Hall Of Fame Inductee
Charles McQuaker
Inducted into: Builder Division in 2009
Inducted into: Player Division in 1986
Inducted into: Builder of the Bowling Industry in 1974
Location: Mississauga
Deceased: DEC
- Builder
- Player
- Industry
The importance of Charles McQuaker can be directly related to some important dates in 5 pin bowling history.
The original Hall of Fame program began in 1968 and in those early years, two Builders and six Players were recognized. On the Builders side was the founder of our sport Tommy Ryan and the first secretary of the founding Canadian Bowling Association, Bob Woods. In 1973, the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Ontario joined together to recognize Builders of the Bowling Industry.
Charles McQuaker or “Red” as was his popular nickname was honoured at the second dinner, in 1974, following the recognition of Joe Roberts, Flo Cutting and Jim Beeforth. Subsequently, in 1986, when the Hall of Fame program was revived by the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Association, Red was inducted as a Player in that first year. Finally, in 2009, we will complete the cycle and Charles “Red” McQuaker will be inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Builder of 5 pin bowling.
Red was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1910 and, after arriving in Canada began bowling in 1926. During his career, he was, at various times, president of the top four major leagues in Toronto. He was a charter executive member of the Ontario Bowlers Congress when it was founded in 1952 and he was also a founding member at the Canadian level as well.
Five pin bowling endured some growing pains during the 1960’s as East and West argued over both the official count for bowling and also the abolition of the counter pin. Red became the peacemaker between the two groups and, in 1972, the national championships, which had been suspended for three years, were re-instated. Red’s ability to transfer difficult debates into harmonious discussions was a major factor in this resolution which remains in place to this day.
Red received a Life Membership from the Canadian Bowlers’ Congress in 1970, was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress (OBC) in 1971 and their fifth overall Life Member of the OBC in 1972. In addition, in 1976 Red was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame.
While Red passed away in 1999, his wife Nina and a son David carry the family legacy. Nina, who is now 96, has battled Alzheimer’s for over ten years, while David and his wife, Lucy, live in Mississauga. There are two children, a son, David, and a daughter, Marlo. In turn, Dave and his wife have two children, Devan and Emily, now great grandchildren of Hall of Famer Charles “Red” McQuaker.
As a dual inductee, Red now becomes the ninth member of a very elite group, both a Builder and Player inductee to the 5 Pin Bowling Hall of Fame.
C.B. “RED” McQUAKER of Mississauga, soon to be 76 and still active on the lanes, looks back on a 50-year career as a 5 Pin competitor, coach and administrator. Red was there in 1932 the night Joe Heenan bowled the sport’s first perfect 45 game in league play, but is still trying to better his own best single-game score of 438. Red found his strong suit on the lanes as a team player, and with a 245 lifetime average, was a solid performer on Hellewell’s All Stars, a travelling team anchored by Billy Hoult, that only ever lost two matches throughout its run in the 1960s. Other team members were Bert Garside and future Hall of Famers Holly Leet, George Smith, and Billy’s brother Jimmy Hoult. Red played on the 1971 Central Ontario Men’s Team that won the Ontario Championships, and then coached Central Ontario Ladies’ Teams to the Ontario Championship in 1974 and 1975. Always something of a “goodwill ambassador” within our sport and industry, Red McQuaker’s calm and reasoned approach frequently led to compromise in disputes between Eastern and Western Canada, between bowlers and proprietors, and between competing leagues. His contributions are many both on and off the lanes.
Charles “Red” McQuaker is one of the important pioneers in the sport of five-pin bowling. As a bowler, Red first participated in 1926, and in 1933 he was a member of Karry’s team which captured the Canadian Bowling Association Team Title. After that, he joined the Peoples’ Credit Jewellers Team which dominated the Toronto City Men’s Major Leaague for 25 years. Some of the teammates were Eddy Hawkes, Charlie Demelis, Bill Strong, Duke Brooks, George Smith and Hugh Connelly.
As recently as 1970, Red’s fiery spirit and leadership were outstanding factors inleading his team to victory in the Ontario Championships. Last year, he was coach of the Ladies Ontario Championship Team which finished second in the Canadian finals in Vancouver. During his 49 years of bowling, Red McQuaker’s lifetime average is 245. His High Triple is 1060 and his High Single game in sanctioned competition is 433.
On the executive side, Red has been a major influence in the game. During the course of his career, he has been President of four top men’s leagues in Toronto. He was a Charter Executive Member of the Ontario Bowlers Congress when it was founded in 1952 and was a founding member of the Canadian Bowling Congress. The Ontario Bowlers Congress recognized his efforts by making him a life member in 1969. In 1970, the Canadian organization named him a life member. In 1971, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Ontario Bowlers Congress. Red McQuaker was the main influence in resolving problems between five-pin Associations, particularly with the East vs. the West and the present harmony that exists is a tribute to Red’s efforts and activities. Always able to transfer acrimonious debates into harmonious discussions, Red McQuaker is truly the good-will Ambassador of five-pin bowling.