Hall of Famer's work in bowling fuels passion for the sport
05/05/06
Recent USBC Hall of Fame inductee Fran Deken is first and foremost a bowler, whether she's on the lanes or behind the desk registering bowlers at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.
One might think that after being accorded bowling's highest honor Deken would rest on her laurels, but she continues to fuel her passion for the sport by working such jobs as the Women's Championships registration desk.
Not long after returning from Orlando, Fla., where she was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame on April 20, the 61-year-old New Orleans native, who now lives southeast of Tulsa in Coweta, Okla., was right back to work at the National Bowling Stadium. Since then, she's had time to reflect on her induction into the Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service to the sport on local, state and national levels.
"You always hope you'll get into the Hall of Fame," she said with a broad smile. "When the committee votes on your membership based on meritorious service, you're asked to leave the room. When you walk back in and everybody starts applauding, it's an indescribable feeling."
Deken, who has been bowling for more than a half-century, has piled up an impressive set of credentials over the years. While she boasts a 204 average, her essential service to the sport has been the more than three decades she's spent in administrative and promotional roles for women's bowling. By way of explaining her attraction to the sport, on and off the lanes, she said, "It's fun, and when I'm not around it, I miss the lady professional bowlers very much."
She sees nothing but a continuing great future for the sport. "It's cyclical in that it changes its direction every so often," she said. "Not so many years ago, the emphasis was on seniors, now it's on younger people; and that's good because that's where bowling's future is."
Deken credits her big brother, Max, for getting her involved in the sport. "He was two years older than I. When he played baseball or hockey, so did I. Then he started bowling. So did I," she said.
She was a member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association board of directors from 1975-79, and played a major role in conducting PWBA Events. She also was instrumental in the creation of the Ladies Pro Bowler tour in 1980. For several years she was PWBA tournament director and a bowling television coordinator.
Deken's degree in English from the University of Iowa has served her bowling career well. She's a long-time member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and headed that group as president in 2001. She has written bowling columns, hosted a radio talk show syndicated out of Las Vegas, and also published a bowling newspaper.
In 2001 and 2005 she bowled for the U.S. in Israel's Maccabiah Games. In between, in 2003, she represented her country at the Pan American Games in Chile. This June, Deken will compete in the Senior Queens Tournament at the National Bowling Stadium. She finished ninth last year in a field of 125 entries.
Deken best summed up her bowling career to date at her Hall of Fame induction at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center: "I'm thrilled to be honored for doing so many things I enjoy doing. What strikes me is not what I've done for bowling, but what bowling has done for me," she said.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier of USBC.
Top five division leaders with hometowns and pinfall:
United States
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (March 16 - July 2, 2006)
Recent USBC Hall of Fame inductee Fran Deken is first and foremost a bowler, whether she's on the lanes or behind the desk registering bowlers at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. One might think that after being accorded bowling's highest honor Deken would rest on her laurels, but she continues to fuel her passion for the sport by working such jobs as the Women's Championships registration desk.
Not long after returning from Orlando, Fla., where she was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame on April 20, the 61-year-old New Orleans native, who now lives southeast of Tulsa in Coweta, Okla., was right back to work at the National Bowling Stadium. Since then, she's had time to reflect on her induction into the Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service to the sport on local, state and national levels.
"You always hope you'll get into the Hall of Fame," she said with a broad smile. "When the committee votes on your membership based on meritorious service, you're asked to leave the room. When you walk back in and everybody starts applauding, it's an indescribable feeling."
Deken, who has been bowling for more than a half-century, has piled up an impressive set of credentials over the years. While she boasts a 204 average, her essential service to the sport has been the more than three decades she's spent in administrative and promotional roles for women's bowling. By way of explaining her attraction to the sport, on and off the lanes, she said, "It's fun, and when I'm not around it, I miss the lady professional bowlers very much."
She sees nothing but a continuing great future for the sport. "It's cyclical in that it changes its direction every so often," she said. "Not so many years ago, the emphasis was on seniors, now it's on younger people; and that's good because that's where bowling's future is."
Deken credits her big brother, Max, for getting her involved in the sport. "He was two years older than I. When he played baseball or hockey, so did I. Then he started bowling. So did I," she said.
She was a member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association board of directors from 1975-79, and played a major role in conducting PWBA Events. She also was instrumental in the creation of the Ladies Pro Bowler tour in 1980. For several years she was PWBA tournament director and a bowling television coordinator.
