Michigan bowler joins 50-Year Club at USBC Open Championships
April 04, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – As Robert Richards stood front and center addressing the crowd and his fellow competitors at the Raising Cane’s River Center for his 50th appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, he noted two of his passions in life – bowling and his wife, Diana.
They met in 1960 – which also marked Robert’s first appearance at the tournament in Toledo, Ohio – and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January.
Bowling has been a big part of their journey along the way, and Diana proudly stood by his side as he was recognized for his milestone appearance Wednesday with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin.
“She comes from a bowling family and was a very good bowler,” said Robert, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. “She had two brothers that were good bowlers, too, and I was bowling in a travel league with them. It was my turn to drive, so I went over to their house to pick them up, and she’s standing on the porch. I didn’t know they had a sister. I asked them who she was, and they told me that’s their sister. I told them I was going to be coming over to talk bowling more often after that.”
Diana has been able to travel with Robert to many of his appearances at the Open Championships over the years, and she was pleasantly surprised to be able to join him for his honorary march to the lanes.
“I had no idea I was going to be part of it, so it was very much a surprise,” Diana said. “I’ve always been very proud of him. He’s always been a very good bowler and great person. I’m very happy that he’s continued to bowl and have always encouraged him to participate in tournaments like this.”
Robert was working at a local bowling center in 1960 when he was invited to make his debut at the Open Championships, competing only in doubles and singles at the Toledo Sports Arena.
“I was working at a bowling alley about five blocks from the house,” Robert said. “I would go up there on Saturdays and empty ash trays to get free bowling. By 1960, I was a year out of high school and started to take on more responsibility. There was a gentleman there who was a good bowler and suggested that I should bowl in the national tournament. It happened to be really close that year – we were in Pontiac, Michigan, so it was a short drive. I only bowled singles and doubles, but that’s what started the whole thing.”
He found success at the local and state levels in Michigan, including a singles victory in 1960 hosted by the local newspaper (Pontiac Press) which featured the first 700 series at the event and hosting center. He collected a pair of Michigan State USBC titles on the senior side in 2008 and 2010.
Robert – who also was a proprietor of a 12-lane center – earned induction to the Ann Arbor Bowling Association (now Arbor Valley USBC) Hall of Fame for his on-lane performances in 1999.
At the Open Championships, he posted his top all-events performance at the 1995 event in Reno, Nevada, with 1,981. The next year in Salt Lake City, Robert rolled his highest individual series – 714 in singles.
Even though he has enjoyed some strong performances along the way, Robert has always liked watching others find success on the lanes.
“I’ve enjoyed every one of them, and I probably walked away with a new friend from every tournament, too,” Robert said. “I get a kick out of watching other people succeed, though. I guess I don’t enjoy being in the limelight and would much rather have that happen to somebody else and congratulate them.”
Robert noted that one of the best things about his road to 50 appearances was turning each trip into a vacation, whether it was fun at Lake Tahoe when visiting Reno, enjoying a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque or taking a trolley over the mountains in Salt Lake City.
He and Diana even enjoyed a little bit of the local flavor Baton Rouge has to offer before taking to the lanes at the River Center.
“It’s my third time bowling here, and we went looking for the same crawfish restaurant that we ate last time in 2012,” Robert said. “We found it. Diana has come with me for most of them, and we make vacations out of them. There’s more to it than just the bowling.”
With his milestone appearance in the books, Robert hopes to add another year to his record during the 2026 event in Reno. His moment in 2025, however – with Diana by his side – is something that will be difficult to top.
“I don’t really get too excited or stressed over anything,” Robert said. “Nothing concerns me, and I don’t stress. But, I got emotional today when they started to talk about this. It’s a great honor.”
In his 50th appearance, the 83-year-old recorded a 1,336 all-events total to bring his career pinfall to 78,276 (176.2 average).
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.
They met in 1960 – which also marked Robert’s first appearance at the tournament in Toledo, Ohio – and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January.
Bowling has been a big part of their journey along the way, and Diana proudly stood by his side as he was recognized for his milestone appearance Wednesday with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin.
“She comes from a bowling family and was a very good bowler,” said Robert, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. “She had two brothers that were good bowlers, too, and I was bowling in a travel league with them. It was my turn to drive, so I went over to their house to pick them up, and she’s standing on the porch. I didn’t know they had a sister. I asked them who she was, and they told me that’s their sister. I told them I was going to be coming over to talk bowling more often after that.”
Diana has been able to travel with Robert to many of his appearances at the Open Championships over the years, and she was pleasantly surprised to be able to join him for his honorary march to the lanes.
“I had no idea I was going to be part of it, so it was very much a surprise,” Diana said. “I’ve always been very proud of him. He’s always been a very good bowler and great person. I’m very happy that he’s continued to bowl and have always encouraged him to participate in tournaments like this.”
Robert was working at a local bowling center in 1960 when he was invited to make his debut at the Open Championships, competing only in doubles and singles at the Toledo Sports Arena.
“I was working at a bowling alley about five blocks from the house,” Robert said. “I would go up there on Saturdays and empty ash trays to get free bowling. By 1960, I was a year out of high school and started to take on more responsibility. There was a gentleman there who was a good bowler and suggested that I should bowl in the national tournament. It happened to be really close that year – we were in Pontiac, Michigan, so it was a short drive. I only bowled singles and doubles, but that’s what started the whole thing.”
He found success at the local and state levels in Michigan, including a singles victory in 1960 hosted by the local newspaper (Pontiac Press) which featured the first 700 series at the event and hosting center. He collected a pair of Michigan State USBC titles on the senior side in 2008 and 2010.
Robert – who also was a proprietor of a 12-lane center – earned induction to the Ann Arbor Bowling Association (now Arbor Valley USBC) Hall of Fame for his on-lane performances in 1999.
At the Open Championships, he posted his top all-events performance at the 1995 event in Reno, Nevada, with 1,981. The next year in Salt Lake City, Robert rolled his highest individual series – 714 in singles.
Even though he has enjoyed some strong performances along the way, Robert has always liked watching others find success on the lanes.
“I’ve enjoyed every one of them, and I probably walked away with a new friend from every tournament, too,” Robert said. “I get a kick out of watching other people succeed, though. I guess I don’t enjoy being in the limelight and would much rather have that happen to somebody else and congratulate them.”
Robert noted that one of the best things about his road to 50 appearances was turning each trip into a vacation, whether it was fun at Lake Tahoe when visiting Reno, enjoying a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque or taking a trolley over the mountains in Salt Lake City.
He and Diana even enjoyed a little bit of the local flavor Baton Rouge has to offer before taking to the lanes at the River Center.
“It’s my third time bowling here, and we went looking for the same crawfish restaurant that we ate last time in 2012,” Robert said. “We found it. Diana has come with me for most of them, and we make vacations out of them. There’s more to it than just the bowling.”
With his milestone appearance in the books, Robert hopes to add another year to his record during the 2026 event in Reno. His moment in 2025, however – with Diana by his side – is something that will be difficult to top.
“I don’t really get too excited or stressed over anything,” Robert said. “Nothing concerns me, and I don’t stress. But, I got emotional today when they started to talk about this. It’s a great honor.”
In his 50th appearance, the 83-year-old recorded a 1,336 all-events total to bring his career pinfall to 78,276 (176.2 average).
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.