Bill Salt
- 1991 Sportsperson of the Year -
Bill Salt did it for the kids. That in very concise fashion sums up over 30 years of outstanding volunteer effort in community sports.
The 61 year old Sportsperson grew to love soccer during his youth in Victoria B.C. Later Calgary received the benefit of that love affair as Bill played a major role in the development of his favorite sport. He has been a leader of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association since 1962 involved heavily in administration, coaching and refereeing. Bill is recognized as one of the best and most knowledgeable minor coaches in the city.
In 1972 he organized the zone system utilized by the C.M.S.A. He has served on the executive of the Calgary Soccer Federation and was a founding member of the Chinook Ladies Soccer Club. During the period 1980-83 Bill was the catalyst behind the ATCO Indoor Soccer Centre, which presently caters to more than 2,000 players of all ages, male and female, minor to senior over the winter months.
Mr. Salt didn’t stop with soccer. Since the late 1950’s and 1960’s he has been a driving force organizing and directing various projects in the North Glenmore community. He was instrumental in planning and constructing the community hall and for most of the past 25 years has been Sports Director of North Glenmore.
In 1974 he was one of the three original organizers of Minor Sports Calgary and served as the first President 1974-76. Bill was also a member of the City of Calgary Parks and Recreation Board for five years and acted as Chairman for two of those years. He has also been very involved in Minor Hockey at the community level.
Mr. Salt has been recognized numerous times for his tremendous contributions:
- Calgary Booster Club Athletic Leader – 1975
- Provincial Parks and Recreation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Municipal Recreation – 1975
- Jack Buckler Award for Outstanding Contribution to Soccer and to the Indoor Soccer Facility – 1983
- Calgary Centennial Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Enrichment of Life in Calgary – 1984
Presently Bill is concentrating on business interests in Calgary and Nevada and looking forward to enjoying his first grandchild (due in September) with his wife Agnes and his three children (Gord. Leanne and Pat).
His unselfish attitude, his superior organizational ability, his determination to get the job done, his willingness and dedication as a volunteer in sport in general and to soccer in particular for some 30 years certainly make Bill Salt a truly worthy recipient of the Calgary Booster Club’s 38th Sportsperson of the Year Award.