Blindness doesn't stop Shelton man

Bill Scholl was a minister in the Dalles, Oregon when surgery on his eyes cost him his sight at the turn of the century.

"It was horrible," recalled the 81-year Scholl, now a resident of Shelton. "The absolute worst thing about being visually impaired is not being able to drive."

The loss of his sight led him to retire from leading a United Methodist congregation in Oakville, where he preached using a tablet. "It became too difficult," he said. He and his wife moved in with their daughter at Timberlakes.

Scholl said his vision is "quite bleary," though he can see items better up close. He's getting around well enough to fulfill a longtime desire to be a standup comic by making his debut last month at El Sarape restaurant in downtown Shelton; donateing his time to Shelton schools; and training to compete in August at the National Veteran Golden Age Games in Salt Lake City.

Scholl will compete in boccie ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes and disc golf at the event. Almost 1,000 competitors, all veterans over the age of 55, are expected to compete at the 38th annual games. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs hosts the event, and qualifying competitors advance to the national event.

Scholl found out about the games at the Blind Rehabilitation Center at American Lake, where a year ago he started taking a recreational therapy class on Wednesdays.

Scholl takes a Dial-a-Ride bus to the Shelton YMCA, where he works out on a stationary bike and a treadmill. At home, he set up a horseshoe pit and a cornhole bench to practice.

So how does a blind competitor aim?

For disc golf, the guide will say something like "the hole is at your one o'clock, it's about 500 feet or whatever," he said. The guide will also retrieve the discs.

And what does he hope to get from the competition? "A sense of accomplishment."

Scholl, who served with the Army from 1960 to 1963, volunteers with The Lions Club's Knights of the Blind. He visits local schools to talk to third grade students, hand out mini canes and give the kid's book "Grandpa's White Cane."

"Third graders are just wonderful," he said. "They have the best questions."

Scholl also started a low-vision support group at the Mason County Senior Activities Association's senior center in Shelton.

His standup routine is inspired by comic Jeanne Robertson. His debut set was a hit, and he plans to take the stage again at the comedy event, hosted on the third Tuesday of each month at El Sarape.

"One of my spirits is every morning I wake up and try to make someone laugh out loud that day."

He said he's working on a routine he calls "The Blue Pill," and "I have some blind stories that happened to me in the last couple years that are funny - sort of."