HOW WE GOT STARTED!
OUR FIRST 25 YEARS
AS
WRITTEN BY FRAN O’HOP
November, 1949 – 1950 - Once upon a time, there were 32 little women – and that became The Norfolk Women’s Bowling Association. The End!! I’m only kidding! From here on if I have left anything out, I’m sorry as it is hard to recall all that has happened in 30 years.
First of all, I didn’t choose bowling as my sport. My husband signed me up to bowl as they needed another woman on their team. I didn’t know a thing about bowling. Had never worn slacks, and, did not know how many steps to take – qualifications galore!! So, when I started, I started on the wrong foot and had to hop at the line to get on the right foot. I guess I looked so bad they called me “Hoppy”. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it also cost $.25 per game plus $.25 prize money for a grand total of $1.00. Now with growing children I always had a place to put that dollar. I wasn’t sure that I really liked the game!!
My first average was 119 and I had to get up to the lanes early to find a ball that fit my hand. Most of the balls weighed 16 lbs. And only a few were 15 lbs. The men’s association suggested that we form a women’s association. Not knowing what we were getting into we held a meeting of our little group. Our meeting produced our first association President, Thelma Craven, and yours truly, Secretary. Well, needless to say, I didn’t know what it was all about but Windy Capps and Joe O’Hop offered their help. The girls said “You only have to hold two meetings a season …. That’s not much!! “It won’t take much time”.
Wow, now I was Secretary of a league and had an association to help organize and I knew only a few people who bowled. Joe said the way to get girls to bowl was to sit in the Bowling lanes and when someone came in to bowl go talk to her and sign her up. “So we did.”
I remember one incident that happened. Joe and I had just bought a record player and the latest recordings. One day, my team member, Fran Gustyn called and said “Fran come over for lunch and bring your records.” I was delighted she called but wondered how she knew I had just bought Eddie Fisher records, as he was the new heart-throb then. I proceeded to pick up my new records, put them in the car and took them all the way over to Norfolk from South Norfolk, Happy as a Lark! I was new at calling bowling averages – records! All I can remember Fran saying is, “Oh No Fran, you didn’t”. Oh well, that’s how we got started – By trial and error! “Rome wasn’t built in a day!!”
The first women’s bowling association was established between May and November, 1950. It was called the Norfolk Women’s Bowling Association. The first President was Thelma Craven and the first Secretary, Fran O’Hop. Our dues were $.75 ($.50 for the WIBC card and $.25 local dues). Bowling was $.25 per game. The bowling lane was at 9th and Granby Streets, Ida Simmons Bowling Lanes. There were 10 tenpin lanes and the rest were for duckpins as Ida Simmons was a duckpin bowler. We had pin boys and all of us threw dimes down the gutter after bowling as a tip for him. If we didn’t bowl fast enough he would beat the sides of the pits to hurry you up. If he got real bad we wouldn’t tip him – sometimes if he recognized you on the lanes again he would refuse to set pins for you. We also held our first city tournament here, which consisted of 4 teams of 4 girls each. Entry fee was $4.00 (no expense money was kept back).
In 1952, Joe and I were transferred to Richmond. While we were away some of the girls became discontented with a few of the rules and voted to drop out of the association for awhile. Also, while I was away I heard that the leagues had trouble with the lanes (pin-boy problems, etc.). Pin Path (now Wards Corner Lanes) run by Mr. Levy promised the leagues if they would bowl in his house he would put in 10 lanes of tenpins.
In 1954, Joe and I returned to Norfolk, and I contacted Mary Bolton for an update on the status of the association and the new lanes in which our league was bowling. We decided to attempt a reorganization of the Association. With the support of the former members and a little more experience we were on our way. We encompassed Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach and Mary Bolton was voted in as our First President and again, yours truly, Secretary. The following year, we switched places, elections continued on a yearly basis. Succeeding to the office of President: Marie Bradley, Anne Tucker, Hazel Strickland, Rita Looper and onto the present. Mary Bolton continued as Secretary for approximately 5 or 6 years on an elected basis. She was followed by Kay Hazelton, Marge Blinn and then Mary again. These people mentioned, all donated their time and efforts until the Association grew so large we upgraded these positions to a salary. Maggie LaFleur was Sergeant-at-arms for 19 years and boy what a job she did. We will miss her as she passed away in 1980. I’m sure she will be here in spirit for this our 25th Anniversary.
Our meetings were business and socially oriented – Everyone helped. Coffee and home made goodies helped us through our problems. I suspect it also added a few pounds. We met in our homes until the number of people involved grew too large. We needed more room. We then held our meetings at the Larrymore Community Center on Mona Avenue. We paid $4.00 per meeting for the use of the hall. When they raised the fee we moved to Little Creek School. We also held our meetings at the Larrymore School and at Granby High School.
We were shocked when Mary and Roy Bolton were taken away from us by the tragic automobile accident. Anne Tucker had been helping Mary and she logically assumed the Secretary’s duties for the rest of the term. Rita Looper was President at this time. Anne was then elected to serve for a three year term.
We have had many growing pains. When Hazel Strickland, President, Reba Howell, Secretary and Betty Hall, Treasurer, were elected to office, we finally had a combination of officers that made the Association what it is today. We have grown from thirty-two to our present membership of 8,500 plus. We have grown out of our shoe box files and paper carton storage to our present office with file cabinets, calculators, copy machines, typewriters, desks, chairs and full-time help.
Bowling has become a tremendous participation sport as evidenced by the membership in both the men’s and women’s association.
We are organized, some people even say we have “clout” but this is not so. Your association officers, lane directors and those others who volunteer their time and talent are a dedicated group who serve the membership and promote the game for the good of all.
One more thing before I close, this Association was the prime mover in organizing the State Association. The names I mention are recalled from memory and if some are left out it is not intentional. My sincere thanks to Mary Bolton, Thelma Craven, Jean Shortt, Eloise Stover, Marie Bradley, Myrtle Hutchinson of Newport News, the girls from Roanoke, Arlington, Alexandria, Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland. Without them we would not be where we are on this 25th Anniversary of the Tidewater Women’s Bowling Association.
I am thankful for my husband’s support and my family’s tolerance of the many times I left them on their own while I was away having a good time, in order to help the stupid game of knocking down pins become an organized reality, thereby keeping this Association the best in the state.
I wish you all many strikes, fewer splits and the best for you and yours.
My sincere thanks to each and everyone who helped in all my endeavors.
Sincerely,
Fran O’Hop
March, 1981
TWBA celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2003 – 2004 and as soon as we get someone to write about the next 25 years, we will upgrade our history.
“WHERE DID THE YEARS GO?”
We often ask at moments such as this…
And then we take some quiet time
To dream and reminisce.
To think about the lessons learned,
The love we gave and got,
To ponder challenges we faced
And insights that they brought.
We recollect how, all in all,
We rose to every test…
And suddenly, we realize
WE DID OUR VERY BEST!
(And will continue to do so)