34
- March 2017
50-Year Club At
Championships
LAS VEGAS - Ron Ramza of
Streator, Illinois, became the
first bowler to hit a participation
milestone at the 2017 United
s he made his 50th consecutive ap-
pearance at the event.
The 71-year-old right-hander began his tournament
career at the 1968 event in Cincinnati, and he was wel-
comed into the 50-Year Club on Saturday with family
and friends cheering him on at the South Point Bowling
Plaza. Ramza received a plaque, chevron and diamond
lapel pin to commemorate the day.
Saturday's celebration included an emotional speech
on the championship lanes from Ramza, who enjoyed
the opportunity to see his family come together for the
moment.
"Today will stick out in my mind for many reasons,
and I'm happy that my three sons were able to join me,"
Ramza said. "They're older and have families of their
own. They live in Florida, Boston and Idaho, so to get
the guys together to spend today with me was a very
happy occasion."
Ramza got his start at the USBC Open Champion-
ships after being asked to join a group from a local
league, and his dedication to the sport made it easy to
work the event into his annual schedule.
He's enjoyed having the chance to travel and see the
country throughout this tournament career, and
Ramza's appearance at the 1971 event in Detroit regis-
ters as one of his favorite moments on the lanes.
"When the guys asked me to bowl, I jumped at the
opportunity," said Ramza, a member of the Streator
Major USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "In
1971, I shot my first 1,800 for all-events, and I did it
with a black Manhattan Rubber bowling ball. Bowling is
something I'm passionate about, I've always loved it."
Ramza worked as a bowling proprietor for 27 years
and gave his time and service on both the local and
state levels, and he still is on the Illinois USBC Youth
Association's Board of Directors. In 2011, Ramza was
recognized for his work as the proprietor at Streator's
Bowl-Mor Lanes by being named the Illinois State
Bowling Proprietors Association Proprietor of the Year.
Ramza has battled several health issues in order to
keep his consecutive streak intact, most notably at the
2012 event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"I bowled the last squad on the last day in Baton
Rouge to keep my string alive," Ramza said. "I was
fighting cancer, and I wasn't sure the doctors were go-
ing to let me fly, so I bundled up and my wife drove us
to Baton Rouge from Illinois."
With his milestone appearance in the books, Ramza
reflected on a lifetime of memories brought to him from
the Open Championships.
"My first trip on a commercial airliner was when we
flew to Long Beach in 1972." "Throughout the years,
many things have happened, but they've all been good.
I've always enjoyed getting the guys together and bowl-
ing. I'm so thankful and grateful to be here, and I look
forward to keep putting along and make Syracuse next
year."
USBC Hall Of Famer
Betty Mivelaz Dies At 86
By Aaron Smith
ARLINGTON, Texas
– Betty Mivelaz of Tujunga, Cali-
fornia, a United States Bowling Congress Hall of
Famer, died Feb. 26. She was 86.
Mivelaz had a banner year on the lanes in 1967, win-
ning the Professional
Women’s Bowling Asso-
ciation National Champi-
onships and capturing a
Classic Team title at the
USBC Women’s Champi-
onships in Rochester,
New York. She was in-
ducted into the USBC
Hall of Fame in 1991.
Her run at the 1967
Women’s Championships
also included two addi-
tional top-10 finishes.
She finished tied for third in Classic All-Events and took
seventh in Classic Doubles.
Those performances earned Mivelaz a spot on the
Bowlers Journal International All-American team in
1968.
Mivelaz was a force on the West Coast, winning 10
Western Women’s Professional Bowlers titles to go
along with numerous state and local wins. She was
selected to the California Bowling Writers All-Star
Team from 1966-1975, and earned Southern California
Bowler of the Year honors in 1968.
She also is a member of the Southern California, San
Fernando Valley and California Halls of Fame.
