Craig Daily Press

Craig — Bill Taylor bowls.

His highest score is a 207, he has two custom balls, some fancy shoes and a love for the game he began participating in 1966.

Nothing too spectacular when you consider the more than 600 Craig residents who spend time attempting to knock down the 10 pins found at the end of each lane at Thunder Rolls Bowling Center.

Many of them have their own balls and shoes similar to Bill, but when taking more than a passing glance at Bill, you notice he’s a little different.

Bill is completely paralyzed on the entire right side of his body.

But, that hasn’t stopped him from bowling for more than 40 years.

He’s had a seizure while on the lanes at Thunder Rolls, and that didn’t stop him either.

A two-week vacation to California turned into a year, and that didn’t stop him.

He simply had his bowling balls mailed to him so he could continue his quest for a 300 game.

“Bowling has grown on me. I watched my mother bowling when I was growing up,” he said. “I took it up and now I love it. My mother doesn’t bowl anymore, but I still can. And I’m going to keep bowling as long as I can.”

Bill was born paralyzed. It’s a handicap he’s had to deal with his entire life.

But, at Thunder Rolls, the only handicap he worries about is the score he carries into each game he plays.

“Being handicapped hasn’t hindered me at all,” he said. “I’m just like a person who has two good hands.

“Handicap people shouldn’t be afraid or embarrassed” to spend time outside.

“I know I won’t make fun of them.”

Bill said he’s had fun bowling with a man in a wheelchair and has seen a blind bowling league back in his home state of Michigan.

“Bowling is fun,” he said. “Everybody can do it, young or old. Look at me. If I can bowl, anybody can.”

Beryl Dschak, co-owner of Thunder Rolls, said Bill is “exactly a perfect example of how bowling is for everyone.”

“He has ability with his left side, so he can still throw his ball. We have other people who bowl from a wheelchair, too. It is absolutely a sport for all types of people.”

Because of Bill’s condition, Beryl said she has to be ready when the unexpected occurs.

The problem, Beryl said, is that sometimes Bill bowls too much.

“He loves bowling,” she said. “But, my gosh, he would just bowl and bowl and bowl. What happened is he would get tired and that would affect him. Now, we have to get on him and say ‘OK, Bill, you have to take a break.’”

Bill looked over at Beryl as she said “We’re talking about you,” but Bill doesn’t care.

People have been talking about him his whole life, so much so that now he talks and jokes with along with them.

“I tease people and they tease me,” he said. “If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.”

Bill said the teasing is all in good fun, and it’s never personal. With all the time he spends at Thunder Rolls, the staff and fellow bowlers have become like family.

“I’ve picked up 20 to 30 new friends by coming in here,” he said. “I’ve never gotten a date, but I can’t afford a wife anyway.”

Bill still has his first bowling ball — a Manhattan rubber 16-pounder — that he got when he first started. He purchased a 14-pound ball recently “to pick up spares” he said. “I’m using the Manhattan right now.”

He’s had only one seizure lately, “I knew it was coming, so I went to the back so nobody would see,” and he hopes to instill some of his bowling knowledge on to his three nieces, Alex, Andi and Dee.

He said he wouldn’t change anything since he started bowling.

“Not a thing,” he said. “I just hope that these three stick with it like I did.” He said as he pointed to his nieces Alex, Andi and Dee.

“It’s spring break for them right now,” he said. “They wanted to go bowling with uncle Bill, so here we are.”

As for him bowling the all-so-elusive 300 game?

“It would be fun, but I don’t think so,” he said. “I’ll tell you what though, I’m going to keep trying.”