By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

As dozens gathered, cheers and tears accompanied the emotionally charged, first-ever induction ceremonies for the newly created Niles Bowling Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon at AA Timberlanes.

Twenty bowling standouts of the past and present were acknowledged for their significant contributions to Niles bowling history. For many, it was a jubilant, long-deserved recognition of efforts to focus on past achievements of bowlers in Niles.

Considerable time and research were devoted to organizing this event. Bill Reeves, Jr., President of the Niles Four Flags Bowling Association, emceed the event, and was  assisted by Tom Reames, a veteran Board of Directors member in handing out the plaques to surviving honorees and family representatives of deceased  recipients.
The event was immediately followed by the second annual Hall of Fame Baker Tournament, featuring top-notch teams from the Niles area.

In bowling’s Golden Age of the 1940s, through the 1980s, the original Niles Bowling Association had hundreds of keglers participating, nightly, at six different local bowling facilities. The original Niles Elks Lodge on Third and Sycamore had a six-lane alley. The hardwood approach and lanes still lie in the basement of the building, but bowling discontinued there in the early ’60s. Poorman’s Recreation was located on “the hilltop” in Buchanan and burned down in the late 1970s. Spanish Terrace Lanes, near Edwardsburg overlooked Christiana Lake’s shoreline. It ceased operation around 1980.

White’s Lanes was one of the premier houses of the Niles area, along with Shula’s (now Joey Armadillo’s) and AA Timberlanes (formerly Weiland’s Recreation), on  Second Street. The last two houses are the only remaining bowling establishments in Niles.

White’s Lanes closed its doors in 2005, after proprietor, Lance White, announced his retirement. White’s Lanes was one of the most challenging centers in the area. One knew, if he could score well on those hand-oiled alleys, he could bowl well anywhere.

Wieland’s All-star Tournament, first held at AA Timberlanes and later at White’s, was the granddaddy of many of the current local tournaments, including Saturday’s Hall of Fame event and the Budweiser/ Stanley Appliance Open. Held in November, it was a three- weekend event, featuring double shifts of as many as 36 bowlers per shift. After each of the first two sessions there was a cut off of the top bowlers, from the rest, by total pinfall. The All-Stars were a great attraction for bowlers from the Michiana area, and part of the basis for the selection of the first Hall of Fame class members.

After the second session, a third weekend featured head to head competition among the 12 remaining finals. Each finalist bowled 12 games on Saturday followed by another 12 contests on Sunday. I remember bowling once, as a finalist.

The pins were made out of solid maple wood and only used in the finals. They stood there defying you, like lead, to knock them all down. Twelve games, two days in a row, could take its toll on a participant’s physique.

There were three other sources of criterion for selections to the inductees. One was championship performances in the Michiana Bowlers’ Association, a Michiana rotating tournament of upper-echelon bowlers that still continues.

Another factor for consideration of enshrinement for some of the award winners was long and meritorious service as officers of the local chapters of the WIBC (Women’s International Bowling Congress) and ABC (American Bowling Congress). In 2006 these two national organizations merged to form the USBC, United States Bowling Congress.
A third rationale used for selection, in some cases, was sponsorship of local teams or proprietorship of local lanes. Following is the Class of 2009 inductees and their achievements.

• Pat Anderson – In 1985, Pat became the first woman to ever bowl in the Weiland All-Star finals.

• John Bierwagen* held a 200-plus average for most of his career. He was, at one time, invited to bowl with the Detroit Strohs, a professional bowling team. You couldn’t find a nicer guy to bowl with than John. Always friendly and good-natured, John would beat you and then offer helpful advice to improve your bowling.

• Lefty (Dwain) Curry* was an outstanding left-hander. His highest game was a 299. He often bowled as much as five times a week according to his wife Betty, but his true pride and joy may have been his long involvement as the Youth Director of bowling at White’s. For seven years, he and Betty coached kids from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

• Everett Deeds* was a veteran bowler, winning the 1972 All-Stars while averaging 217.58 on the final Sunday. His pesky and always talkative humor inspired competitors and teammates alike.