February 26th at 5:30 AM Bowling lost one of its great
woman champions. PWBA'S Hall of Famer Betty Mive-
laz died after a hard bought with Pancreatic Cancer at the
age of 86. She is survived by her two sons, Steve and Jeff and
daughter, my wife, Sue Mivelaz West and grandchildren and
great grandchildren. She was a fearless competitor and
loved to take the pot money from the men she bowled agents
years ago while in her prime. She will be sorely missed by
one and all. RIP Betty
SENIOR CLASSIC
secretary/treasurer Ron Johnson
by Don Phillips
Jan. 24. High roller for the week was Monty Lyons
257/924. OK!! The other 900 was by John Tremblay
231/902. Par rollers were Ron Pearson 225/829, Gary
Moore 237/861, Mo Snyder 247/838, Bryant Hicks
258/844, Gordon Moore 246/820, Don Phillips 236/862,
Ray Searles 220/841, Steve Adams 237/873, Doug
Regelin 245/870, Brent Korff 246/828, Kelly Wright
234/866, Gary Hobbs 247/817, Nick DeStefano
269/875, Mike Andreozzi 256/829, Steve Curless
255/868, Bruce Cantrell 235/849, Mike Mayer 224/859
and Ron Johnson 246/888. Nice games were by Paul
Brown 246, Hank Miles 224, Rick Knickerbocker 237,
Mike Nichols 224, Stan Seeley 234 and Ben Biggs 230.
Jan 31. Uptown John Tremblay 279/994 top senior!!!
Great John! Five more 900's were by Brent Korff
279/954, Ray Searles 261/921, Bob Bonifacini
266/920, Doug Regelin 245/917, Steve Adams
258/916.
800+ rollers were Tom Latoski 225/836, Mark
Correale 248/864, Dave Seiler 245/843, George Senn
236/864, Bruce Cantrell 237/887, Cal Suan 228/839,
Gary Moore 254/896, Nick DeStefano 256/830, Dennis
Estes 245/875, Mo Snyder 235/847, Mike Mayer
243/825, Steve Curless 235/842, Kelly Wright 258/871
and Jim Russell 245/842. Good singles were by Ron
Pearson 237, Gary Hobbs 247, Bill Larson 235, Ron
Johnson 234 and Mike Nichols 234.
Feb. 7. Only one show-off this week; Ron Johnson
259/926. Very good Ron. The rest of the top 20 were
Greg Pope 279/898, Steve Curless 245/852, Art Tour-
tillott 243/826, Mike Mayer 258/891, Bob Bonifacini
268/855, Gary Hobbs 242/826, Hank Miles 279/891,
Steve Adams 244/841, Doug Regelin 266/896, Bud
Oman 233/816, Don Phillips 243/858, Larry Hilburn
228/873, Dennis Estes 257/862, Jim Russell 227/815,
Frank Acuna 226/838, Mike Schwartz 235/832, Dave
Seiler 248/859, Bruce Cantrell 259/864 and John
Tremblay 250/834. Nice singles were by Keith
Stout 232, Gordon Moore 235, Larry Laub 244, Gary
Moore 244 and John Miner 254.
Feb 14. The third quarter ended. Team Re-Loaded
Again (Don Sager, Lonnie Hare, Steve Curless) won
the third playoff spot. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
High for the week was Steve Curless 300 PERECTO
1003. Great rolling Steve.
Three 900's were by Gordon Moore 276/960, Larry
Hilburn 289/914 and Don Phillips 278/900. The rest of
the top 20 par rollers were Hank Miles 223/820, Gary
Hobbs 251/890, Bryant Hicks 236/827, Stan Seeley
234/847, Lonnie Hare 268/852, Mike Mayer 213/820,
Ray Searles 238/833, Jim Russell 256/879, Steve Ad-
ams 233/836, Doug Regelin 221/835, Gary Moore
223/857, Dennis Estes 228/869, Karen Russell
212/811, Mal Helmuth 243/817, Frank Acuna 222/817
and Kelly Wright 237/858. Very good singles were
by Dale Collette 258, Bruce Cantrell 234, Ron Johnson
255, Everett Whiteside 251 and Phillip Moses 235.
2017 ITRC Super Senior Classic
June 1-4, 2017
Sam's Town Bowling Center, Las Vegas, NV
This is a USBC certified event. This is a singles,
scratch tournament with qualifying rounds, cashers
round, and a step ladder final. This event is open to
USBC members 60 years of age and older on the day
competition begins. All bowlers registering for the
2017 Super Senior Classic must be current USBC
members in good standing. Bowl.com for more info.