Deken's degree in English from the University of Iowa has served her bowling career well. She's a long-time member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and headed that group as president in 2001. She has written bowling columns, hosted a radio talk show syndicated out of Las Vegas, and also published a bowling newspaper.
In 2001 and 2005 she bowled for the U.S. in Israel's Maccabiah Games. In between, in 2003, she represented her country at the Pan American Games in Chile. This June, Deken will compete in the Senior Queens Tournament at the National Bowling Stadium. She finished ninth last year in a field of 125 entries.
Deken best summed up her bowling career to date at her Hall of Fame induction at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center: "I'm thrilled to be honored for doing so many things I enjoy doing. What strikes me is not what I've done for bowling, but what bowling has done for me," she said.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier of USBC.
Top five division leaders with hometowns and pinfall:
CLASSIC DIVISION
Team (946 average and over)
1, Strike 3, Sun City, Ariz., 3,021. 2, C&S Bowling Supply I, Plainfield, Ill., 2,946. 3, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 4, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869. 5, All Star Lanes, Silverdale, Wash., 2,865.
Doubles (379 average and over)
1, Carrie Meares, Seneca, S.C./Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 1,331. 2, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif./Cathy Johnston, Folsom, Calif., 1,274. 3, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 4, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231. 5, Teresa Adkins, Xenia, Ohio/Debbie Benchic, Dayton, Ohio 1,223.
Singles (190 average and over)
1, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 707. 2, Valerie Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 691. 3, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 683. 4, Alisha Caballero, Riverside, Calif., 678. 5, Jamie Koster, Grants Pass, Ore., 674.
All Events (190 average and over)
1, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 2,097. 2, Lisa Stevens, St. Charles, Ill., 1,991. 3, Nikki Lunsford, Plainfield, Ill., 1,967. 4, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896. 5, (tie) Rachel Einstoss, Chula Vista, Calif., and Jami May-Bruce, 1,890.
1, Strike 3, Sun City, Ariz., 3,021. 2, C&S Bowling Supply I, Plainfield, Ill., 2,946. 3, Miche's Mob, Irvine, Calif., 2,877. 4, Lucky Ducks #5, Mohnton, Pa., 2,869. 5, All Star Lanes, Silverdale, Wash., 2,865.
Doubles (379 average and over)
1, Carrie Meares, Seneca, S.C./Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 1,331. 2, Dianna Innerst, San Jose, Calif./Cathy Johnston, Folsom, Calif., 1,274. 3, Bonnie Vaughan, Englewood, Ohio/Rae Parks, Vandalia, Ohio, 1,234. 4, Nicole Van Deventer/Laurie Clark, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,231. 5, Teresa Adkins, Xenia, Ohio/Debbie Benchic, Dayton, Ohio 1,223.
Singles (190 average and over)
1, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 707. 2, Valerie Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 691. 3, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 683. 4, Alisha Caballero, Riverside, Calif., 678. 5, Jamie Koster, Grants Pass, Ore., 674.
All Events (190 average and over)
1, Lisa Wagner, Duluth, Ga., 2,097. 2, Lisa Stevens, St. Charles, Ill., 1,991. 3, Nikki Lunsford, Plainfield, Ill., 1,967. 4, Shannon Duplantis, New Orleans, 1,896. 5, (tie) Rachel Einstoss, Chula Vista, Calif., and Jami May-Bruce, 1,890.
DIVISION 1
Team (846-945 average)
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, BeauBien Street Saloon, Troy, Mich., 2,781. 3, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759. 4, N-10-City, Sun Valley, Nev., 2,743. 5, Wild Bunch 1, Yuma, Ariz., 2,711.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 3, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 4, Jackie Klock, Brandon, S.D./Judi Johnson, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,180. 5, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif./Jackie Wyckoff, Cupertino, Calif., 1,178.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 686. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 676. 3, Paula Hallead, East Wenatchee, Wash., 674. 4, Dawn Jessie, Atlanta, 662. 5, Marlene Crosier, Mitchell, Neb., 650.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,804. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 1,802. 3, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 4, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777. 5, Jane Carpenter, Durham, N.C., 1,759.
