Iowa bowler celebrates half a century at 2015 USBC Open
May 06, 2015
By Matt Cannizzaro and Mel Lindemann
USBC Communications
EL PASO, Texas - George Fisher of Des Moines, Iowa, got his start at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships like many bowlers do - the tournament was held in his hometown, and he got to see the magnitude of the event as well as what it meant to the visiting bowlers and the host city itself.
Fisher's first trip down Center Aisle came in his backyard in 1962 when he was called upon to fill out a team for his brother, Bob. Although George was hooked after his first USBC Open Championships experience and wanted to keep going, the distance to the next few tournaments was a little too far.
With encouragement from his good friend Russell Reel, who competed in the Open Championships 46 times from 1959 until 2010, Fisher returned to the tournament lanes again in 1965 and now has been to every tournament since 1968.
"If it wasn't for Russ, I probably wouldn't have made it to 50 years," said Fisher, who celebrated his 50th tournament appearance Tuesday at the El Paso Convention Center. "He's the one who got me started in tournament bowling. He passed away a couple of years ago, but the reason I got this far was because of him."
Camaraderie is a big motivating factor for bowlers, who often treat the event as a vacation and annual reunion with teammates they might not see the rest of the year. Fisher and Reel helped push each other toward each participation milestone, which now start at 20 years.
"I was hoping to get him to 50, and I think we got him to about 45, but then he got ill and couldn't bowl anymore," said Fisher, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his 50th walk down Center Aisle. "But, if it wasn't for him, I would never have gotten near 50. He would pay our way, and we bowled together for years. We would split whatever money we won, and these 50 years I got in was because of him."
Now, five decades into his Open Championships career, Fisher is able to share his passion for the sport and tournament with his family, some of whom joined him on the lanes in El Paso this week.
In his milestone appearance, the 78-year-old right-hander shot 382 in team, 375 in singles and 367 in doubles for a 1,124 all-events total. He increased his career pinfall to 75,752.
"I bowl in the John Deere Interplant league on Tuesday mornings, but bowling the Open with family is what it's all about now," Fisher said. "I got my son, Steve, started. I've got my two oldest grandsons, Adam and Jesse, both in their 30s, and a daughter-in-law, Donna, who bowled in her first tournament this year. Once my son Steve got started, it just sort of snowballed with my kids, and now his kids, and we're making a future for the sport."
Fisher was the sixth of 12 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation at the 2015 event in El Paso.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
EL PASO, Texas - George Fisher of Des Moines, Iowa, got his start at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships like many bowlers do - the tournament was held in his hometown, and he got to see the magnitude of the event as well as what it meant to the visiting bowlers and the host city itself.
Fisher's first trip down Center Aisle came in his backyard in 1962 when he was called upon to fill out a team for his brother, Bob. Although George was hooked after his first USBC Open Championships experience and wanted to keep going, the distance to the next few tournaments was a little too far.
With encouragement from his good friend Russell Reel, who competed in the Open Championships 46 times from 1959 until 2010, Fisher returned to the tournament lanes again in 1965 and now has been to every tournament since 1968.
"If it wasn't for Russ, I probably wouldn't have made it to 50 years," said Fisher, who celebrated his 50th tournament appearance Tuesday at the El Paso Convention Center. "He's the one who got me started in tournament bowling. He passed away a couple of years ago, but the reason I got this far was because of him."
Camaraderie is a big motivating factor for bowlers, who often treat the event as a vacation and annual reunion with teammates they might not see the rest of the year. Fisher and Reel helped push each other toward each participation milestone, which now start at 20 years.
"I was hoping to get him to 50, and I think we got him to about 45, but then he got ill and couldn't bowl anymore," said Fisher, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his 50th walk down Center Aisle. "But, if it wasn't for him, I would never have gotten near 50. He would pay our way, and we bowled together for years. We would split whatever money we won, and these 50 years I got in was because of him."
Now, five decades into his Open Championships career, Fisher is able to share his passion for the sport and tournament with his family, some of whom joined him on the lanes in El Paso this week.
In his milestone appearance, the 78-year-old right-hander shot 382 in team, 375 in singles and 367 in doubles for a 1,124 all-events total. He increased his career pinfall to 75,752.
"I bowl in the John Deere Interplant league on Tuesday mornings, but bowling the Open with family is what it's all about now," Fisher said. "I got my son, Steve, started. I've got my two oldest grandsons, Adam and Jesse, both in their 30s, and a daughter-in-law, Donna, who bowled in her first tournament this year. Once my son Steve got started, it just sort of snowballed with my kids, and now his kids, and we're making a future for the sport."
Fisher was the sixth of 12 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation at the 2015 event in El Paso.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.