Inspired Pennsylvania bowler reaches 50 years of participation at USBC Open Championships
May 16, 2021
LAS VEGAS - When Ronald Griffis of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, made his 50th appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships this week, the accomplishment wasn't just about him.
His march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza also was in honor of a longtime friend and teammate, Chuck Bowman, who was a huge part of his five-decade journey into the tournament record book, but had his own USBC Open Championships career cut short when he died from cancer after more than 35 appearances.
The two shared the biggest stage in bowling for 31 years, and losing Bowman saw Griffis' passion and motivation for the event wane in the years that followed.
It was the resurfacing of a letter Bowman had written to Griffis and his wife during his final couple of years that reminded Griffis about all the good times they had on the lanes and all the reasons they loved bowling and the Open Championships.
Griffis returned to the tournament inspired and ready to complete what they had started, regardless of cost, age or scores. A new group of teammates helped him to the finish line Saturday at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
"This has meant more and more as I got closer to the end," Griffis said. "With the last couple years being what they were, and having to miss the tournament last year, I'm relieved and appreciative. I have been fortunate to have some really good people with me along the way, too, including the great group of teammates with me today."
Griffis, an 84-year-old right-hander, was the eighth of 25 bowlers scheduled to reach the 50-year plateau this year in Las Vegas, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. His Open Championships debut came at the 1963 event in Buffalo, New York.
Through the tournament, Griffis and his friends and family have had the opportunity to see dozens of host cities, and while he says it's tough to really narrow the list down to a favorite, the 1979 tournament in Tampa, Florida, was memorable for multiple reasons.
"I've gotten to see some great places, some more than once, but it would be so hard to pick one that I like the best," Griffis said. "Tampa was memorable for two reasons. First, there was a leak in the roof, so it was raining on the lanes. Outside of that, I did the golf, and I did the bowling. Then, I got to take my kids to Disney World, and that was the highlight, for sure. They still talk about that trip today. That's right up there for me with getting to 50 years."
Competing in the Open Championships was a natural progression for Griffis and his teammates, who excelled locally and were looking to experience a higher level of competition.
Their passion for the sport was so great that even with regular full-time jobs, a group of them found the time and energy to partner in a bowling center, which they ran for more than a decade, before selling it as life started to get busier for them.
Griffis has been able to carry that love and tradition forward, and Bowman and the others were top of mind Saturday at South Point.
"Unfortunately, they each passed away, one by one," Griffis said. "So, in my mind, this trip right here was for them. All of them. They've would've done it, had they been alive, so I'm here doing it for all of us. I know they'd be proud of me, but they'd definitely be giving me the old raspberry for not doing better. They'd be as proud of me as I was of them for all we did together over the years."
This year on the championship lanes, Griffis rolled sets of 488 in team, 461 in singles and 414 in doubles for a 1,363 all-events total. In 50 years of toppling pins at the Open Championships, he has knocked down 81,237 pins for a career average of 180.5.
Griffis and his friends knew how prestigious the Open Championships was, and even though the event has changed and evolved over the years, it is built on a strong, meaningful foundation. It has given them all, and their families, a lifetime of memories, and he's not ready to call it quits just yet.
"I haven't stopped thinking about No. 51," Griffis said. "Not so much that it's another feat, but because it's so much fun. I still think about it and smile about coming back for 51. If my wife is OK, and I don't have any physical problems, I'll be back."
The 2021 Open Championships kicked off May 1 and will run for 79 consecutive days, concluding July 18. The 2022 tournament also will be held at South Point.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
His march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza also was in honor of a longtime friend and teammate, Chuck Bowman, who was a huge part of his five-decade journey into the tournament record book, but had his own USBC Open Championships career cut short when he died from cancer after more than 35 appearances.
The two shared the biggest stage in bowling for 31 years, and losing Bowman saw Griffis' passion and motivation for the event wane in the years that followed.
It was the resurfacing of a letter Bowman had written to Griffis and his wife during his final couple of years that reminded Griffis about all the good times they had on the lanes and all the reasons they loved bowling and the Open Championships.
Griffis returned to the tournament inspired and ready to complete what they had started, regardless of cost, age or scores. A new group of teammates helped him to the finish line Saturday at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
"This has meant more and more as I got closer to the end," Griffis said. "With the last couple years being what they were, and having to miss the tournament last year, I'm relieved and appreciative. I have been fortunate to have some really good people with me along the way, too, including the great group of teammates with me today."
Griffis, an 84-year-old right-hander, was the eighth of 25 bowlers scheduled to reach the 50-year plateau this year in Las Vegas, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. His Open Championships debut came at the 1963 event in Buffalo, New York.
Through the tournament, Griffis and his friends and family have had the opportunity to see dozens of host cities, and while he says it's tough to really narrow the list down to a favorite, the 1979 tournament in Tampa, Florida, was memorable for multiple reasons.
"I've gotten to see some great places, some more than once, but it would be so hard to pick one that I like the best," Griffis said. "Tampa was memorable for two reasons. First, there was a leak in the roof, so it was raining on the lanes. Outside of that, I did the golf, and I did the bowling. Then, I got to take my kids to Disney World, and that was the highlight, for sure. They still talk about that trip today. That's right up there for me with getting to 50 years."
Competing in the Open Championships was a natural progression for Griffis and his teammates, who excelled locally and were looking to experience a higher level of competition.
Their passion for the sport was so great that even with regular full-time jobs, a group of them found the time and energy to partner in a bowling center, which they ran for more than a decade, before selling it as life started to get busier for them.
Griffis has been able to carry that love and tradition forward, and Bowman and the others were top of mind Saturday at South Point.
"Unfortunately, they each passed away, one by one," Griffis said. "So, in my mind, this trip right here was for them. All of them. They've would've done it, had they been alive, so I'm here doing it for all of us. I know they'd be proud of me, but they'd definitely be giving me the old raspberry for not doing better. They'd be as proud of me as I was of them for all we did together over the years."
This year on the championship lanes, Griffis rolled sets of 488 in team, 461 in singles and 414 in doubles for a 1,363 all-events total. In 50 years of toppling pins at the Open Championships, he has knocked down 81,237 pins for a career average of 180.5.
Griffis and his friends knew how prestigious the Open Championships was, and even though the event has changed and evolved over the years, it is built on a strong, meaningful foundation. It has given them all, and their families, a lifetime of memories, and he's not ready to call it quits just yet.
"I haven't stopped thinking about No. 51," Griffis said. "Not so much that it's another feat, but because it's so much fun. I still think about it and smile about coming back for 51. If my wife is OK, and I don't have any physical problems, I'll be back."
The 2021 Open Championships kicked off May 1 and will run for 79 consecutive days, concluding July 18. The 2022 tournament also will be held at South Point.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.