Tennessee bowler reaches 55 years at USBC Women's Championships
April 29, 2016
LAS VEGAS - At the age of 19, Nancy Folden of Memphis, Tennessee, made a 60-mile trip from Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska, to compete at the 1955 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Folden returned to the event eight years later when it visited her hometown, and she has bowled in the world's largest participatory sporting event for women ever since.
This week, at the South Point Bowling Plaza, the 85-year-old right-hander celebrated her 55th USBC Women's Championships appearance, and she hopes her longevity at the event inspires others to do the same.
Folden was welcomed to the Bowling Plaza by a standing ovation from her fellow competitors as her milestone visit was recognized with a plaque and chevron.
"What a thrill to be recognized like that," said Folden, who has visited 40 cities and 28 states throughout her Women's Championships career. "So many of the bowlers told me they hope they can make it for this many years, and I hope I can encourage them to do so. Even if you don't bowl well, it's still great just to be here with everybody."
Folden had some additional involvement in the event through the National 600 Bowling Club and served as its secretary-treasurer from 1966-1984. The organization is celebrating a milestone in 2016 as its 50th Annual National 600 Bowling Club Tournament is running in conjunction with the Women's Championships.
"I was in charge of the side tournament, so I had to be at the tournament for opening, closing and Convention," said Folden, a Memphis Area USBC Hall of Famer. "For those 18 years, it was part of my job to be here, but bowling was always my thing."
During that stretch, Folden did show off her prowess on the lanes, too. She recorded a second-place finish in Division 1 Singles at the 1976 event in Denver after posting a 650 series. Vanda Philson of Sidney, Nebraska, captured the title at Celebrity Sports Center with a 666 total.
"I received a patch and the letter that came with finishing second, and I treasure that," Folden said. "One of my teammates I traveled with, Dot Taylor, had to have them bring oxygen for her because of the altitude, but that must have got me going be because I was bowling so well there."
Over the years, Folden has enjoyed building friendships from her tournament experiences and will look to continue her adventure at the Women's Championships for as long as she can.
"I think the camaraderie and friends you foster over the years is what makes this great," Folden said. "It's also a thrill after you've been here a few times to keep on bowling. My family wouldn't know what to do if I said I wasn't going to go bowling. They would think something is wrong. It's in my genes. I have to do it."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Folden returned to the event eight years later when it visited her hometown, and she has bowled in the world's largest participatory sporting event for women ever since.
This week, at the South Point Bowling Plaza, the 85-year-old right-hander celebrated her 55th USBC Women's Championships appearance, and she hopes her longevity at the event inspires others to do the same.
Folden was welcomed to the Bowling Plaza by a standing ovation from her fellow competitors as her milestone visit was recognized with a plaque and chevron.
"What a thrill to be recognized like that," said Folden, who has visited 40 cities and 28 states throughout her Women's Championships career. "So many of the bowlers told me they hope they can make it for this many years, and I hope I can encourage them to do so. Even if you don't bowl well, it's still great just to be here with everybody."
Folden had some additional involvement in the event through the National 600 Bowling Club and served as its secretary-treasurer from 1966-1984. The organization is celebrating a milestone in 2016 as its 50th Annual National 600 Bowling Club Tournament is running in conjunction with the Women's Championships.
"I was in charge of the side tournament, so I had to be at the tournament for opening, closing and Convention," said Folden, a Memphis Area USBC Hall of Famer. "For those 18 years, it was part of my job to be here, but bowling was always my thing."
During that stretch, Folden did show off her prowess on the lanes, too. She recorded a second-place finish in Division 1 Singles at the 1976 event in Denver after posting a 650 series. Vanda Philson of Sidney, Nebraska, captured the title at Celebrity Sports Center with a 666 total.
"I received a patch and the letter that came with finishing second, and I treasure that," Folden said. "One of my teammates I traveled with, Dot Taylor, had to have them bring oxygen for her because of the altitude, but that must have got me going be because I was bowling so well there."
Over the years, Folden has enjoyed building friendships from her tournament experiences and will look to continue her adventure at the Women's Championships for as long as she can.
"I think the camaraderie and friends you foster over the years is what makes this great," Folden said. "It's also a thrill after you've been here a few times to keep on bowling. My family wouldn't know what to do if I said I wasn't going to go bowling. They would think something is wrong. It's in my genes. I have to do it."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.