On February 3, 2008 when Bill Klock passed away, Greater New Orleans Senior Olympics lost one of its finest. Bill was "the backbone" of the GNOSO Weightlifting, and the GNOSO Track & Field Events. In fact, the GNOSO Track & Field Event was named for him in tribute to his contribution to Senior Olympics.

We re-print his obituary here-in, in his honor.

William F. Klock

KLOCK William F. ("Bill") Klock of Covington, Lousiana, former Administrator of West Jefferson Metal Health Center, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2008, at the age of 70. He was born October 13, 1937, in Bluefields, Nicaragua. He was one of seven children born to the late Nathan Paul Allen Klock and Sofia Hunter Klock. Mr. Klock was a graduate of De La Salle High School. He attended Tulane University, where he was on the Tulane Football Team, lettering as a Tackle in 1958-59. He graduated from Tulane University in 1960, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After graduation, he pursued his love of sports and was awarded the Heavyweight Olympic Weightlifting and Power Lifting Champion, the Southern USA Championships, and was a Gold Medal winner in a dual Olympic Weightlifting meet between the United States and Mexico. After winning these accolades, Mr. Klock went back to Tulane and received his Masters in Social Work in 1971. Sports continued to be a passion in his life. In 1977, Mr. Klock was the Strength Coach for the Washington Redskins under Coach George Allen. He was the 1992 Louisiana State 100-meter and 200-meter Sprinting Champion, 1993 200-meter Champion and runner-up for the shot-put, 1994 shot-put Champion, 1995 Louisiana State Triathlon Champion, 1996 State Bicycling Champion (in the 1-mile, 5-mile and 10-mile), and the Greater New Orleans and St. Tammany Bicyclist winner in 2004. These accomplishments allowed opportunities that he cherished, including being a Committee member for the Greater New Orleans Senior Olympics which he often officiated at, Coordinator of the Greater New Orleans Senior Olympic Track and Field Meet, and numerous public events regarding his passion. In 2006, he was selected the Greater New Orleans Regional Senior Athlete of the Year. Mr. Klock proudly serviced as a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army from 1962-1966. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Sandra Slaten Klock; his daughter Alexis Klock Butkevich and her husband, Mark Andrew Butkevich; and his grandson Theodore William Butkevich; and numerous other loving family and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery), on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held for the family at a later date. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, February 7, 2008, beginning at 9:00 a.m. For those so desiring, memorials in honor of William F. ("Bill") Klock may be made to the American Cancer Society. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com

Published in The Times-Picayune from 2/5/2008 - 2/6/2008.

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A GNOSO Photo of Bill, taken at the 2007 Bill Klock Track & Field Event.