Clint Bullock stopped putting out real fires 18 years ago. Now he just helps his fellow bowlers put them out on the lanes.
Anyone that has spent a significant amount of time at either Spring Hill Lanes or Mariner Lanes over the past two decades has probably at least come across Bullock.
Whether bowling on his own or coaching others, the retired New York firefighter, a 61-year-old resident of Spring Hill, has become a familiar presence on the local bowling scene.
"I just enjoy helping people," Bullock said. "I enjoy seeing people take the game from one level to another and not get frustrated. I tell people whatever you learn, pass it on to someone else.
"That's why I'm at the bowling alley so much. I come to help other people. You want to see if they accomplish what you try to teach them."
Solid credentials
When Bullock retired and moved down to this area in 1990, he had two years of bowling experience in a firefighters' league.
He joined a league at Spring Hill and under the tutelage of Jimmy King learned how to throw a legitimate hook.
Bullock has rolled eight 300 games - the most recent last Dec. 27 at Spring Hill - and one 800 series, an 804 shot at Mariner on Dec. 1, 1997.
His average has generally hovered around 210, but this past season he averaged 220 over 105 games of the Joni Classic League Thursday nights at Spring Hill.
He also bowled in Spring Hill's Mike's Auto Body and Repair League on Monday nights, averaging 212 over 96 games.
Additionally in 24 games of the Kevin's Pro Shop League at Spring Hill he averaged 220, and he averaged 207 in 39 games of the Friday Early Mariners League at Mariner.
"I tried to concentrate more on my game," Bullock said. "Slow down and concentrate on hitting my mark, doing the things I'm supposed to do."
He doesn't keep such advice to himself, however. He estimated that for the past 10-12 years, he has worked with youth leagues at Spring Hill. He has also served as a volunteer coach for the Nature Coast Technical team the past two seasons.
Bobby Read knows about Bullock's teachings firsthand. A teammate of Bullock and King in the Joni Classic, the 20-year-old shot three 300s this season, averaged 222 and credits the two men for their work with him over the years.
"He (Bullock) helped me in the youth leagues when I was really young to now when I'm an adult," Read said. "He made me concentrate on my game more. He worked on all the kinks, made me a better bowler, made my game more focused.
"He's just a great guy. A good leader, a good role model for everyone in the county, really. Everyone looks up to the guy, just an overall great person."
Bullock admitted that many of the young bowlers that he has worked with, such as Read, are now averaging higher than he is. But regardless of average he just doesn't like watching people struggle, so he's always willing to speak up.
"It's not that I know more than anyone else," Bullock said. "I feel that a lot of decent bowlers keep it to themselves rather than help others.
"...Regardless of what everyone says, it's a challenging sport. It constantly changes from lane to lane, the different balls out there. Plus at the bowling alley you meet a lot of good people. You bowl with them for so many years you become close friends."
According to Bullock, what he does for all those people he meets means more to him than anything he accomplishes himself.
"My goal is help as many people as I can. That's where I get joy from, helping others," Bullock said. "I've got 300s, I've got one 800 series. I never know my score until I'm finished. I just go up and bowl and let my score speak for itself.
"If I get 20 300s, it doesn't faze me at all. I just enjoy the game."
BY THE NUMBERS: CLINT BULLOCK 2007-08 SEASON
League Games Average House
Joni Classic 105 220 Spring Hill
Kevin's Pro Shop 24 220 Spring Hill
Mike's Auto Body & Repair 96 212 Spring Hill
Friday Early Mariners 39 207 Mariner
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