Arizona bowler joins 50-Year Club at USBC Women's Championships
June 27, 2017
By Scott Simon and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Lorie Perry of Tucson, Arizona, celebrated a milestone appearance in one of her favorite United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships host cities as she became the latest bowler to join the tournament's 50-Year Club.
The 86-year-old right-hander began her tournament career at the 1962 event in Phoenix, and she received a plaque, chevron and necklace Monday to commemorate her longevity on the championship lanes.
Perry, a retired Air Force first sergeant, has traveled to 36 cities and 26 states throughout her tournament career, often driving to the event. Her trip to Phoenix in 1962, however, occurred while she was stationed on the other side of the United States.
"What was noteworthy about the first tournament was that I was stationed in Massachusetts at the time," said Perry, a member of the Tucson Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "I had to fly all the way across the country to bowl in my hometown."
Having the 2017 event held in Red Stick made for a special return for Perry because that's where she rolled the highest series of her USBC Women's Championships career, a 626 series during team at the 1993 event. The 1993 edition of the tournament was held at Metro Bowl and Don Carter's All-Star Lanes.
Perry also spent nearly 20 years working behind the scenes at the Women's Championships as part of the tournament's traveling staff, noting that the 1989 event in Bismarck, North Dakota, was one of her best experiences.
"I have to say that Bismarck was the friendliest city by far," Perry said. "As a staffer on-site for the whole tournament, the city really wanted us, and the people treated us spectacularly well, especially during the days it snowed when getting around wasn't that easy."
As Perry accepted her awards Monday at the Raising Cane's River Center, she encouraged all the bowlers in attendance to persevere towards those goals, too.
"I can't believe I made it this far, because I missed several tournaments because of being active duty in the Air Force," Perry said. "I hope all of you can one day stand up here like I am, and you can. Just keep doing it, coming to bowl the tournament."
In her 50th appearance, Perry rolled sets of 415 in singles, 387 in team and 323 in doubles for a 1,125 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Lorie Perry of Tucson, Arizona, celebrated a milestone appearance in one of her favorite United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships host cities as she became the latest bowler to join the tournament's 50-Year Club.
The 86-year-old right-hander began her tournament career at the 1962 event in Phoenix, and she received a plaque, chevron and necklace Monday to commemorate her longevity on the championship lanes.
Perry, a retired Air Force first sergeant, has traveled to 36 cities and 26 states throughout her tournament career, often driving to the event. Her trip to Phoenix in 1962, however, occurred while she was stationed on the other side of the United States.
"What was noteworthy about the first tournament was that I was stationed in Massachusetts at the time," said Perry, a member of the Tucson Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "I had to fly all the way across the country to bowl in my hometown."
Having the 2017 event held in Red Stick made for a special return for Perry because that's where she rolled the highest series of her USBC Women's Championships career, a 626 series during team at the 1993 event. The 1993 edition of the tournament was held at Metro Bowl and Don Carter's All-Star Lanes.
Perry also spent nearly 20 years working behind the scenes at the Women's Championships as part of the tournament's traveling staff, noting that the 1989 event in Bismarck, North Dakota, was one of her best experiences.
"I have to say that Bismarck was the friendliest city by far," Perry said. "As a staffer on-site for the whole tournament, the city really wanted us, and the people treated us spectacularly well, especially during the days it snowed when getting around wasn't that easy."
As Perry accepted her awards Monday at the Raising Cane's River Center, she encouraged all the bowlers in attendance to persevere towards those goals, too.
"I can't believe I made it this far, because I missed several tournaments because of being active duty in the Air Force," Perry said. "I hope all of you can one day stand up here like I am, and you can. Just keep doing it, coming to bowl the tournament."
In her 50th appearance, Perry rolled sets of 415 in singles, 387 in team and 323 in doubles for a 1,125 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.