Houston bowler celebrates 50 years at USBC Open Championships
March 10, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – Some of the most memorable awards are presented at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, often recognizing a special dedication to the event.
Bowling for 50 years certainly is an incredible milestone, and Houston’s William Raasch was able to celebrate that achievement this year at the Raising Cane’s River Center. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin during his on-lane ceremony to commemorate his longevity at the event.
Raasch’s journey started back in 1975 (Dayton, Ohio), when he competed in the tournament for the first time. Since then, he has not missed an appearance, which adds to this great accomplishment.
“It is a little sense of relief, but it feels good,” Raasch said. “This means a lot to me because between the illnesses and surgeries, etc., they always fell at a time where I was still able to make it every year.”
With every year came new memories for Raasch, but his favorite years have been when he's bowled in Reno, Nevada. He made his first appearance in Reno during the 1977 event.
“I sat down at a 21 table, and that is where I was able to meet the folk singer Arlo Guthrie, out of all places,” Raasch said. “Eventually, my wife and I were married in Reno, and then when my boys were old enough, we took them back to where we were married and all started bowling together.”
From then on, the Open Championships became a family affair.
As soon as his sons – Darrell and Geoffrey – were old enough, they joined Raasch and his wife, Jan, on the championship lanes. The four of them have now been bowling together on the same team since 2011.
Jan had her 23rd appearance this year, while Darrell and Geoffrey made their 16th and 14th trips, respectively. As for the group’s fifth teammate – Randy Weeks of Batavia, Illinois – he is not far behind Raasch after making his 41st appearance at the tournament this year.
Raasch does not want to stop participating anytime soon, saying, “I want to keep coming back because my family and other teammate will be getting awards every few years now. Bowling with my family makes it mean that much more. Thank you to everyone that made my day really special. Everyone was just really nice.”
In his 50th appearance, Raasch only bowled in the team event and brought his career pinfall at the tournament to 64,903 for a lifetime average of 161.4.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Bowling for 50 years certainly is an incredible milestone, and Houston’s William Raasch was able to celebrate that achievement this year at the Raising Cane’s River Center. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin during his on-lane ceremony to commemorate his longevity at the event.
Raasch’s journey started back in 1975 (Dayton, Ohio), when he competed in the tournament for the first time. Since then, he has not missed an appearance, which adds to this great accomplishment.
“It is a little sense of relief, but it feels good,” Raasch said. “This means a lot to me because between the illnesses and surgeries, etc., they always fell at a time where I was still able to make it every year.”
With every year came new memories for Raasch, but his favorite years have been when he's bowled in Reno, Nevada. He made his first appearance in Reno during the 1977 event.
“I sat down at a 21 table, and that is where I was able to meet the folk singer Arlo Guthrie, out of all places,” Raasch said. “Eventually, my wife and I were married in Reno, and then when my boys were old enough, we took them back to where we were married and all started bowling together.”
From then on, the Open Championships became a family affair.
As soon as his sons – Darrell and Geoffrey – were old enough, they joined Raasch and his wife, Jan, on the championship lanes. The four of them have now been bowling together on the same team since 2011.
Jan had her 23rd appearance this year, while Darrell and Geoffrey made their 16th and 14th trips, respectively. As for the group’s fifth teammate – Randy Weeks of Batavia, Illinois – he is not far behind Raasch after making his 41st appearance at the tournament this year.
Raasch does not want to stop participating anytime soon, saying, “I want to keep coming back because my family and other teammate will be getting awards every few years now. Bowling with my family makes it mean that much more. Thank you to everyone that made my day really special. Everyone was just really nice.”
In his 50th appearance, Raasch only bowled in the team event and brought his career pinfall at the tournament to 64,903 for a lifetime average of 161.4.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.