Oweny Jones, elected to Life Membership in our Association in 1967, made his first appearance on the Toronto tenpin bowling scene in 1932 at age 36 although he probably bowled before that time.

His bowling ability is beyond question. Through the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s he averaged plus or minus 185 most of the time. In his early days he worked for the Post Office on the mail run to North Bay where he spent the night and came back the next day. Oweny never went anywhere without his bowling ball and his run to North Bay was no exception. Every time he was there he bowled and record several 700 series and high 600 series. He was admitted to the 700 Bowling Clubs of America in 1953. There was never a 700 series recorded in Toronto for Owney Jones so one of his North Bay 700’s must have been sanctioned. They may all have been, and the BCA membership not applied for.

He attended many ABC tournaments, and although he did not drive a car, would go anywhere in the Toronto area to bowl in a tournament of a league. He won the Toronto Masters Tournament in 1957 and in the last Toronto Masters Tournament in 1966. at age 70, he bowled a near perfect 296 game, nearly blind in both eyes from cataracts. He could barely see the lanes, let alone the pins, but his big left-handed hook was working well.

Notwithstanding his prowess as a bowler, we are recognizing Oweny Jones for his long service to our Association and to Toronto bowlers.

He served 10 years as a Director of our Association and could be depended upon to do whatever was required of him, without fail. Throughout his bowling career he promoted our game and our Association wherever he went. He was always ready to lend a helping hand with anything that had to be done, including helping a new bowler get his game straightened out. In 1969 he founded the first Seniors league in our Association in which he bowled until the end of 1977-78 season. After that, ill health forced him out of the game.

Oweny Jones was a good bowler, sometimes a great bowler, but few can match his devotion to the game. To the association and to the ABC.