Illinois bowler continues tradition on way to 50 years at Open Championships
April 23, 2023
Pictured above (from left): John Raab, James Raab and Ed Raab
RENO, Nev. – James Raab’s family has been involved in the bowling business for more than 100 years, and their history at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships spans more than 160 years of participation.
On Thursday, Raab added onto the family legacy by making his 50th appearance at the tournament during his trip to the National Bowling Stadium.
Raab, of Aurora, Illinois, was joined in the occasion by family and friends, and he was escorted during his memorable march down the Center Aisle at the NBS by his brothers, John and Ed Raab. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to recognize his longevity at the USBC Open Championships.
James paces the Raab family with 50 years, while Ed competed for the 44th time this week. Their father, John (Jack) Raab, bowled 39 times at the Open Championships, and John has 31 trips to the tournament, giving the family 164 combined appearances at the event.
The family also has owned and managed several bowling centers over the years, including Aurora’s St. Paul Lanes.
“My family has been in the bowling business since 1915,” James Raab said. “My grandfather had his first bowling center burn down in 1928, so he went to the next bowling center, and that’s the one all of us grew up in. We sold that in 1975. I went to another center for 10 years, then went to Michigan for 10 years before coming back to my hometown of Aurora to take over an eight-lane center and have had it ever since. We have 108 years in bowling centers over three generations.”
Raab kicked off his tournament career at the 1970 event in Knoxville, Tennessee, and some of his favorite stops for the tournament were in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Working at the centers often limited vacation time for Raab, so he tried to make the most out of every tournament appearance to take in the experience off the lanes.
“I started bowling this tournament in 1970 in Knoxville, and that also was the first time I ever got on an airplane,” said Raab, a member of the Greater Aurora USBC Hall of Fame. “My dad was there, and they needed a sub, so I flew in. Ever since, I’ve been coming here.
“Some of my favorites were Albuquerque – I loved that place – and down in Corpus Christi. We went deep-sea fishing and stayed on Padre Island. It was just an overall great place to visit.”
His trip to Reno for his milestone appearance also brought his family together, which resulted in a great chance to share in a meal before the excitement got underway at the National Bowling Stadium.
“My sister came in for this occasion from Louisville, which was terrific,” Raab said. “All of my siblings were here, and that meant a lot. We went to Ruth’s Chris – the four siblings, my girlfriend and my brother’s wife. I wanted to do that for my sister, since it cost her quite a bit to come out here. It meant a lot that she was willing to do that. They took some pictures of all six of us, and it was a really good time.”
With his 50th appearance in the books, Raab isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be bowling, but he’s planning on making next year’s trip to Las Vegas and hopefully to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2025.
“There’s a whole lot of history, not just at this tournament, but a lot of history in the family,” Raab said. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future. I know I’m bowling next year and would like to try and bowl the following year since I’m looking forward to Baton Rouge. I was going to quit after 40 years, because my dad only had 39 years. I was going to pass him and then quit, but things come up, and now it’s been 50 years and I’m still here.”
Through 50 years at the Open Championships, Raab now has toppled 74,583 pins for a lifetime average of 170.2. He rolled sets of 477 in team, 469 in singles and 403 in doubles for a 1,349 all-events total in 2023.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – James Raab’s family has been involved in the bowling business for more than 100 years, and their history at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships spans more than 160 years of participation.
On Thursday, Raab added onto the family legacy by making his 50th appearance at the tournament during his trip to the National Bowling Stadium.
Raab, of Aurora, Illinois, was joined in the occasion by family and friends, and he was escorted during his memorable march down the Center Aisle at the NBS by his brothers, John and Ed Raab. He received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to recognize his longevity at the USBC Open Championships.
James paces the Raab family with 50 years, while Ed competed for the 44th time this week. Their father, John (Jack) Raab, bowled 39 times at the Open Championships, and John has 31 trips to the tournament, giving the family 164 combined appearances at the event.
The family also has owned and managed several bowling centers over the years, including Aurora’s St. Paul Lanes.
“My family has been in the bowling business since 1915,” James Raab said. “My grandfather had his first bowling center burn down in 1928, so he went to the next bowling center, and that’s the one all of us grew up in. We sold that in 1975. I went to another center for 10 years, then went to Michigan for 10 years before coming back to my hometown of Aurora to take over an eight-lane center and have had it ever since. We have 108 years in bowling centers over three generations.”
Raab kicked off his tournament career at the 1970 event in Knoxville, Tennessee, and some of his favorite stops for the tournament were in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Working at the centers often limited vacation time for Raab, so he tried to make the most out of every tournament appearance to take in the experience off the lanes.
“I started bowling this tournament in 1970 in Knoxville, and that also was the first time I ever got on an airplane,” said Raab, a member of the Greater Aurora USBC Hall of Fame. “My dad was there, and they needed a sub, so I flew in. Ever since, I’ve been coming here.
“Some of my favorites were Albuquerque – I loved that place – and down in Corpus Christi. We went deep-sea fishing and stayed on Padre Island. It was just an overall great place to visit.”
His trip to Reno for his milestone appearance also brought his family together, which resulted in a great chance to share in a meal before the excitement got underway at the National Bowling Stadium.
“My sister came in for this occasion from Louisville, which was terrific,” Raab said. “All of my siblings were here, and that meant a lot. We went to Ruth’s Chris – the four siblings, my girlfriend and my brother’s wife. I wanted to do that for my sister, since it cost her quite a bit to come out here. It meant a lot that she was willing to do that. They took some pictures of all six of us, and it was a really good time.”
With his 50th appearance in the books, Raab isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be bowling, but he’s planning on making next year’s trip to Las Vegas and hopefully to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2025.
“There’s a whole lot of history, not just at this tournament, but a lot of history in the family,” Raab said. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future. I know I’m bowling next year and would like to try and bowl the following year since I’m looking forward to Baton Rouge. I was going to quit after 40 years, because my dad only had 39 years. I was going to pass him and then quit, but things come up, and now it’s been 50 years and I’m still here.”
Through 50 years at the Open Championships, Raab now has toppled 74,583 pins for a lifetime average of 170.2. He rolled sets of 477 in team, 469 in singles and 403 in doubles for a 1,349 all-events total in 2023.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.