William Bos Jr.

William Bos Jr.

November 5, 1926 - June 8, 2016

William Bos Jr. was a legend in the world of tennis! He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, after a long illness. Bill was born into a Christian home in Holland, Michigan on November 5, 1926., where prayer, church and faithful living were honored and practiced. He is the oldest in a family of four boys. In high school he had received a basketball scholarship to Michigan State. It was there that he began playing tennis and became especially excited about the game. Early on, Bill knew that he wanted to devote his life to improve his own game and to teach it to others. He wanted to keep it fun. He felt that there are teachers and players and he wanted his contribution to be as a teacher. He loved the game and as long as he could, he wanted to keep teaching.

Bill attended Michigan State and Kalamazoo College on scholarship where he played basketball. He then attended The University of Michigan where he received his Masters Degree. He joined the navy during WWII and went on to coach at Annapolis, at the U.S. Naval Academy. He coached the varsity tennis team to a winning record each year while playing many of the top schools in the country. In 1963, he went to work at the Dallas Country Club where he developed their tennis program to the highest level in club history. He was there 13 years and then spent the next 12 years at Brookhaven Country Club, the largest tennis facilities in Dallas. In 1990 he went on to become the Director of Tennis for the Lakewood Country Club and remained there through 1997. In his later years, Bill organized tennis camps all over the city of Dallas for all ages. Bill received many honors in his lifetime, elected into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and in 2002, in Las Vegas, he received the 40 year service award at the World Conference on Tennis. The accolades heaped upon Bill through his lifetime of coaching and playing tennis, coming from Hollywood stars, professional athletes, and tennis enthusiasts of all ages. Bill felt that his highest compliment came when he was called “coach” by Tom Landry. All in all, Bill coached tennis for almost 50 years and what he enjoyed most about coaching was motivating people and watching them improve. He shared his enthusiasm with everyone who stepped on a tennis court whether they were celebrities or neighbors

Bill’s faith was very important to him. He married Sally Carney in 1964 and had two beautiful sons, Sy Guthrie and Billy Bos. The family attended the Highland Park Presbyterian Church and in recent years attended Bible Study at Bent Tree Country Club. Bill would always say, “Every morning I walk a couple of miles and praise God that Jesus lives in my heart. What has been accomplished in my life is because of God. We have been blessed. I love the game of tennis; its been good to me and my family and I’ve always wanted to give something back.” Bill and Sally spent 52 years together. Every day in his daytimer, he would write, “Sally makes me happy!” She was the love of his life! He adored her and had never seen a girl like her. Their marriage was one that most people wished they had. Sally called him, “The Billy Graham of Tennis because he has always approached the game with such evangelistic zeal.” Bill believed he couldn’t have accomplished all that, if it had not been for Sally’s continuous support and cheering him on every step of the way. “There will never be another Bill Bos. He ran the most wonderful tournaments. We were able to progress in tennis as a family, thanks largely to Bill. He was somebody you wanted your children to emulate.”, said a close friend. Bill has planted the seed of tennis in the lives of many and, in so doing, he hoped that anything good from his life may be emulated in the lives of others.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sally Carney Bos, his sons, Sy Guthrie and Billy Bos, his daughter-in-law Michelle Guthrie, his granddaughter Brandie and great granddaughter Carly, his brother Paul Bos (Jeanette), his brother Bob Bos (Carol) and his nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his loving parents, Janet and William Bos Sr, and his brother, Dale Bos.

Memorials may be given to the Roaring Lambs Ministries and Operation Kindness

Funeral Services

Sunday, June 12, 2016

The Chapel at Sparkman Hillcrest

2:00 pm

Reception to Follow

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