1, Village Bar II, Omaha, Neb., 2,842. 2, BeauBien Street Saloon, Troy, Mich., 2,781. 3, Cruizin', White City, Ore., 2,759. 4, N-10-City, Sun Valley, Nev., 2,743. 5, Wild Bunch 1, Yuma, Ariz., 2,711.
Doubles (339-378 average)
1, Pam Schulz, Longview, Wash./Valery Hubbard, Kelso, Wash., 1,264. 2, Janet McLeod, Redding, Calif./Susan Fuller, Cottonwood, Calif., 1,196. 3, Darci Roberts, Canby, Ore./Sandra Currie, Dundee, Ore., 1,181. 4, Jackie Klock, Brandon, S.D./Judi Johnson, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,180. 5, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif./Jackie Wyckoff, Cupertino, Calif., 1,178.
Singles (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 686. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 676. 3, Paula Hallead, East Wenatchee, Wash., 674. 4, Dawn Jessie, Atlanta, 662. 5, Marlene Crosier, Mitchell, Neb., 650.
All Events (170-189 average)
1, Kristine Kiesling, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,804. 2, Wynn Brandon, Reno, Nev., 1,802. 3, Jackie Brantley, Littleton, Colo., 1,800. 4, Gerry Little Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,777. 5, Jane Carpenter, Durham, N.C., 1,759.
DIVISION 2
Team (746-845 average)
1, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 2, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 3, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 4, Jaycees 1, Ellenwood, Ga., 2,613. 5, Storage World I, New Port Richey, Fla., 2,600.
Doubles (299-338 average)
1, Sharon Cassidy, San Mateo, Calif./Elaine Van Otten, Pacifica, Calif., 1,171. 2, Jeanna Brown, Bloomington, Ill./Joan Kaufman, Heyworth, Ill., 1,154. 3, Deborah Nowak-Frick, Walkerton, Ind./Pat Dukarm, South Bend, Ind., 1,141. 4, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129. 5, Stacey Fenton, Manor, Texas/Diane Beger, Round Rock, Texas, 1,119.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Linda Urbanek, Poway, Calif., 616. 3, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615. 4 (tie), Theresa Alwood, Belleville, Ill. and Sarah Logsdon, Richmond, Mo., 611.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,682. 2, Morgan Robinson, New Haven, Conn., 1,681. 3, Juli Wall, Petaluma, Calif., 1,680. 4, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 1,679. 5 (tie), Joanne Miller, Coquitlam, British Columbia and Jean Farley, Bellaire, Texas, 1,670.
1, Centennial Lanes 2, Hays, Kan., 2,658. 2, Team 20022, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,640. 3, Family and Friends #1, Rohnert Park, Calif., 2,633. 4, Jaycees 1, Ellenwood, Ga., 2,613. 5, Storage World I, New Port Richey, Fla., 2,600.
Doubles (299-338 average)
1, Sharon Cassidy, San Mateo, Calif./Elaine Van Otten, Pacifica, Calif., 1,171. 2, Jeanna Brown, Bloomington, Ill./Joan Kaufman, Heyworth, Ill., 1,154. 3, Deborah Nowak-Frick, Walkerton, Ind./Pat Dukarm, South Bend, Ind., 1,141. 4, Edie Anderson, Hesperia, Mich./Dee Rynberg, Fremont, Mich., 1,129. 5, Stacey Fenton, Manor, Texas/Diane Beger, Round Rock, Texas, 1,119.
Singles (150-169 average)
1, Judith Kaufman, Winslow, Ill., 620. 2, Linda Urbanek, Poway, Calif., 616. 3, Bonnie Magnussen, Wyoming, Ill., 615. 4 (tie), Theresa Alwood, Belleville, Ill. and Sarah Logsdon, Richmond, Mo., 611.
All Events (150-169 average)
1, Terri Stynes, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,682. 2, Morgan Robinson, New Haven, Conn., 1,681. 3, Juli Wall, Petaluma, Calif., 1,680. 4, Connie Haycock, Boise, Idaho, 1,679. 5 (tie), Joanne Miller, Coquitlam, British Columbia and Jean Farley, Bellaire, Texas, 1,670.
