Anne Depew began her bowling career in 1963 at Bar Don Lanes in Stoney Creek, and she became involved in organized bowling two years later as the Hamilton 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association was forming and ultimately growing into one of Ontario’s top performing zones.

As well, this involvement accelerated when Anne and husband, Ron, enrolled their daughter, Maureen, in the Youth Bowling Council program at Lucky Strike Bowlerama that same year. Specifically, Anne became a House Councilor working under the leadership of Harold Copeman at Lucky Strike Bowlerama before joining Hall of Famer, the late Arnold Witley, on the Zone Association team. In addition, Ron became Tournament Director of the Hamilton 5 Pin Bowler’s Association and both Anne and Ron subsequently worked with the Master Bowlers’ Association tournament committee, and, along with Hall of Famer Henry Fehr, handled the scoreboards at many events on the Master Bowlers’ Association calendar.

Anne’s bowling career always included her husband, Ron, and has covered all facets of our sport. In the Youth Bowling Council, Anne was involved from 1965-1993 as both a coach and instructor, while Ron was the Program Director at both Lucky Strike Bowlerama and Sherwood Centre, where more than 500 youngsters were registered. In the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario, Anne was a member for fifteen years. She became a Zone Delegate in 1981, and while a member of the teaching division, represented Ontario nationally in Saskatoon in 1977, the first year of team play for the teaching division. Moreover, Anne used her teaching talents to coach several teams, and was named the Coach of the Year for Ontario, in 1980, the first year of the provincial award in this category.

In the local Association, Anne has enjoyed a forty-year career that continues to this day. From her first days as a House Councilor at Lucky Strike Bowlerama, Anne eventually became President of the Association, serving in that role for twelve years. Under her leadership, the Hamilton 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association was Zone of the Year in both 1987 and 1988, and a contender in every other year. Anne stepped down as President in 1993 when she and her husband Ron took over as managers of Sherwood Centre. However, she continues to this day on the Association Board of Governors and lends her expertise to the Annual Kids Help Phone fundraising campaign.

At Sherwood Centre, Anne and Ron Depew were named managers in 1993 as owner Bob Banting was searching for new leadership. Until 2001, Sherwood continued to be one of Ontario’s outstanding bowling centres, not only hosting the Provincial Open but also the annual bowling school and several of the other large tournaments conducted annually by all groups in organized bowling.

During this time, Anne also served on the Provincial Board of Directors and added her expertise to record scores, awards and tournaments. While Anne and Ron have been married for fifty years, they raised three daughters, Maureen, Cathy and Rhonda, and as well, there are five grandchildren. Specifically, Maureen’s daughter, Nicole, will continue the bowling tradition, as she is the bursary winner in the Master Bowlers’ Association program and will bowl on the provincial tour this year.

While this induction recognizes the accomplishments of Anne, her success certainly has been the result of the partnership with her husband, Ron, that has grown both on and off the lanes.