Bill O'Mara

[cart_machine]

Anyone who grew up in the Lower Mainland in the 50s and 60s and was able to get channel 5 (like we could in the Valley) will remember sportscaster Bill O'Mara. He may be best known as the Voice of the Hydroplane races.

There was a great story on the web a couple of years ago about management trying to dump him .. at age 90.

Bill died of cancer yesterday.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... ra22m.html

Here are a couple of tributes on the web:

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=76&sid=147821

http://www.thunderboats.org/history/history0445.html

Former KTNT-TV sports director Bob Robertson and I were discussing Bill a couple of years ago. Both of them broadcast the PCL's Seattle Rainiers at different times in their careers. Bob called him a real gentleman.

cArtie.