DIVISION 3
Team (651-745 average)
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 3, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401. 4, Coldwell Banker, Eureka, Calif., 2,397. 5, Desert Divas IV, Pahrump, Nev., 2,354.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Sharon Schutts, South St. Paul, Minn./Barb Strus, McGregor, Minn., 1,053. 3, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045. 4, Dottie Cole/Karen Edwards, Pahrump, Nev., 1,034. 5, Janie Bauer/Sandy Wilson, Elko, Nev., 1,033.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575. 5, Pat Ballantyne, The Villages, Fla., 564.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 2, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 3, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 4, Shirley Baker, Orangevale, Calif., 1,574. 5, Paula Hyde, Austin, Texas, 1,553.
1, Just Marked, Oakland, Calif., 2,458. 2, Cutting Edge, Glencoe, Minn., 2,417. 3, Left Overs, Ponca City, Okla., 2,401. 4, Coldwell Banker, Eureka, Calif., 2,397. 5, Desert Divas IV, Pahrump, Nev., 2,354.
Doubles (261-298 average)
1, Jamie Huyser, Kearney, Neb./Connie Huyser, Johnson Lake, Neb., 1,062. 2, Sharon Schutts, South St. Paul, Minn./Barb Strus, McGregor, Minn., 1,053. 3, Joyce Bland, Tampa, Fla./Ruth Burns, Carlinville, Ill., 1,045. 4, Dottie Cole/Karen Edwards, Pahrump, Nev., 1,034. 5, Janie Bauer/Sandy Wilson, Elko, Nev., 1,033.
Singles (131-149 average)
1, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 638. 2, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 598. 3, Tisha Martin, Seattle, 586. 4, Donna LaJeunesse, Xenia, Ohio, 575. 5, Pat Ballantyne, The Villages, Fla., 564.
All Events (131-149 average)
1, Ginger Engel, Pahrump, Nev., 1,601. 2, Nancy Galinat, Harrold, S.D., 1,592. 3, Robin McGinnis, Petrolia, Pa., 1,588. 4, Shirley Baker, Orangevale, Calif., 1,574. 5, Paula Hyde, Austin, Texas, 1,553.
DIVISION 4
Team (650 average and under)
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, North Idaho Crushing II, St. Maries, Idaho, 2,111. 3, Tumbleweed Lanes, Ness City, Kan., 2,096. 4, Lundeen Ford, Annandale, Minn., 2,091. 5, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 3, Lorna Robinson/Holly Rybensky, Omaha, Neb., 941. 4, Ann Harvey, Pleasanton, Texas/Meaghan Bedwell, Jourdanton, Texas, 926. 5, Susan Carlson, Milaca, Minn./Karon Bensen, Saint Louis Park, Minn., 920.
Singles (130 average and under)
1, Rose Postle, Rice Lake, Wis., 554. 2, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 549. 3, Shelly Bloch, Ramsey, Minn., 538. 4, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 536. 5, Claudia Garrison, Penn Valley, Calif., 525.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 3, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 4, Alice Vieselmeyer, Friend, Neb., 1,426. 5, Heather Payne, Gering, Neb., 1,425.
1, Bear Nasty, Monticello, Minn., 2,187. 2, North Idaho Crushing II, St. Maries, Idaho, 2,111. 3, Tumbleweed Lanes, Ness City, Kan., 2,096. 4, Lundeen Ford, Annandale, Minn., 2,091. 5, Shelton-Christmas Town, Shelton, Wash., 2,079.
Doubles (260 average and under)
1, Kathy Belmer, Manteca, Calif./Regina Antunes, Stockton, Calif., 973. 2, Sharon Carroll/Dee Carroll, Newport, Wash., 945. 3, Lorna Robinson/Holly Rybensky, Omaha, Neb., 941. 4, Ann Harvey, Pleasanton, Texas/Meaghan Bedwell, Jourdanton, Texas, 926. 5, Susan Carlson, Milaca, Minn./Karon Bensen, Saint Louis Park, Minn., 920.
Singles (130 average and under)
1, Rose Postle, Rice Lake, Wis., 554. 2, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 549. 3, Shelly Bloch, Ramsey, Minn., 538. 4, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 536. 5, Claudia Garrison, Penn Valley, Calif., 525.
All Events (130 average and under)
1, Connie Monk, Yelm, Wash., 1,481. 2, Karen Clements, Blair, Neb., 1,443. 3, Ashley Rivera, Kingsville, Texas, 1,433. 4, Alice Vieselmeyer, Friend, Neb., 1,426. 5, Heather Payne, Gering, Neb., 1,425.