Mabel McDowell... a name to remember.. A lady who upgraded the image of bowling. Many of the people attending this year’s Builders of the Bowling Industry Awards Dinner will not remember the name Mabel McDowell. This is unfortunate, as she deserves recognition as one of the pioneers who elevated bowling to the level at which it is today, a respected member of both the sporting and recreational community. Mabel encompassed the many facets of bowling - competitor, organizer, administrator, instructor and innovator. Over the years, she has worked in close harmony with the media, the manufacturers, the proprietors and the bowlers. Her contribution cannot be over-emphasized. Mabel now lives with her husband Bill in retirement in Florida and we are delighted that she can be with us this evening.
Mabel’s career in five pin bowling began in 1927 and she gained her first City Championship Team Trophy in 1930, the same year she was married. Active as a bowler for many years, she turned to organization, becoming the President of the Ladies City Major League in 1942. She became President of the Ladies Section of the Canadian Bowling Association in 1945 and ran yearly tournaments for this organization. In 1945, st the request of Brunswick, Mabel organized the first Toronto Ladies Ten Pin League (although she did not bowl 10 pin herself). In 1947, she had a weekly radio program and signed off each week with the words “May your strikes be many and your head pins few, until next Sunday when I come to you.”
As bowling increased in popularity, during and after the war years, there was a demand for instruction, and Mabel McDowell organized the first ladies bowling clinic in the old Bowl-O-Drome alleys in September, 1949. In 1955, Mabel was asked by the Toronto Star to organize ladies’ bowling clinics being conducted throughout Toronto and its’ suburbs. As Director, she formed classes, trained instructors and supervised the operations of these clinics for six years. She authored a booklet “Helpful Bowling Hints” which gave bowling tips and this was published by the Star and handed out at all clinics. She arranged a weekly schedule and her “Clinic Highlights” were published by the paper.
Mabel played a major role in originating the Bowling Section of the Star Santa Claus fund. She had a longtime interest in the Youth Bowling, and became a Director of the Canadian Junior Bowling Council in 1957. She conducted Junior Bowling clinics and wrote the first “Instructors Handbook” which was published by the Toronto Telegram. In the same year, Mabel went to Montreal to participate in a television production concerning bowling, where she represented the five pin game. That year, Mabel was presented with the Tommy Ryan award at a luncheon held in her honour. She was given the name of “Mrs. Bowling”, and this has remained with her throughout her career.
During her years of involvement with five pin bowling, she worked with blind bowlers and handicapped bowlers. She became Publicity Chairman for the Ontario Bowlers’ Council, and went to Vancouver to further relationships between Eastern and Western Canada. She was an active member of the Sunday Sports Committee and helped bring public opinion to the point where it was able to change the Sunday closing by-laws.
Her active career in bowling ended in 1968 due to health reasons. She was honoured then by the Ladies City Major League with a plaque reading “ on her retirement for her many faithful years of service to this organization”. In 1970, she was elected to the Ontario Five Pin Bowlers Hall of Fame which recognized her many achievements during her long and brilliant career in the sport of five pin bowling. Subsequently, she received recognition from the Ontario Government.
An attractive, charming lady, Mabel always had a forthright approach. Her opinion was sought after, and when given, was considered carefully by all who heard it. She was fearless in her determination to improve and increase the prestige of five pin bowling. Her contributions during the formative years will always be remembered.