Two bowlers celebrate 50 years at 2017 Women's Championships
May 12, 2017
By Ryne Navarro, Scott Simon and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Hope Williams (above) of Tucson, Arizona, and Elaine Rebatzke of Milwaukee became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Williams and Rebatzke each were honored at the Raising Cane's River Center this week for their longevity, and each received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate the milestone.
Williams, 91, made her 50th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance Wednesday, celebrating a career that started at the 1968 event in San Antonio. Throughout her career, she has traveled to 34 cities and 24 states.
Williams enjoys the environment the tournament provides, but she really cherishes having the opportunity to meet new friends every year.
"I love the people and the atmosphere," said Williams, a member of the Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame. "I love meeting new people every year. I remember one year, we bowled with a team from Japan and had a great time. I worked this tournament, and I've bowled it for so long, and it's the people and the atmosphere that make it so great."
Joined by family and friends for her 50th appearance, Williams reminisced about several teammates who spent many years by her side on the championship lanes.
"Five years ago, we had a team where three of us received our 45-year plaque, and my daughter got her 30-year plaque," Williams said. "Unfortunately, the two who made 45 years passed away, so it is bittersweet to be here for my 50th without them."
In her 50th appearance, Williams only competed in the team event. She had not bowled leading into this year's Women's Championships, but she is ready to start putting in the work again.
"I didn't bowl this year," Williams said. "I know I need a lot of practice to get back in shape again."
Rebatzke, 78, had a party in store for her 50th appearance as friends and family cheered on the Milwaukee and Wisconsin USBC Women's Bowling Association Hall of Famer.
She was joined by 15 teams in her group, including longtime friend and colleague at the Women's International Bowling Congress, USBC Hall of Famer Roseann Kuhn of Hays, Kansas.
"Roseann is one of my best friends, and we've known each other for some 40 years," Rebatzke said. "We worked together for 20-plus years at the WIBC before I retired. We've kept in touch, even after she moved back to Kansas. We see each other away from the tournament. I go to see her in Kansas, and she comes to see me in Milwaukee."
Kuhn, who presented Rebatzke with her plaque, echoed the admiration shared with her friend and teammate.
"It's a special day for Elaine, but for me as well," said Kuhn, who made her 43rd Women's Championships appearance. "We've been friends for a very long time, and it's an honor to be here today."
Rebatzke began her tournament career at the 1963 event in Memphis, Tennessee, and despite some travel woes on her way to Memphis, a passion for the event developed.
"We decided to take the train from Milwaukee," Rebatzke said. "We had to switch trains in Chicago, and when we got to Memphis we had no luggage. All we had were our uniforms, which we packed in garment bags. So when we bowled the team event the next day, we had to use house balls and house shoes. Fortunately, we had uniforms, but that was it. It was quite a start to all of my years bowling in the national tournament."
Rebatzke went on to find success on the championship lanes, including a second-place finish in Classic All-Events and a fourth-place finish in Classic Singles at the 1985 event in Toledo, Ohio. The performance gave her the opportunity to represent the United States at the 1985 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas.
Rebatzke also enjoyed the chance to meet new people while competing and working at the event as she reflected on her milestone run.
"Well, for one thing, I can knock this off my bucket list," Rebatzke said. "It's been a great ride. I've been to a lot of wonderful cities and made lots of new friends along the way, and I really, really enjoyed every minute of it."
At the River Center, Rebatzke rolled sets of 529 in singles, 479 in doubles and 475 in team for a 1,483 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Hope Williams (above) of Tucson, Arizona, and Elaine Rebatzke of Milwaukee became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Williams and Rebatzke each were honored at the Raising Cane's River Center this week for their longevity, and each received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate the milestone.
Williams, 91, made her 50th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance Wednesday, celebrating a career that started at the 1968 event in San Antonio. Throughout her career, she has traveled to 34 cities and 24 states.
Williams enjoys the environment the tournament provides, but she really cherishes having the opportunity to meet new friends every year.
"I love the people and the atmosphere," said Williams, a member of the Tucson Metro USBC Hall of Fame. "I love meeting new people every year. I remember one year, we bowled with a team from Japan and had a great time. I worked this tournament, and I've bowled it for so long, and it's the people and the atmosphere that make it so great."
Joined by family and friends for her 50th appearance, Williams reminisced about several teammates who spent many years by her side on the championship lanes.
"Five years ago, we had a team where three of us received our 45-year plaque, and my daughter got her 30-year plaque," Williams said. "Unfortunately, the two who made 45 years passed away, so it is bittersweet to be here for my 50th without them."
In her 50th appearance, Williams only competed in the team event. She had not bowled leading into this year's Women's Championships, but she is ready to start putting in the work again.
"I didn't bowl this year," Williams said. "I know I need a lot of practice to get back in shape again."
Rebatzke, 78, had a party in store for her 50th appearance as friends and family cheered on the Milwaukee and Wisconsin USBC Women's Bowling Association Hall of Famer.She was joined by 15 teams in her group, including longtime friend and colleague at the Women's International Bowling Congress, USBC Hall of Famer Roseann Kuhn of Hays, Kansas.
"Roseann is one of my best friends, and we've known each other for some 40 years," Rebatzke said. "We worked together for 20-plus years at the WIBC before I retired. We've kept in touch, even after she moved back to Kansas. We see each other away from the tournament. I go to see her in Kansas, and she comes to see me in Milwaukee."
Kuhn, who presented Rebatzke with her plaque, echoed the admiration shared with her friend and teammate."It's a special day for Elaine, but for me as well," said Kuhn, who made her 43rd Women's Championships appearance. "We've been friends for a very long time, and it's an honor to be here today."
Rebatzke began her tournament career at the 1963 event in Memphis, Tennessee, and despite some travel woes on her way to Memphis, a passion for the event developed.
"We decided to take the train from Milwaukee," Rebatzke said. "We had to switch trains in Chicago, and when we got to Memphis we had no luggage. All we had were our uniforms, which we packed in garment bags. So when we bowled the team event the next day, we had to use house balls and house shoes. Fortunately, we had uniforms, but that was it. It was quite a start to all of my years bowling in the national tournament."
Rebatzke went on to find success on the championship lanes, including a second-place finish in Classic All-Events and a fourth-place finish in Classic Singles at the 1985 event in Toledo, Ohio. The performance gave her the opportunity to represent the United States at the 1985 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas.
Rebatzke also enjoyed the chance to meet new people while competing and working at the event as she reflected on her milestone run.
"Well, for one thing, I can knock this off my bucket list," Rebatzke said. "It's been a great ride. I've been to a lot of wonderful cities and made lots of new friends along the way, and I really, really enjoyed every minute of it."
At the River Center, Rebatzke rolled sets of 529 in singles, 479 in doubles and 475 in team for a 1,483 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.