Here is the nomination Charles wrote for Mr. Bill.
I wish to nominate Bill McGraw to the IMPBA Hall of Fame.
Charles Perdue
IMPBA # 19510 S
10/14/2008
IMPBA Hall of Fame Criteria
William (Bill) McGraw's Qualifications
Requirement # 1: Significant contributions to the advancement of model boating or competition.
Qualification: Bill McGraw’s many contributions to the boating hobby spans three decades. When Mr. Bill started boating in the 1970s very little information, accurate or not, was available to the general boating public. Bill, in just being himself, set out to change this lack of accurate information. If you asked him a question, he gave you an honest and correct answer whether you agreed with it or not. He would then go into great detail explaining his answer.
He also realized that there wasn't very much off-the-shelf quality hardware available to the general boater. He set out to correct this. Before, if you wanted to get into model boating, you either had to be a machinist or know one. He started what was to become Speedmaster Hardware to fill this void. This allowed people to become successful model boaters without being a machinist. This is a significant contribution to advancing model boating and competition.
Requirement # 2: Significant Contribution to IMPBA as an Organization.
Qualification: Bill McGraw was President of the Memphis Model Power Boat Association for nine years. During this time the club held two to three races a year. Bill was assistant District 5 Director for numerous years. Bill was instrumental in starting or helping to establish many model boating clubs. This is a significant contribution to IMPBA as an organization.
Requirement # 3: Significant National recognition as a competitor.
Qualification: Bill McGraw won a large number of races, regional and national. Bill has held twenty eight (28) IMPBA records in different classes and a US 1 title. That is National significant recognition as a competitor.
Requirement # 4: Significant technical contributions to model boating as a hobby sport without receiving financial gain or manufacturer status as a result.
Qualification: Everyone in the boating community knew that Bill McGraw was on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week for answers to their boating questions. He received and honestly answered thousands of questions in regards to model boating. Because of his status as a top competitor and avid boater he was one of the most used clearing houses of information not only in the United States, but in the world. He did this because of a love of the sport of model boating and the friendship of the fellow boaters. The boating community was like his adopted family. This was above and beyond any financial compensation or manufacturing status.
Requirement # 5: Manufacturers must make significant contributions in areas other than for, or as a result of, their products to be considered.
Qualification: Accurate technical information is as, or more important than, any component, hardware, boat or engine to the performance of the boat and the enjoyment of this hobby. As stated above, Bill McGraw was and still is one of the largest contributors of accurate information concerning model boating in the world. His one-on-one style of unselfishly sharing of his expertise with boaters has undoubtedly advanced model boating to a much higher level than could have been attained without his help. It would be safe to say that his vast knowledge, and his willingness to share it, has touched every boater in the hobby in one way or another. This is because he loved the hobby.
Requirement # 6: National championships or records are not required for consideration.
Qualification: Not required technically for the nomination but certainly necessary to establish that he had the level of expertise to be able successfully help his fellow boaters. This was expertise that he shared very willingly any time day or night. Having held 28 IMPBA records and one US 1 title just proves without any doubt that he is qualified to provide accurate information, combined with his devotion to the boating hobby, has been his contribution to boating.
In my opinion, Mr. Bill McGraw is qualified in every way to be in the IMPBA Hall of Fame.
