Area bowlers lose good friend with death of Ed Zitnik

Ed Zitnik was one of the major players in local bowling circles, but the proprietor’s sphere in the sport also extended statewide and nationally.

“He’s done some outstanding things promoting the game through the years,” said Mike Dworak, general manager of Wedgewood Lanes where Zitnik operated his bowling business for the last four years, while remaining a partner in Bell-Wick Bowl with his brother, Francis Zitnik.

Zitnik, who passed away Tuesday at age 55, was active in the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, serving as its local president and also as a former president of the Ohio BPAA. He was also past vice-president of the national BPAA, headquartered in Arlington, Texas.

His most notable achievements involved the inclusion of all military base bowling centers under the BPAA umbrella and the creation and expansion of the Bowling Expo at BPAA national conventions.

“He headed up the committee to bring the military back to the BPAA as members,” Dworak said of Zitnik’s work that gave the BPAA a significant boost.

“That was a good portion of total BPAA members,” Dworak said of the accomplishment.

“He was also instrumental on the committee that started the Bowling Expo,” Dworak said of the event that is a trade show for bowling products.

“That’s a huge,” Dworak said of the part of the national convention that has become an attraction.

“I think Ed was good for thinking outside the box. Today, that term is over-used, but he was very good at that.”

Longtime observer Paul Trgovac recognized Zitnik’s efforts in promoting the Grand Prix scholarship program.

“It helped a lot of kids get money toward a college education or business education.”

Along with his brother, Ed Zitnik supported the high school bowling program extensively.

“Between Bell-Wick and Wedgewood, they currently host six schools at no cost to the schools,” said Trgovac, who talked to Ed Zitnik last week.

“I called him to verify that my son’s team [Campbell Memorial] had a spot in a tourney during the holidays. “He said ‘No problem.’ Then I asked him how things were going and he said, ‘OK, just busy as heck.’ It’s a big blow for local leadership.”

Trgovac was grateful to the Zitniks who invited Campbell to bowl at Bell-Wick after the Red Devils lost their host house two years after the high school program’s inaugural season.

“They took us in when nobody else wanted us. Without a center, Ed and Francis said ‘come on up’ and it’s the greatest thing to happen to our kids.”

He scheduled high school teams for the past eight years and was responsible for the statistics for the TAC, the first area conference to recognize bowling as a sport, said Fran Miller, coordinator for the Mahoning Valley Bowling Conference.

“We had our differences of opinions,” Miller said, “but we had one common goal: whatever we could do for the kids in the area, to give them a place to be, in an organized fashion, that was the ultimate goal — and you made it work.”

Trgovac recalled the 1960s and 70s and local BPAA influence.

“The Zitniks were involved with the BPAA for as long as I can remember, even when Ed’s father was around. When you talked about the BPAA in those days, you immediately thought of the Zitniks and the Gran family.”

Trgovac added, “They always took care of bowlers and people. I think their part in the high school game saved the sport. Ed was one of those who, smartly, felt that keeping 12- to 13-year-olds involved in the sport was an investment in future business.”

Youngstown USBC Women’s Association president Roseanne Winner echoed the reaction.

“He was a wonderful person, mentor and friend and always encouraged us to go outside of the box. His ideas were brilliant. Whether for the men’s, women’s or youth associations, he was trying to take us one step into the future.”

Joe Haus, association manager of the Greater Youngstown Bowling Assn., said that his dealings with Zitnik were constructive.

“When we had a bowling council, he was head of the BPAA and we worked pretty good and solved problems. He always treated our bowlers pretty fair. We’ll miss him. He was a strong voice in the proprietors’ organization and big with the juniors in the state.”

Zitnik was a 1998 GYBA Hall of Fame inductee along with several other halls of fame.

Wedgewood, the Valley’s biggest bowling facility with 50 lanes, also gives YSU’s bowling club a place to practice. Wedgewood will be the site for the 2007-2008 Heartland Conference championships, Feb. 23-24.

To fill the void at Wedgewood, Dworak said he’s attempting to purchase the center from the Shutrump family, via a purchase agreement similar to Zitnik’s.

I’ve been working here 23 years,” said Dworak. “I’d like to do it 23 more.”

XJohn Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Write to him at bassetti@vindy.com.