Memorial services for William R. Frye, 52, of Fort Worth, Texas, formerly of East Moline, are 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carl E. Mitchell Park or Arrowhead Ranch.

William died Sept. 28, 2003, in Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort Worth, after a sudden illness.

He was born Feb. 28, 1951, in Davenport to Archie and Apryle Fisher Frye.

Known to family and friends as Billy Frye, Billy graduated from United Township High School, class of 1969, where he participated in football, wrestling and baseball. Billy is well remembered by everyone in the United Township area as a captain of teams and a person everyone was glad to know.

In 1973, Bill graduated from Illinois State University, majoring in political science. He was a distinguished member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. ISU and Lambda Chi are on the map because of Bill. Bill served for two years in the Peace Corps in Gambia, West Africa. He helped needy tribesmen dig wells for water and plant crops for food as their lifestyle was changing in the '70s.

Upon returning to the States, he owned and operated Frye's Camera Shop and Studio with his brother Tom in downtown East Moline. Many families will recall the fun and joy the brothers brought along with their art while memorializing family functions.

Billy's love for fast boats and the water led to a resurgence of water skiing on the Mississippi River, where he became a legend to young and old. Dynamite Island was a favorite spot, as well as other river sandbars. His love for snow skiing, fast cars and women he could catch led him to Summit County, Colo., where he skied every day and worked when necessary.

With additions to his family, he propelled himself to become the premier salesperson for every company he worked for.

He was often told, ``Billy, these people are buying you, not your product.'' Bill's career in sales led to hunting safaris in the mountains of Russia, the Australian Outback and the African continent, as well as numerous destinations in the U.S.

Billy has spent the last few years traveling to Taiwan, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China, arranging factories exporting to the U.S. and Europe. He has spent his off time on his horse ranch in Texas with his sons until his untimely passing.

Survivors include his sons, Jeremiah Frye and Zachary Frye, both of Montgomery, Minn., Joshua Frye, Moline, and Kyler Frye, Fruita, Colo; father, Archie Frye, East Moline; brother, Tom Frye, Prior Lake, Minn.; nieces, Jessica Emerson and Erin Lynn, both of Prior Lake; nephew, Gabe Frye, Prior Lake; and great-nephew, Xavier Emerson, Prior Lake.

Billy Frye, aka Bill, William, Bullfrog, Rosebush and Uncle Buck will be remembered by all who knew him with love, respect and a longing for the chance to live a life as full as his. Some of us dream about the lives we want, and very few others, like Billy, live their dreams. If you knew Bill, you are blessed. As a legend, Billy will never die. Billy is with God and the angels now, and they better be ready to take it to the max.