In a relatively short career as a bowling administrator, Kenneth Mills Edge strongly influenced the growth of bowling in Hamilton, the Province of Ontario and across Canada.

A born leader, Ken was an instant success in the electrical business, beginning as a contractor ad eventually owning Stator Electric, a major supply firm in the Hamilton area. From his company, Ken sponsored teams in industrial leagues at Queens Lanes and at Pla-Mor Lanes on Barton Street in Hamilton.

Through his involvement, Ken realized that it would be better if all bowlers were organized and collectively, they could insist on improved facilities and conditions, more in-house services and increased management cooperation. In 1962, he met with Bert Garside, who had organized the Scarborough zone the previous year. Ken outlined his plans to organize the Hamilton association and Bert could readily see that Ken had the ability and drive to succeed and also understood the importance of the volunteer, ingredients which are necessary to build any organization. From this meeting, Ken formed the Hamilton zone along with Ev Wood, Alex Riddell and Dave Hagel. The first meeting was held on June 19, 1963 and Ken was named president. Membership was one dollar per bowler and an office and telephone were installed at Stator Electric.

Ken believed every bowler should be a member and, working closely with the proprietors, negotiated a five cent increase into the league lineage price to cover everyone’s membership. A mink stole and a freezer were offered as prizes and a model was hired to display this expensive fur-piece throughout the centres. With these ideas in place, membership in the Hamilton association rose to a record figure of 12,760 in 1967-68, the highest of any zone in our history.

Under Ken’s leadership, the Association established the first Classified tournament, began the "Bowler of the Month" program, hosted the first Hamilton Bowlers Ball, and started the Crippled Children’s Tournament, which raised thousands of dollars over the years.

Ken also became active on the provincial bowling scene and was instrumental in organizing the first annual bowlers convention. Held in 1967 in Haliburton, Ken was recognized as the President of the Year and as such, was the recipient of the first incentive award presented by the Ontario Bowlers Congress.

Recognized for his tireless efforts in Hamilton, it was a natural Ken would become a force on the provincial and national scene. Ken joined the board of the Ontario Bowlers Congress in 1968 and assumed the Presidency in 1969 following Fred Halle. In a three year period under Ken’s leadership, five pin bowling flourished. Administratively, new associations were formed in Bluewater and Great Pine Ridge and the Provincial volunteer base increased from 67 to 202. Ken established the Board of Governors of the Ontario Bowlers Congress and also began the first Liaison meetings with the bowling proprietors. New sponsors such as Pepsi-Cola and Thomas Adams Distillers were secured and the National Classified and the Booster Team Tournament, a forerunner of today’s team tournament were begun. Nationally, Ken participated in the discussions between east and west to officially eliminate the counter pin from the scoring.

Both the Hamilton Association and the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association have recognized Ken with life memberships and Ken was also honoured at the Builders of Bowling Industry Dinner in 1975.

Away from his administrative duties, Ken also enjoyed playing the sport. On the lanes, he won the singles competition as part of the 1968 Master Junior competition and, that same year, qualified for the Open through the Hamilton zone.

In 1970, Ken entered the political arena and was elected as an Alderman in Hamilton and continued his electoral success with the introduction of regional government in 1974. His municipal duties included membership on the Regional Council of Hamilton Wentworth, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee in Hamilton and Chairman of the Noise Abatement Control. Ken began a new career in 1982 as an administrator of senior citizens retirement homes which operated under the names of Blake and Edgemount.

Today, Ken and his wife of 42 years, Phyllis, live in Hamilton and, in their retirement, enjoy travelling and five grandchildren.