Indiana bowler enters 50-Year Club at 2021 USBC Open Championships
June 30, 2021
By Hope Parsons
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - While at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, if you look past the strings of strikes, people with their hands in the air for a free drink when a 5 pin is left and all the colorful bowling jerseys, you'll see people bowling simply because they love bowling.
Howard Goodrich of Royal Center, Indiana, makes it his mission to keep stepping onto the approach no matter what, to do the sport he loves. His dedication helped him across the 50-year threshold this week at the 2021 USBC Open Championships.
Since making his first tournament appearance at the 1963 event in Buffalo, New York, the 89-year-old-right-hander has been in love with the sport and Open Championships.
"A good friend of mine took me to opening night in New York, and ever since then, we would get teams together and go bowl," Goodrich said. "The more I went, the more I loved it and wanted to keep going to bowl."
Many things have changed since Goodrich started his 50-year journey at the Open Championships, but he notes that his first tournament holds his favorite memories.
Tuesday at the South Point Plaza in Las Vegas, he was recognized for his longevity, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the occasion. His team included three generations of Goodrich family members, as his son, Gregory, and grandson, Marcus, escorted him to the lanes and then joined him for the three-game team event.
"We've been looking forward to this for a long time," Gregory Goodrich said. "It has been great to have this chance to do this with my dad. It's something I'll always cherish, and I'm very grateful to be here alongside him."
Goodrich's family was proud to cheer and celebrate, even as he made his last shot. Everyone was happy he finally made it to such an honorable landmark.
The cancellation of the 2020 tournament due to COVID-19 delayed the milestone by a year, and his own bout with the virus early in 2021 still has him working on rebuilding his strength and stamina.
"I didn't think I would be alive this long to see it, but my son kept me motivated saying this was something I had to do," Howard Goodrich said.
The senior Goodrich only participated in team event and bowled games of 109, 90 and 147 for a score of 346.
In 50 years on tournament lanes, he has knocked down 74,607 pins for a career average of 169.1.
Gregory and Marcus Goodrich did bowl all nine games this week and posted all-events totals of 1,368 and 1,448, respectively.
Entering the 79-day run of the 2021 Open Championships at South Point, 25 bowlers were slated to celebrate 50 years on the tournament lanes, and Goodrich was the 19th to reach the mark.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - While at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, if you look past the strings of strikes, people with their hands in the air for a free drink when a 5 pin is left and all the colorful bowling jerseys, you'll see people bowling simply because they love bowling.
Howard Goodrich of Royal Center, Indiana, makes it his mission to keep stepping onto the approach no matter what, to do the sport he loves. His dedication helped him across the 50-year threshold this week at the 2021 USBC Open Championships.
Since making his first tournament appearance at the 1963 event in Buffalo, New York, the 89-year-old-right-hander has been in love with the sport and Open Championships.
"A good friend of mine took me to opening night in New York, and ever since then, we would get teams together and go bowl," Goodrich said. "The more I went, the more I loved it and wanted to keep going to bowl."
Many things have changed since Goodrich started his 50-year journey at the Open Championships, but he notes that his first tournament holds his favorite memories.
Tuesday at the South Point Plaza in Las Vegas, he was recognized for his longevity, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the occasion. His team included three generations of Goodrich family members, as his son, Gregory, and grandson, Marcus, escorted him to the lanes and then joined him for the three-game team event.
"We've been looking forward to this for a long time," Gregory Goodrich said. "It has been great to have this chance to do this with my dad. It's something I'll always cherish, and I'm very grateful to be here alongside him."
Goodrich's family was proud to cheer and celebrate, even as he made his last shot. Everyone was happy he finally made it to such an honorable landmark.
The cancellation of the 2020 tournament due to COVID-19 delayed the milestone by a year, and his own bout with the virus early in 2021 still has him working on rebuilding his strength and stamina.
"I didn't think I would be alive this long to see it, but my son kept me motivated saying this was something I had to do," Howard Goodrich said.
The senior Goodrich only participated in team event and bowled games of 109, 90 and 147 for a score of 346.
In 50 years on tournament lanes, he has knocked down 74,607 pins for a career average of 169.1.
Gregory and Marcus Goodrich did bowl all nine games this week and posted all-events totals of 1,368 and 1,448, respectively.
Entering the 79-day run of the 2021 Open Championships at South Point, 25 bowlers were slated to celebrate 50 years on the tournament lanes, and Goodrich was the 19th to reach the mark.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.