Rootes, Bill

item
Player Name
Rootes, Bill
Type
Builder
Sport
Basketball
Inducted
2012
Era
1991 - Present
Description
Inducted into the City of Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame January 2012 ; Builder - Basketball 1991 - to present era ;
There are certain people in Niagara Falls who have left such an indelible mark on the sporting community that their legacies will far outlast their lives. Bill Rootes was one of those people. He was one of the faces of basketball in this City, helping to introduce hundreds of youths to the sport. In 1996 under Bill’s leadership, the Niagara Falls Red Raiders Basketball Association was formed. The organization began with eight travel teams and quickly developed a reputation around the province for being a first class organization and developing power house teams. Within the first five years, they won multiple provincial championships. While Bill was President of the organization, he was instrumental in starting the novice program, offering instructional basketball to players that were too young to join any league. The Red Raiders now boasts some 30 clubs in all divisions for boys and girls. Bill Rootes was also the General Manager of two Division 1 provincial championships with the Red Raiders (2000 and 2002), three Zone and S.O.S.S.A. championships with the A.N. Myer Marauders (2001-2003), and a National Championship with the Brock Badgers (2008). In 2001, Bill was presented with the Doug Austin Award, recognizing him as the Niagara Falls Sports Person of the Years.
Subject
Awards
Portraits - Biographical
Sports - Recreation - Leisure
Niagara Falls Virtual Sports Wall of Fame
Media
Bill Rootes