Bill Bednar, 84, professional archer, inventor, coach, Archery Hall of Fame inductee

Bill Bednar won numerous professional archery titles, held several patents for crossbow technology and coached the University of Akron archery team in the late 1970s.

He owned and operated Portage Archery Center in Suffield, Ohio, where he helped young people develop their archery skills.

Bill, who died Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at age 84, was in his 30s when he was introduced to the world of arrows and bows in the late 1950s. He entered his first competition in 1961, turned professional in 1962 and won his first Professional Archers Association National Tournament men’s title in 1963.

In the 1960s, he was the PAA's top money winner. He won three PAA championships and the Ben Pearson Open.

He took 27 Ohio State field and target championships between 1963 and 1983.

In his 60s and early 70s, Bill won six gold medals in the Senior Olympics and participated in World Crossbow Championship in Portugal and New Zealand.

Bill was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame in September 2007.

He was born William J. Bednar in Yatesboro, Pa. , attended Rootstown High School in Rootstown, Ohio.

Bill and his wife, Edith, opened their archery center, which featured a pro shop and outdoor shooting range, in 1964.

Although officially retired, Bill remained involved in the bows-and-arrows business into his 80s as an inventor for TenPoint Crossbow Technologies, the crossbow manufacturing plant he co-founded with his son, Rick, and friend, George R. Gardner in 1994.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Edith; son, Richard (Vitina) Bednar; daughters, Cindy (Rod) Shaffer and JoAnna (David) Rolenz; grandchildren, Phillip and Steven Bednar, Michael (Michelle) Shaffer, and Eric and Alaina Rolenz; great-grandchildren, Madison, Macie and Maggie Shaffer; and sisters, Margaret Bosko, Rose Lutz and Agnes Dobrilovic.

Bill’s parents, Margaret and John Bednar; brothers, John, Joe and George; and sisters, Mary and Helen, are deceased.

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, September 6, 2009, at at Hopkins Lawver Mogadore Funeral Home, 34 S. Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore, Ohio, where funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

Condolences and more: www.hopkinslawver.com

More about Bill Bednar: Bowhunting.net profile.

This obituary was originally posted on ObitsOhio.com on Sept. 5, 2009.