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Poland’s Richardson still thrilled by strikes
By Greg Gulas
POLAND
For Bob Richardson, the adrenalin rush bowling has supplied for the past 59 years has been second to none.
At 82, the Poland resident continues to defy his age and a part of the game usually reserved for those much younger for he’s rolled four perfect games and also added a pair of 299s to his resume.
In February as a member of the 9-pin count Holiday Bowl Seniors Mixed League, he bowled back-to-back 300-games en-route to a career best 866 set.
Having just celebrated his birthday on March 23, Richardson shows no visible signs of slowing down any time soon.
“I used to play golf and while the game is fun, I was just an everyday player and nothing special at all on the links,” Richardson said. “I also enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball but bowling was my best sport.
“The trick is reading the lanes, adjusting when your ball hooks too much and then repositioning yourself.”
A 1951 graduate of Poland High School, Richardson earned 12 letters as a member of its football, basketball and track and field teams.
A state champion pole vaulter who helped his alma mater to the state crown as a senior (they were runners-up his junior year), he won the county pole vault and high jump titles his senior campaign while finishing runner-up in the broad jump.
He also set the NEO district pole vault record with a jump of 11 feet 8 æ inches.
He spent two years in the U.S. Army at Fort Collins, Colo., and another in the National Guard. He was never presented an opportunity to participate in sports.
When his service commitment was up, he returned to the area and for the next 35 years worked at Panelmatic where he served the instrument control panel builder as its chief estimator.
His two older brothers, Henry and Chuck, and sister Marlea encouraged him to take up the lane sport.
“I was just getting out of the service and wanted to get back into competitive sports so with encouragement by my two older brothers and sister, I began to bowl,” Richardson said. “I’m so glad now that I did because I’ve had so much fun ever since.”
Until it disbanded last year, he had bowled in the Lutheran League for 58 years and was part of the Poland Businessmen’s League for more than 30 years.
He bowled two of his perfect games at Camelot Lanes and the other two at Holiday Bowl.
He said Boardman Lanes also is a very special site.
At his peak, he sported a 200 average. Spending three months in Florida during peak bowling season the past 10 years has taken him away from the lanes and his average dipped to 189 in men’s league play.
With rings and medals safely tucked away for his perfect games and 299 rolls, he averages 235 in the 9 Pin Count League.
“Originally, I didn’t want to join the league but am so glad that I did,” Richardson said. It truly has been a lot of fun for many, many reasons.
“I’ve never rolled back-to-back perfect games or had that kind of success in successive games in any league over the years.”
Richardson’s best non-9 pin series is 784.
Reid Lamport, head pastor at Church of the Rock where Richardson and wife, Norma Jean are members, calls his church member one very unique person.
“Bob is an ‘aw-shucks, what’s the big deal’ athlete like so many of his generation,” said Lamport, Poland’s retired softball and football coach. “Humility was once commonplace and men like Bob modeled it so well.”
Tom Eframedes, owner of Holiday Bowl since 1987, said there’s a reason Richardson has enjoyed success.
“I’ve known Bob as long as I’ve owned this alley and he’s just as consistent today as he was back when we first met,” Eframedes said. “His demeanor, stroke on the ball and approach to the game has never changed.
“He’s very humble and never pats himself on the back so about the only thing that has changed over the years has been the equipment.”