Already inducted as a Builder to the 5 Pin Bowling Hall of Fame in 1989, Ernie Roggie has almost equally impressive credentials as a bowler.

His bowling career began in league play with International Harvester in 1947 and by 1950, Ernie originated a league that included hotel workers and bartenders from the Hamilton area.

Overall, Ernie bowled two perfect games, one, which was sanctioned, at the annual team tournament under Hall of Famer Bob Totzke at Towne Bowl in Kitchener and, a second, unsanctioned, at the Connaught Lanes in Hamilton.

Ernie bowled in all the major leagues in the Hamilton area and, through this activity, competed with and against the top bowlers of the day including Hall of Famers Stan Battersby, Myrt Rowell, Ab Collingwood and Lloyd Omerod. This group became a force in the all events tournaments that were the forerunner of the Master Bowlers Association and held annually in Waterloo, Scarborough, Oshawa and Peterborough. In addition, with this support group, Ernie was a member of teams that won the Molson’s Classic in 1957 and the Ontario Major Team title in 1961 and 1963.

In 1970, Ernie and Stan Battersby led the Hamilton men’s team to the first provincial championship ever won by the Steel City men. Unfortunately, due to the dispute over the counter pin, the Canadian championships were not held that year. Overall, Ernie bowled in five opens, with three efforts as a single, four on the men’s team and a final appearance in 1971 on the mixed team.

When the Master Bowlers Association began in 1964, Ernie was not only the first president, but he also won the first tournament and, as champion, qualified to represent the new organization in the first national competition in Vancouver. Ernie won again in 1971, when he won the annual double knockout event. Overall, Ernie bowled in the tournament division from 1964 to 1976 and continued in the teaching division through to 1992 and remains an associate member to this day.

Ernie has been honoured for his accomplishments by every organization in 5 pin bowling. Undoubtedly his efforts not only added stability to the Master Bowlers Association, but he also spearheaded the development of the sport’s coaching program which laid the foundation for the development of the elite bowlers that star in the sport today.

Ernie and his wife, Helen, are now married 53 years and they have raised four children and enjoy eight grandchildren. Finally, with this dual induction, Ernie joins select company that includes Bert Garside, Mabel McDowell, Ev Wood, and Walter Heeney. Be assured his influence has touched our sport both here in Ontario and across Canada.

E. Ernie Roggie is an achiever. The Canadian five pin game will be forever thankful that he chose bowling to demonstrate his considerable administrative capabilities and boundless dedication.

From his current position as Technical Director of the Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and the Master Bowlers’ Association of Canada, Ernie is immersed in developing instructional and coaching programs which are being received enthusiastically across Canada.

To know what the five pin game and its legions of bowlers need at this point of time, requires know-how and a broad background in the sport. No one disputes that Ernie has both!

At the grass roots level, Ernie began as a league bowler in 1947 at Central Lanes in Hamilton. Before long he organized a league for the hotel employees of the city. As a bowling administrator he was hooked. His credibility during the fifties was further enhanced by his steady rise to the top echelons of bowling competitiveness on the lanes.

With the formation of the Hamilton Bowlers’ Association in 1963, Ernie became a house councillor at Bar-Don Lanes, Stoney Creek. In rapid succession he chaired several committees and became a member of the board, culminating in the presidency in 1969. A few years later he received a Life Membership and appointment to the Board of Governors.

In the meantime, Ernie had surfaced on the provincial bowling scene with the formation of the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario in 1964. He served as president until 1968, returning for a second stint from 1970 to 1972. His recommendation, in 1966 to include a Teaching Division has proven to be the backbone of the growth of the Master Bowlers’ Association across the country.

During these years he updated and rewrote the M.B.A.O. constitution while presenting instructional clinics for the Master bowlers. In collaboration with Walter Heeney during 1970, an instructor’s Clinic format was prepared, laying the foundation for the present Certification Program.

On the lanes Ernie won the first Masters Tournament, then waited until 1971 for his second victory before leaving the tournament tour in 1975. He was a member of the 1970 Carlings Ontario Open championship team for Hamilton in his fourth trip to this event. In 1970 he bowled a perfect “450” game in the Bob Totzke Open Tournament.

Ernie was instrumental in forming the Master Bowlers’ Association of Canada in 1971 and served as president until 1974. He attended the initial meeting of the Bowling Federation of Canada in 1972 and was elected treasurer, a position he held for nine years. In 1973, the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario bestowed an honorary life membership upon Ernie.

With his appointment as Technical Director of the Master Bowlers’ Association of Canada in 1976, Ernie was instrumental in developing the Coaching Certification Program for Five Pin bowling, which was certified by the Coaching Association of Canada and Sport and Fitness Canada. During the following three years most weekends were spent developing the complete Level One Certification Program along with training and approving Course Conductors across the country.

When he was honoured as Executive of the Year in 1979 by the Bowling Federation of Canada, Ernie had already set his sights on developing the Level Two Coaches Certification Program. Over the next three years these responsibilities were shared with the enormous task of organizing five pin bowling for its participation in the Canada Winter Games.

Following his appointment as Technical Director of the Canadian Five Pin Bowlers’ Association in 1982, Ernie has been involved on an ongoing basis with the development of the Level Two Coaches Certification Program, along with the development of a complete National and Provincial Technical Program for our sport.

Ernie was born on March 5th, 1929, in North Bay where he received his elementary and secondary education. He was most fortunate to marry a lovely and supportive wife, Helen, in 1957. Four fine children followed in the persons of Terry, Karen, Daryl and Star. In recent years, four grandchildren have joined the growing Roggie clan.

His enthusiasm for sports was not limited to bowling as Ernie played junior hockey in St. Catharines and played softball in Hamilton Industrial Leagues for 20 years. Community involvement extended to the Optimist Club of Stoney Creek where he chaired a number of committees and served as president of the club in 1974-75.

Ernie has been employed by Linread Canada Ltd. for the past 17 years and presently is Manager – Sales and Marketing.

Yes, E. Ernie Roggie of Stoney Creek is an achiever and it is with sincere appreciation that the five pin bowling fraternity honours him this evening as one of the Builders of the Bowling Industry.