Without a bowling alley to call their own, Seymour bowlers are saying farewell to an association they have kept going for the last 60 years.
On June 23, any sanctioned league bowler in Seymour, past or present, and their families are invited to attend a celebration event at Columbus Bowling Center to recognize the official dissolution of Seymour’s United States Bowling Congress Association Charter.
The free event will be from 1 to 6 p.m. with colored pin jackpot bowling with cash prizes, food and drinks and more than $5,000 in door prizes. There also will be cards and cornhole for those who are unable to bowl.
Reservations must be made by Saturday by calling Bob Klosterman at 812-580-8394.
Participants are encouraged to wear old team bowling shirts and bring along old team photos.
Klosterman, historian and past president for the Seymour USBC, said the event is a way to use up the association’s leftover funds and give back to all the local bowlers who have contributed to the success of the organization and the sport.
“We want to honor league bowlers,” Klosterman said. “It doesn’t matter if they quit bowling 20 years ago.”
So far, nearly 100 have confirmed they will be attending, he said.
Although some local men and women have chosen to continue bowling in leagues in Scottsburg or Columbus, Klosterman said it’s just not the same as having a bowling alley in Seymour.
There have been a total of six bowling facilities in Seymour to the best of his knowledge, starting in the basement of the Lutheran Club House in 1914. It was followed by the Seymour Bowling Alley in 1938 and Lucky Strike Lanes in 1939. During World War II there was a bowling alley in a hangar for soldiers who were training at the army airbase at Freeman Field. In 1957, BJ Lucky Lanes opened and Freeman Lanes opened in 1961, which later became Starlite Bowl. It was purchased by Brunswick and then later sold again and renamed Kingpins Bowl in 2013.
Kingpins Bowl closed for good in 2016. At the time, there were more than 430 current and/or active members in the bowling association, Klosterman said.
The men’s Seymour Bowling Association was first chartered in 1961, with Maurice Hudson serving as president. The first city tourney was held that year and in 1981, the association organized a hall of fame with Bruce Beem and Byron Judd being the first inductees.
There are now 52 members in the men’s hall of fame.
In the 1966/67 season, there were 749 sanctioned men bowlers in Seymour, the highest number for a single season and in 1983, Seymour sent 39 men’s teams to the state bowling tournament.
The Seymour Women’s Bowling Association chartered in 1958 with president Patty Russell. The first women’s city tourney was held in 1959 and the Women’s Hall of Fame was organized in 1974 with Louise Sage being the first inductee. There are 40 women bowlers from Seymour in the hall of fame.
In 2006, the men’s and women’s associations merged to form the current Seymour United States Bowling Congress with Klosterman serving as the first president and Sherrye Ruddick serving as manager.
As a small association, Klosterman said he has always considered Seymour’s to be the best in the state, and he’s sad to see it come to an end.
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What: Farewell celebration for Seymour United States Bowling Congress Association Charter
Where: Columbus Bowling Center
When: 1 to 6 p.m. June 23
Open to anyone who has ever been a sanctioned League Bowler in Seymour and their families
Free colored pin jackpot bowling with cash prizes, free catered food and drinks, more than $5,000 in door prizes to be given away, cards and cornhole for those who can no longer bowl.
Registration must be made by Saturday by calling Bob Klosterman at 812-580-8394.
Participants are encouraged to wear old team bowling shirts and bring along old team photos.
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