story ID: | 317133 |
| Location: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 266 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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