12/27/08

300 Award for Joanie Demakeas!!!!!

40 games, 7 hours, 75 years

Margaret Jones recently celebrated her 75th birthday by doing what she loves best:  bowling.  On this outing, though, she spared no effort.  The Suffolk resident began bowling at 3 p.m. on a recent Saturday at AMF Western Branch lanes and didn't stop until almost seven hours later.  In all, she bowled 40 consecutive games, averaging 170 per game.  Steve Sook, general manager at AMF Western Branch for more than a decade, said he has never seen anything like it.  "Not at this center,"  Sook said.  "No one's even tried."  He was not surprised, though, that it was Jones who established the alleyway's marathon achievement.  "She's very energetic and involved and just goes and goes and goes,"  Sook Said.  "She still had more games in her."

Jones bowls in three leagues during the week and in weekend tournaments.  Her grandson, Ryan Riggs, bowls with her in one of the leagues.  Jones is secretary of the Sunday Night Mixed League and the Wednesday Night Mixed at Portsmouth's Scott Center.  She also runs a Saturday morning youth league that grandson Trevor Riggs competes in.  In addition, she is employed weekdays at Maxway in Portsmouth. 

Jones has not been bowling 42 of her 75 years.  She said she began in September 1964, when her sister Lib Granger invited her to bowl.  Granger, 79, also still bowls.  "But I've really put myself into bowling since my husband David passed away 13 years ago," Jones said.  "I had to have something to do to keep me going.  I figure I'll be here as long as I can put one foot in front of the other."

"I bowled it legit, straight through and the only breaks I took were bathroom breaks,"  she said.  "I wasn't tired.  I was nervous, excited and pumped up.  Bit it was getting late.  I figured everyone was getting tired and was ready to go home."    Besides, she can look forward to next year's birthday.  "I might tray it again sometime, just start earlier next time,"  Jones said.

Fran O'Hop

You can reach Fran by e-mailing her at lohop38@aol.com or write her at

Joe and Fran O'Hop, c/o Fortunato and Lois Pichardo, 717 Schooner Harbor, Corpus Christi, TX  78402.