Hall Of Fame

Tonight, the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association will formally induct two Builders and one Bowler into the Hall of Fame. These three individuals were selected by a committee consisting of current and past Life Members, York Simcoe and Ontario 5 Pin Hall of Fame members and will now join the fifty-one inductees from our first five Ceremonies in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2018.

In the Bowlers Division, we congratulate Cathy Davidson from Bradford. While Cathy started her bowling career in Sudbury and left her mark with Northern Ontario, she continued her winning ways after moving to Newmarket in 2001. To this day she runs a very successful YBC Invitational Tournament, which attracts youth bowlers from all over the province.

Our inductees in the Builders Division are Margaret French from Newmarket and Gary Kehoe from Oshawa. Gary grew up in Richmond Hill and joined the Association in 1992. As he has just completed his twenty-seventh year of involvement with the Association, Gary has been a constant Incentive winner at the O5 Annual General Meeting in numerous categories. Margaret, who also grew up in Richmond Hill before moving to Newmarket, can be considered a global traveller, since she has been to many countries as a coach and volunteer with Special Olympics Ontario and is the main reason that her Athletes are members of our Association.

The Hall of Fame process at the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association level was originally the idea of Shirley Hoult of Scarborough. In 1966, Shirley promoted the idea to Bert Garside, who was at that time, Executive Director of the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress (OBC). Based on Bert’s recommendation, the OBC Board of Directors gave Shirley their approval to gather the necessary materials, including the first submission forms. As a result of this initiative, it was only fitting that the first inductee, in 1968, was Tommy Ryan, the founder of our sport. We would also like to thank the Huronia zone for their inspiration and assistance in making our Hall of Fame a reality.

As a Zone Association, that has just completed our 56th Anniversary milestone, we would like to thank all those individuals who have volunteered their time and energy. In that time, we have had over two hundred and fifty individuals work with our Association, either at the House, Decentralized or Zone level. This dinner and induction ceremony is now an integral part of our organization. We would like to recognize the efforts of all the volunteers who have contributed to the success of tonight’s program.

In closing, the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association would like to offer its congratulations to each inductee and recognize the effort of each of them who excel at our sport, both on and off the lanes as Bowlers and Coaches and behind the scenes as Builders.