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We participated actively
in the fight for "Equality in Bowling," and in 1950 both ABC
and WIBC removed the non-Caucasian clauses from their
constitutions. Starting in 1951 TNBA members have enjoyed
the privilege of competing in all open sanctioned leagues
and tournaments.
Clubs from the following
cities were represented at the inaugural NNBA meeting:
Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo,
Indianapolis, Chicago, and Racine, Wisconsin
The great heavyweight
champion Joe Louis and Ted Page, one of the outstanding
performers in the Negro Baseball Leagues, also were
instrumental during the formative years of organized black
bowling.
In addition to his golf
interests, Louis established a large, 24-lane alley in
Detroit in 1942, and was often seen participating in the
competition (The first black-owned lanes were built in 1940
by William Pierson in Cleveland, Ohio.)
By way of his involvement
in bowling and golf, Louis endeared himself even more to
working-class as well as upper-class blacks, who were more
likely to be found on the golf course. Ted Page was also a
lanes owner in Pittsburgh.
Although approximately 80
percent of our present membership is black, TNBA has no
racial restrictions whatsoever as to membership or
participation. TNBA's slogan is "Promoter of Sportsmanship,
Fellowship and Friendship" - ideals which are accomplished
through organized competition.
Now you can see why this
is such a great bowling association and we have many
programs within it to help promote the game of bowling. We
have our adults as well as the youth bowlers. One of the
programs we have is the King and Queen program which is a
contest to see who raises the most money from his or her
local senate which is the local branch of the TNBA. Those
two individuals are to be named King and Queen and be
crowned as such every year in May somewhere in the country
during our national convention. They will be the ambassadors
of bowling for that year around the United State. In May
2011 our very own Melvin Hayes was named King.
Melvin Hayes has done more
to promote bowling and to get people involved in the TNBA
than anyone in Toledo, Ohio in the last 30 years. He has
worked harder than anyone else in the country and he
deserved this honor.
He never ever forgets the
junior bowlers either and is a great supporter of them. The
Toledo Bowling Senate Junior Bowling League is the only
African-American youth league in the city. It started in
1953 and we bowl at Interstate Lanes on Saturday from
September to Easter weekend starting at age 4-18.
He is truly the King of
bowling.
Ed. Note: George W. Hayes Jr. is the Toledo Bowling Senate
Junior Bowling Coordinator. He can be contacted at
419-764-1835
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