Bill Gardner

Bill Gardner, also known as William M. Gardner Jr., is an American former professional paintball player, team captain, equipment designer and businessman. He founded Smart Parts, co-founded the All Americans with his brother Adam Gardner, and participated in the organisation of the National Professional Paintball League. Gardner later served as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia Americans and became an owner of the Miami Effect franchise.[1][2][3]

Early involvement in paintball

Gardner first played paintball in Orlando, Florida, in 1986 while studying for an MBA at Emory University in Atlanta. He subsequently established a field near Atlanta called Getaway Paintball Airgun Games. After leaving Emory, he returned to Pennsylvania and completed a machining certificate at Johnstown Vo-Tech.[1]

The machining training became important to Gardner's subsequent work in paintball equipment design and manufacturing.[1]

All Americans

Gardner and his brother Adam formed the All Americans in 1989 at Sgt. York's Friendly War Games in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Bill Gardner became the team's captain.[1]

During the early 1990s, the All Americans developed into one of the leading American tournament teams. Results documented in 1995 included victories at the 1991 International Masters, the 1992 World Cup, the 1994 World Cup in both the ten-player and five-player competitions, and the 1995 ESPN World Championship.[1]

Gardner described the team and Smart Parts as closely connected. All Americans players tested equipment produced by the company and supplied feedback during product development. He also emphasised preparation, communication between playing squads and detailed knowledge of equipment as parts of the team's competitive approach.[1]

Gardner remained captain of the All Americans during the 2001 National Professional Paintball League season.[2] The team won the professional ten-player competition at the 2001 Chicago Open.[3]

National Professional Paintball League

In a 1995 interview, Gardner described himself and Adam Gardner as participants in the development of the National Professional Paintball League following dissatisfaction among professional teams with tournament officiating in 1992.[1]

With assistance from Steve Davidson, professional team captains and tournament promoters were invited to a meeting in Chicago. According to Gardner, the resulting structure was intended to give players responsibility for rules, employ compensated referees and allow the participating teams to select event promoters. Jerry Braun assisted with the league's legal structure, charter and bylaws and agreed to promote its initial events.[1]

Gardner's account also described the proposed league as including both professional and amateur competition, with professional teams contributing to the officiating of events held in different regions.[1]

Smart Parts and equipment development

Gardner stated that he began Smart Parts in his garage in 1988. He moved the operation to a facility in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1989, where he initially worked alone with a lathe and milling machine. Adam Gardner joined the business later.[1]

The company's first major product was the Boss pump marker. Gardner said that he manufactured every component and that approximately 500 examples were sold before the expansion of semiautomatic markers reduced demand for pump-action equipment. He subsequently developed the spiral-ported Smart Parts barrel and applied for patent protection for the design.[1]

Smart Parts later became associated with products including the Smart Parts Shocker, Freak barrel system, Impulse, Nerve and Ion. Gardner was involved in product development while also using the All Americans as an equipment-testing team.[1][4]

Patent records identify Gardner as an inventor or co-inventor on numerous paintball-related designs, including electronic marker controls, pneumatic firing systems, valves and barrel designs. His later patent work includes designs assigned to GOG Paintball.[4]

Following the end of Smart Parts, Gardner remained involved in paintball equipment development. DLX Technology identifies him as a member of its later engineering and development work.[4][5] Detailed histories of Smart Parts products, intellectual property disputes and the company's closure are covered in the relevant company and equipment articles.

NXL team involvement

In 2003, Gardner served as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia Americans in the newly established National X Ball League. Darryl Trent was the team's head coach, while Adam Gardner was included on the playing roster.[6] The Philadelphia Americans won the 2003 NXL championship.[7]

During the 2004 season, Gardner purchased the vacant Miami Effect NXL franchise after its former players departed and formed Infamous. He rebuilt the Effect roster around former All Americans player Roddy MacDonald.[8]

Recognition

Gardner was inducted into the Hall of Icons as a member of its 2024 class. The organisation cited his leadership of the All Americans and his contribution to the development and expansion of paintball manufacturing through Smart Parts.[9]

See also

• Adam Gardner
• All Americans
• Smart Parts
• National Professional Paintball League
• Philadelphia Americans
• Miami Effect
• GOG Paintball
• DLX Technology
• Smart Parts Shocker

References

1. Jim “Roadrunner” Fox, “Voice of the Pros: Meet Bill Gardner, Jr.”, Action Pursuit Games, October 1995, pp. 44, 46–47 and 82–85.
2. WARPIG – NPPL 2001 professional rosters.
3. WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Chicago Open.
4. Justia Patents – William M. Gardner Jr. inventions and patent applications.
5. DLX Technology – Our Story.
6. WARPIG – 2003 NXL rosters from the Mardi Gras Open.
7. WARPIG – 2003 PSP World Cup.
8. Bill Mills, “NXL – Same triggers, new leagues”, WARPIG, 9 July 2004.
9. Iconic Paintball – Hall of Icons Class of 2024.