• Dick Farrell* was the long-time Niles ABC Association Secretary. He was the oldest to ever bowl in the All-Stars.

• Patty DeBoever continues to be one of the best bowlers in Niles and South Bend. The daughter of Everett Deeds, she has carried a 200-plus average and won the first women’s All-Star event. Her highest game was a 297 and her best series, to date, is a 720.

• Rufus Leath* was a well-known U.S. Postal employee, who bowled into his eighties. His high averages and his long-term commitment as a Board of Directors member of the ABC determined his selection by the HOF committee.

• Bob Leonard is a retired businessman from Niles. His sons and daughters have continued to excel in bowling. Bob recalled his best game, a 257, shooting seven in a row, booting the eighth frame, and striking out. Bob’s biggest contribution to Niles bowling; however, was his remarkable 50 years of service as the secretary of the Knights of Columbus League on Friday nights.

• Frank (Bud) Linn Won the All-Stars a record 11 times. The crafty southpaw placed second eight times in the event, while throwing a 300 in the 1970 qualifying round.

• Esther Mantke* was the WIBC secretary for the Niles Association for years. Her avid devotion for bowling transfused to her sons John and Jim.

• John Mantke* was legendary as a kegler. Mutiple 300 games, winning four All-Star tournaments, MBA titles, and drilling his own bowling balls showed his passion and dedicated preparedness to the game. He had one of the smoothest deliveries to witness.

• Veteran Peggy Patterson tossed a 300 while scoring 681 at White’s. It may have been the first 300 thrown at White’s by a woman. Her trademark was that powerful shot.

• Ann Marlin’s name and 268 score still hangs on the AA Timberlanes walls as a record for high game scratch during the Wieland’s, while it was being held at Timberlanes. Her 678 was a fond memory as friends described how excited she was to be on hand for the ceremony and to be honored.

• Katie Myers served 21 dedicated years as the president of the Niles WIBC. Together, with husband Bill, they formed a formidable twosome that was seldom beaten in couples competition. Her high game was a 262, and her best series was 684. She still hammers the pins at Joey Armadillo’s on Thursday nights. She was at first opposed to the merger of the WIBC and the ABC, but commented that she is so surprised and pleased with the way men’s and women’s associations in Niles have cooperated and worked together after the unification process.

• Bill Poorman* was honored, not only for his operation of Poorman’s House of Recreation, but also as the producer of countless, finely designed trophies in his other business, Poorman’s House of trophies.

• Norma Taylor* was the 1983 Women’s State Champion bowler. Long-revered in the Niles community, she and her husband Parker, were ambassadors of bowling. Parker recalled her extended dedication as WIBC secretary until 1985.

• Ted Wieland* was the founder and first owner of AA Timberlanes. He was also the originator of the Wieland’s All-Star Tournament.

• Leonard White* was the first owner of White’s Lanes. He prided himself in keeping that facility exceptionally clean and enjoyable. A retired teacher, White purchased the alleys and made major strides to increase youth participation and to promote the continuation of the All-stars competition.

• Lance White* assumed the operation of his father’s (Leonard’s) establishment and continued its traditions: hand-oiled lanes, challenging competition, and personable service to the public. He and his brother, Arnie, both could hammer the headpin. Everyone knew Lance and his family to cater to the needs of the bowling community.

• Joe Woods, presently retired and living in Florida, was famous for his generous sponsorship of his teams. Woods owned and operated Woods’ Beverage, a local Stroh’s distributorship, for years. The Niles Strohs were a perennial championship team that always featured some of the most talented bowlers from the area.
(*Deceased)

The Niles Library, Niles Museum or the Niles Senior Citizen Center on Bell Road have been mentioned by Board of Directors as possible sites for the trophy, which will have all of the names of the honorees engraved.
Further details are pending.