Delaware bowler makes 50th appearance at USBC Open
April 22, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Jerry Stewart of New Castle, Delaware, reflected on his career at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as he became the 176th bowler in tournament history to reach 50 years of participation on the championship lanes.
The 73-year-old right-hander began his tournament career at the 1960 event in Toledo, Ohio, and was recognized for his longevity Monday at the El Paso Convention Center with an escorted march down Center Aisle. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone.
"It was quite an experience," said Stewart, a member of the Wilmington USBC Hall of Fame. "With everybody clapping and standing, even in the squad room, it was quite a bit coming down Center Aisle. Looking back, it has been a great 50 years."
Stewart has enjoyed the chance to travel the country as he followed the USBC Open Championships through the years, and several on-lane performances standout as highlights, too.
At the 1966 event in Rochester, New York, Stewart briefly held the lead in Classic All-Events, before settling into fifth place with a 2,003 total. USBC Hall of Famer Les Schissler of Denver ended up taking the top spot with 2,112. Schissler also captured Classic Team and Classic Singles titles that year.
The Classic Division began in 1961 to separate the professional and non-professional entrants in the tournament. It was discontinued after 1979.
"We were bowling right before the Masters, and I was leading with two days to go," Stewart said. "A couple of big names had big starts in the team event, and I ended up third after the next day and fifth after that. I went from getting a ring to a watch band to a belt buckle, before ending with a patch. It was nice being in first, though. I still have the picture of myself holding the board with my name and scores that went on the leaderboard."
Stewart bowled in the Masters right after and delivered a strong showing as he defeated USBC Hall of Famers Nelson Burton Jr. and Tom Hennessey before falling to Earl Anthony and Marv Lowry.
"I needed to make the 10 pin in the 10th frame to beat Tom Hennessey," Stewart said. "I made it, and when I turned around, he was on the other end of the building. I think he was upset that a kid had beat him. I bowled against four stars, and three of them were hall of famers."
Another memorable moment included a strong start at the 1976 Open Championships in Oklahoma City that ended a little differently than Stewart would have hoped.
"We were bowling next to (USBC Hall of Famer) Pete Tountas' team, and I started off with either 278 or 279 and followed with a game in the 250s," Stewart said. "Then, I shot 137 in the third game. Everything I did was wrong. If I left a 2-5, I chopped it. If I went a little high, it was a split. Then I came back with another 270 game to start doubles. It was all or nothing that year."
This year in El Paso, he shot 587 in team, 538 in doubles and 469 in singles for a 1,594 all-events total.
In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 87,425 pins for a career average of 194.2.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 73-year-old right-hander began his tournament career at the 1960 event in Toledo, Ohio, and was recognized for his longevity Monday at the El Paso Convention Center with an escorted march down Center Aisle. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone.
"It was quite an experience," said Stewart, a member of the Wilmington USBC Hall of Fame. "With everybody clapping and standing, even in the squad room, it was quite a bit coming down Center Aisle. Looking back, it has been a great 50 years."
Stewart has enjoyed the chance to travel the country as he followed the USBC Open Championships through the years, and several on-lane performances standout as highlights, too.
At the 1966 event in Rochester, New York, Stewart briefly held the lead in Classic All-Events, before settling into fifth place with a 2,003 total. USBC Hall of Famer Les Schissler of Denver ended up taking the top spot with 2,112. Schissler also captured Classic Team and Classic Singles titles that year.
The Classic Division began in 1961 to separate the professional and non-professional entrants in the tournament. It was discontinued after 1979.
"We were bowling right before the Masters, and I was leading with two days to go," Stewart said. "A couple of big names had big starts in the team event, and I ended up third after the next day and fifth after that. I went from getting a ring to a watch band to a belt buckle, before ending with a patch. It was nice being in first, though. I still have the picture of myself holding the board with my name and scores that went on the leaderboard."
Stewart bowled in the Masters right after and delivered a strong showing as he defeated USBC Hall of Famers Nelson Burton Jr. and Tom Hennessey before falling to Earl Anthony and Marv Lowry.
"I needed to make the 10 pin in the 10th frame to beat Tom Hennessey," Stewart said. "I made it, and when I turned around, he was on the other end of the building. I think he was upset that a kid had beat him. I bowled against four stars, and three of them were hall of famers."
Another memorable moment included a strong start at the 1976 Open Championships in Oklahoma City that ended a little differently than Stewart would have hoped.
"We were bowling next to (USBC Hall of Famer) Pete Tountas' team, and I started off with either 278 or 279 and followed with a game in the 250s," Stewart said. "Then, I shot 137 in the third game. Everything I did was wrong. If I left a 2-5, I chopped it. If I went a little high, it was a split. Then I came back with another 270 game to start doubles. It was all or nothing that year."
This year in El Paso, he shot 587 in team, 538 in doubles and 469 in singles for a 1,594 all-events total.
In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 87,425 pins for a career average of 194.2.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.