Hall Of Fame Inductee
John Conti
Inducted into: Builder Division in 2022
Inducted into: Player Division in 2019
Location: Hamilton
- Builder
- Player
With this dual induction, John Conti of Hamilton becomes only the 19th bowler to be so honoured. John was inducted as a player at our last dinner in 2019. That said, he becomes only the third bowler, joining Bert Garside and Mabel McDowell, to be honoured in back-to-back years.
As a builder of our sport, John has literally spent 50 years involved with some aspect of 5 pin bowling. In the 1970’s, Hall of Famer Arnold Witley, who was Tournament Director of the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress (OBC), used John as a scorekeeper for the Provincial Open, which was held for many years at Sherwood Centre in Hamilton. John watched all the top bowlers and endured the hot lights of the telescores. In time he was promoted to assist with the tournament stats, working with the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress (OBC) office staff in this important area.
His enthusiasm caught the eye of several veterans, such as Hall of Famers Anne Depew and Ev Wood, of the Hamilton Association. They were quick to recruit John and, in his first year with the association, John won the provincial incentive award for membership. This achievement was only the beginning as John won seven incentive awards in his 35-year involvement with the Hamilton Association. While John won incentive awards for lane certification (three times) and fundraising, he is most proud of the recognition as President of the Year for 1996-97 and 1997-98. To this day John is Chair of both the Scholarship and Life Membership Programs.
Not to be overlooked is John’s commitment to the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) and bowling’s instruction and coaching programs. For 28 years John coached YBC at Bowl-O-Drome Lanes, Eastdale, Sherwood Centre in Hamilton, and Bowlerama in Stoney Creek. From many coaching efforts, two youth teams bowled provincially in the 4 Steps to Stardom championships. John also coached in the adult ranks, dealing with both individuals and teams in the Holiday Classic conducted by the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. Of special note, in 1984 when, as a 21 year-old, John was selected to coach the Hamilton Mixed team and he led this group of veterans to a national gold medal in Saskatoon.
John gave his talents to the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario (MBAO). A member for the last 37 years, John had a successful beginning with the MBAO as he won the Bursary tournament in 1981 and has proceeded to win five provincial events. He also served on the Board of Directors from 1992 to 1996. John is always a constant at all national championships hosted by Ontario. He assisted with the MBAC national in Oshawa in 1993 and was transportation coordinator for the MBAC finals held in Hamilton in 2008 and 2015.
Along with this volunteer effort, John was a dominant force on the lanes with tournament wins, television appearances, and earnings of over $55,000.
In recognition, John received a Life Membership from the Hamilton Association in 1999 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005.
In his personal life John, this past summer, semi-retired as a bus driver with the Hamilton Street Railway following 36 years of service. John married Teresa in 2003 and they are fully enjoying their new house in Hamilton. In their family, there are four children, Lia, Elisa, Lisa (Paolo) and Kevin (Michelle), who are raising their families in Hamilton. As well, there are five grandchildren, Logan, Jessica, Luca, Giulia, and Maximus, and one on the way. John and Teresa welcome the opportunity to be a part of this growing family.
This back-to-back induction may have been a pleasant surprise to John, but be assured few individuals have given so much to their chosen sport.
Organized, dedicated, and meticulous are just some of the adjectives that describe John Conti’s involvement with five pin bowling.
At age ten, John joined the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) at Bol-O-Drome Lanes in Hamilton for the 1973-1974 season. He would advance through the program and, as a senior, John was the singles representative every year and zone champion in his final year. Also, in those senior years, John bowled in the Pepsi Challenge, winning the Ontario title in his final YBC year. That year, 1980-81, John also won the annual Bursary Tournament conducted by the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario (MBAO), giving John a free year in the association. In total, John bowled in the MBAO for 35 years, 28 in the tournament division and seven years in the teaching division. John took a 5 year absence from bowling from 1986-1991 as he began his employment with the Hamilton Street Railway, the local transit commission. On the lanes, John’s first MBAO victory was in the Spring Classic in 1983, and he continued to win four more tournaments including a prestigious Club Tour event in Oshawa in 2017, as well as a senior tournament in 2014. John qualified for the MBAC national finals in 2011, but the team was unsuccessful while bowling in Quebec.
John dominated in the Open as well. While John has qualified 24 times, his first appearance was as a 21 year old coach in 1984. It is reported that several of the mixed team members wanted a younger person and, as such, John was selected as coach and he led his team to a gold medal in Saskatchewan. John is recognized as the youngest coach ever to win a national title. Overall, John coached on two occasions, bowled six times in the singles, 12 times on men’s teams, nine on mixed teams and, in 2019, bowled on his first senior team. Overall, four teams won provincial titles. Three mixed teams, in 1994, 2003 and 2017 advanced to the nationals and the 2003 mixed team won a silver medal in British Columbia. In 2012, John was on the Hamilton men’s team that were undefeated at the provincials, setting numerous records along the way. In Gatineau, Quebec, the men won the national championship as well.
While John was bowling extremely well in the adult ranks, his personal game took a giant leap forward beginning with his qualifying for the singles competition at the Open in 1996, 1997 and 1998. While he qualified for the TSN Pins Game in 1993 and 2000, John also qualified for the CBC television series in 1997 and 1999 and, in this latter year, John won the $27,000 first prize. This win also automatically placed John in the line-up for the 2000 show.
John’s individual statistics are equally impressive. His highest league average was 271 in the Golden Horseshoe Pro League. In addition, there are fifteen 400+ games and seven 1000+ triples in league play. His MBAO average is 249 for 1446 games and that number equates with his overall lifetime average.
John has contributed off the lanes as well. He is a Life Member of the Hamilton association and a member of their Hall of Fame, having served 33 years as a board member, from 1987 to this day. There was also 5 years on the MBAO board and, at two nationals hosted by Ontario in Hamilton, John was the transportation chair.
John married Teresa in 2003 and, this year, they moved into a new house in the east end of Hamilton. In their family, there are four children. A daughter, Lia, is studying in London while Elisa, Lisa (Paolo) and Kevin (Michelle) are raising their families. As well, there are four grandchildren, Logan, Jessica, Luca and Giulia, with one more on the way. While John and Teresa keep an eye on this growing family, John continues to build his resume with ongoing bowling accomplishments.