A History of
Council 4022
from the 50th
anniversary brochure of the
Knights of Columbus, Maria-Joseph Council
4022.
Council Bowling League
| Bowling was among many of the social activities the Council participated in over the 50 years Maria-Joseph 4022 has been in existence. Over the years it was known that if you wanted to see someone in the Council, be at Poelking Lanes on Monday night, and they would be there. We have estimated at least 18 of our Grand Knights participated in the bowling league at one time or another, including the Financial Secretary, Bill Kissell. | Many of the bowlers remember the teams and bowlers who bowled in the league for so many years. The Mini Mules with Joe Poelking, Pete Donahue and Ike Eichner; Frank Staley and Jim Greive; Fairgrounds Optical with Doug Cox, John Jauch, Bob Harnett, Bob Heigel and Tom Antonelli Jr and his son Tom III; Castle Hill Stylists with Luke Vondrell, Ray Mock, Bill Bachmann and Dick H Wendeln; Kronahue Insurance with Bill Kissell, Tom Haas, Bill Spencer, Walt Federspiel and Dick Weidner; Mid American Building with Dick Lavin, Fred Dello Stritto, Neil McManus and Andy Fioriti; Kettering Foodtown with Rick Schmidt, Bill Frost, Nick Herzog, Earl Swanson and Mark Farney; Starwin Industries with Joe Geis, Paul Theis, Fred Grimm, Tony Toller, Dick Sammons and Walt Stachler. This is by far not all the people who bowled in the league nor the names of all the teams who bowled, but gives you a good perspective of how many Council members participated. Names of the teams might change (The Mini Mules became Poelking Lanes, Fairgrounds Optical became Pearle Vision Centers and Castle Hill became Father's & Son's + 1), but the bowlers pretty much remained the same. The league was very competitive and it was always a guess as to who would win the league when the season started. But one year, it was never in doubt who the top 2 teams were for that season as Fairgrounds Optical and Castle Hill Stylists met for the 1st half roll-off, 2nd half roll-off and the league championship. In fact, at the end of the season, they bowled each other 3 weeks in a row, and started off the next season bowling each other. |
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The league saw many changes over the years. As the years wore on membership in the league decreased and we went from 5 man teams to 4 for the 1986-1987 season, so we could keep the same number of teams. We allowed K of C members outside of the Council to bowl in the league and eventually non K of C bowlers to keep the league intact. We went from keeping score by hand to computers in the 1989-1990 season. For the first time the league went from the standard 8 point system to match play, which everyone really enjoyed. We also saw league participation fall off even more in the 90's as it went from 8 to 6 teams and at the end of the 1993-1994 season the league finally disbanded. The teams remaining joined the 3730 Council bowling league where 2 of the Council teams still bowl. Moving to a new league did not stop the Council teams from winning as they have won 6 league championship since joining the league. |
Teams in the league were competitive outside of league
play also. Castle Hill Stylists won the coveted "Art Kramer Memorial
Tournament" 3 out of 4 years. (One of their score sheets from that
tournament is still in the game room of the Council.) Castle Hill Stylists
also finished 2nd in the State K of C Bowling Tournament and Kronague
Insurance finished 10 in the State K of C Bowling Tournament. Castle Hill
Stylists finished 2nd in the Dayton Bowling Association "Champion of
Champions Tournament."
The league also established 2 special awards during the 80"s. "Bowler of the Year" which was created to honor the deceased Brother Knights who bowled in the league and "The Richard I. Wendeln Most Improved Bowler Award"' to honor Richard I Wendeln who was the most improved bowler for 3 straight years. (Richard is still bowling today at the young age of 82, but has never won the award after it was established in his name.) These awards are still presented today in the Council 3730 Larry Matliis Memorial League, The exact date the league was established has been lost over the years, but the fun and memories will last a life time. |
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| All that has been written here are from my records as league secretary and from memory. I know I have probably left out some things and some bowlers, but I believe I have presented many items for people to talk about. And when you are celebrating 50 years, you want to talk about your past history. | The Council also had 2 mixed leagues in its 50 years of
existence that were very successful for a number of years. Dick H Wendeln, |