Sad news

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Re: Sad news

Postby Midcoast Vintage » Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:52 pm

This is truly sad news. Bill and I have been friends for over 40 years.
We burned up many hours on the phone, even before phone long distance was free.
Bill was ALWAYS a straight shooter. Integrity meant everything to him.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
Rest in peace my friend.
Ted
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Re: Sad news

Postby mechanic » Sun Dec 24, 2017 5:51 pm

I TALKED TO BILL JUST AFTER THANKSGIVING, I KNEW HE WAS IN A BAD WAY BUT HE TOLD ME NOT TO SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE. I MET BILL MANY YEARS AGO AS WE BOTH WORKED FOR JOE WELCH AT THE TIME IN BRISBANE AREA. WE KEPT IN TOUCH ONCE I WENT BACK EAST AND ALWAYS HAD JOKES TO TELL EACH OTHER. JUST LIKE DICK BUESCHEL ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE BILL WAS A GIANT IN HIS FIELD OF TRADE STIMULATORS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER COIN OPS. HE WILL BE MISSED BY MANY AND ME VERY MUCH SO. TO HIS FAMILY A HEART FELT SYMPATHY. BILL I SAVED YOU A WONKA BAR FOR LATER.!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: Sad news

Postby thepennyarcade » Sun Dec 24, 2017 7:16 pm

When you hear that one of the old greats coinops have passed your heart sort of stops for a second and a sadness overtakes you.
I know that death and taxes are the only true events in our lives, but it just doesn't seem fair.
All that knowledge lost forever.
Bill I will miss your posts
Hopefully I will see you on the other side
John
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Re: Sad news

Postby Marty » Mon Dec 25, 2017 8:38 am

Just wondering... because of the deep knowledge and experience of this man and in honor of him, is there some way on this forum to isolate or find all of his posts in one spot. If that is already possible , maybe some guidance on how to do that Thanks, Marty in Florida
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Re: Sad news

Postby gsx11r » Mon Dec 25, 2017 8:47 am

Marty wrote:Just wondering... because of the deep knowledge and experience of this man and in honor of him, is there some way on this forum to isolate or find all of his posts in one spot. If that is already possible , maybe some guidance on how to do that Thanks, Marty in Florida


Look here.
search.php?author_id=15&sr=posts

Stephane
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Re: Sad news

Postby oldpinguy » Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:39 am

Bill was just so knowledgeable and generous with his time. I got an invite to visit him once in Daly City(back in the early 90s, I think). I still remember his extensive Trade Stimulator collection. Bought some of his award cards over the years, and spoke him by phone several times. What a guy! Always surprised when I sent him an email question and received a late night phone call that went on for an hour or more. He sure was connected to the hobby and knew everybody in it, their user names, eBay handles, and kept track of what they had and were buying or selling. I doubt if he ever watched TV or got much sleep. I agree he needs to be honored by us and named to the Coin-Op Hall of Fame along side Dick Bueschel, with whom I'm sure he is again engaged with a very long coin-op conversation. Good Bye Bill, we all miss you already, :cry and hope you are still following this Forum.
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Re: Sad news

Postby MONTI » Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:14 pm

Sorry for the late response but with my work schedule and all I have not been on the forum much!

It was Truly a Sad Day when Bill left us and our hobby has suffered yet another Great Loss!
Even though I hadn't talked to Bill on the phone recently, been a couple months, being we are both in Northern California we did speak pretty regularly!
Our conversations where very pleasant and I thoroughly enjoyed his sarcastic humor on many issues!
He was very knowledgeable and we both had mutual friends from the Lake Tahoe area, friends who have already left us and the hobby!
Dave Mercer from Tahoe City, Elmer Eberhard, from North Tahoe as well and many mutual friends from the "Old Days" of the South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada casinos!
His close friendship with Dick Bueschel and his knowledge of his writings was always appreciated as well!
Also his relationship with Freddy Bailey and sharing of Freddy's information was very informative!
His comments will grace this Forum for years to come as there were many!
I will miss being able to call him with a question from time to time and hearing his distinct voice on the phone!
My Very Heartfelt Sympathies go out to his family!
So many Great people have left our hobby over the last five or six years and unfortunately I am hearing too often in my repair business with antique slot machines that what I and others do is becoming the work of a dying breed!
Most of the young folks today are into the later model "Slot Machines", you know, the ones that sound like a video arcade, I long for the "Good Old Days" of the mechanical slot machines and Bill and I spoke of this often and I will truly miss those conversations!
But I digress!
Back to my point, Bill, My Friend, you will be missed and I will think of you often especially when I see one of your many comments here on the Forum!
RIP My Friend!

MONTI
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Re: Sad news

Postby sam2002 » Mon Jan 04, 2021 11:47 pm

What ever became of all the resources that Bill “Slotdynasty” had? It’s been over 3 years and Bill rip but not a peep from anyone, all the records you kept, your collection must’ve been phenomenal!
Really miss seeing your posts! This guy was a wealth of information, not a word of any kind about one of the greatest in this hobby?
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Re: Sad news

Postby cpdretired » Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:19 am

Yes I agree with you. I posted this question some time ago. If his family doesn't care about his collection put it up for auction. Bill was a great source of information and supplies. Bill would keep a close eye on eBay for the scammers modifying machines. He was a nice guy to talk on the phone with if you had a few hours to spare.
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Re: Sad news

Postby MONTI » Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:10 am

Yes, Sam, I have very fond memories of Bill Whelan as we both had mutual friends from the Lake Tahoe area from the "Old Casino" days and knew many early collectors/restorers of the hobbies early days as well! I had never met or talked to his wife even though we both spoke of our wives in our conversations so I haven't done a follow up call on his items but I assume like Phil Anderson's wife, she may still have his various items as Phil's wife held on to all his warehouse items, Etc. from Ace Distributing in Sparks for 8 to 10 years after Phil's passing! Bill Whelan and Freddy Bailey were very close as well, has anyone heard anything on Freddy lately?
He too was a very knowledgeable and helpful person also having many old Nevada contacts from both Las Vegas and Northern Nevada like Si Redd of Sircoma before he sold out to IGT!
I truly miss talking to some of these old timers and reliving the "Good Old Days" of the casinos!
Bona Fortuna Sam!
Ciao!
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