A nominee for the McCook Bison Sports Fan Hall of Fame

I enjoy what I perceive as one of the greatest jobs on the face of God's green earth.

I have a front-row seat to experience one of the passions in my life -- sports -- and I get the opportunity to try and bring those sporting events to life in black and white for Gazette readers. My sports reporting positions in Columbus, Neb. and Evanston, Wyo. and here in McCook have, over the years, afforded me the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful people and to build friendships that have and will endure throughout my lifetime. I've had such fantastic opportunities to cover exciting sports events and to write about a list of extraordinary people way too long to mention.

In my journalism career I've interviewed three Olympic gold medalists, offered tributes via ink and paper to a multitude of wonderful athletes, coaches, fans and sports personalities involved in nearly every athletic known to mankind.

Today these were some of the most difficult words I have ever had to try and string together.

I lost my best friend.

Many of us did when Billy took his final breath last week.

WILLIAM SAALFELD, 62, passed away in the early morning hours Friday, March 1. After extensive surgery in Omaha on Feb. 15, Bill suffered a multitude of complications which he could not overcome. He never got to come back to McCook, as God decided he needed him and took him back home last week.

I think most of the people that knew him would say Billy was a gift from Heaven. If you didn't smile after spending time with him, something had to be wrong.

If there ever is a McCook Bison Sports Fan Hall of Fame, Billy would be a member of the inaugural class of inductees. It pained him deeply when he worked on the night shift at Parker here in McCook and he missed many Bison sporting events. He retired from work last August, finally getting the opportunity to take back his old seat in the Weiland Field grandstands with his beloved wife, Mindy, and many of his great friends to cheer on the McCook football teams. Bill and Mindy were fixtures at McCook home basketball games, both boys and girls, this past winter.

You'd see them at the Jaycees Sports Complex in the fall for Bison girls softball games and in the summer supporting the local baseball and softball teams. He was a college sports fan. He marveled at the new MCC Events Center on the McCook Community College campus. Many times this past winter we talked about the positive impact the new facility would have on the McCook college programs and on the community and surrounding area.

He was also a huge Husker fan, and I had many opportunities over the last four football seasons sharing that passion watching Nebraska games on TV with him.

BILLY WAS very proud of son Ryan's high school sports days, especially Bison football. He was proud of daughter Jaci's endeavors, especially softball with the Bison and the McCook Rebels. Bill and Mindy spent many summers traveling with Jaci's Rebel teams, with Bill coaching and Mindy basically running the show. You could see his pride that Ryan found a wonderful partner and friend in Alyssa -- like father, like son. He doted on his grandchildren, Cooper and Layton, the sons of Julie (Bill's daughter from his first marriage) and Brian Lee.

I think it would be a fair statement to say that Bill Saalfeld never met a stranger. It probably took about five seconds talking to him to become a friend. I don't know anyone who squeezed so much fun, so much living into a lifetime that was ended way too soon.

I think it's a safe bet to say I've know Bill longer than anyone here in McCook. Billy is my first cousin -- my mother, Mercedes, and his father, Dennis, were siblings. We grew up together in the tiny berg of Richland, Neb., a town of about 100 residents located dead-center eight miles between Columbus and Schuyler in the east-central part of the state, an hour north of Lincoln and a little more than an hour west of Omaha.

BILL SAALFELD was a pretty solid high school athlete. He excelled in football, wrestling and track and field during his prep days at Schuyler High, Class of 1968. He was a running back and linebacker for the Warriors, and there is a rumor that he still holds the school record for tackles in a season despite his relative un-giant frame that was wrapped around a gigantic heart. I believe he placed fourth at the state wrestling meet as a senior, competing around 132 or 138 pounds (sorry, my memory isn't serving me well in that capacity). He ran the 880-yard event in track (that's two laps, the forerunner to the 800-meter dash in current track measurements).

One of Richland's most talented left-handed products, he was told he was too small to play first base. But he excelled at that position for the Schuyler Legion baseball team that finished second in the Class B state tournament in the summer of '68.

THERE WAS PROBABLY about 10 kids residing in Richland in our wonderful days of youth, and I was at the bottom of the roster, age-wise. But the big guys always included me in football and baseball games at our home stadium -- historic Reiter Field in downtown Richland. Billy, his best buddy and running mate Dick Kunneman, and my older brother Terry were my earliest sports heroes. I've always looked up to Bill. He always was a great cousin and a great friend.

I wouldn't be here if not for Bill. He called me in August 2009 when I was living in western Wyoming. He told me the Gazette was looking for a sports editor and urged me to apply (so yes, it's Bill's fault!). About a month later, I was packing up and headed for McCook. I always stayed in contact with Bill and his family through the years, and always liked McCook after spending a few days here with them from time to time.

I am so happy that I got to spend these last few years here with my pal, his family and wonderful friends.

I call him Billy because that's what his wonderful mother, Betty, always called him. I recall that Bill and his older brother, Lee, never left their mother without a kiss goodbye -- my mom, I think, was extremely jealous that she didn't receive that same display of affection and respect from her two boys.

We are deeply saddened knowing that we never again get to experience in person Bill's wonderful smile, his sense of humor, his outgoing personality, a quality human being. But we take comfort in knowing that smile, that love we share for a very special man, a best friend, will live in our hearts forever. And hopefully one day we'll have the opportunity to see him again.

I can't describe how much I miss him already.

TUESDAY NIGHT will be a wonderful experience when we join with family and friends to share stories and pay tribute to a wonderful human being. Stories like the Richland graduating class of '64 featured on the Kansas City Royals baseball stadium message board, Billy's retirement party, PBK, and many, many more.

Wednesday will be one of the saddest, most difficult days of my life when we say goodbye. I am deeply honored to be among the group of men who will help carry Billy to his final resting place.

I bet Billy is talking Bison sports with Linda G. right now. They've got the best luxury skybox seats at Weiland Field picked out for next fall. Billy's probably talking about prospects for the McCook boys and girls track and field teams this spring. He's probably bragging up Sean Backer's golf talents and Austin Cherry's heart and desire running Bill's old event on the track. Hopefully he's swapping stories with Denny and Betty, Mel and Midge, Terry, Matt, and all the Saalfeld, Kodad and McCann relatives and old friends where he now resides.

Thank you for wonderful memories. Eternal rest, my dear friend.