Ralph Crump understood the importance of service to his customers and that simple approach to the bowling industry is surely a part of the foundation of his induction to the 5 Pin Bowling Hall of Fame.

Originally from Toronto, Ralph was born in 1913 and contributed to the war effort through his employment as a foreman with Coleman Lamp & Stove, a company he joined in 1936. Ralph met his wife Sue at Colemans and, by 1940, they were married and, as well, closest friends were Sue’s sister, Lyla, and her husband, Maurie Rainford.

Following the second war, Ralph and Maurie longed for their own business and following some investigation, they settled on a sixteen lane bowling centre, Richmond Lanes, in London, Ontario in 1949.

This was certainly a major change for both families. Ralph and Sue already had two boys, Brian and Gord, and a daughter, Brenda, would follow soon after they settled in the London area and in a house that Ralph still lives in today.

Bowling, in the 1950’s, was somewhat different than it is today. Rental shoes were optional and many bowlers wore their street shoes or simply slid on their socks. However leagues were very popular and, using pinboys, they had four shifts a day.

Moreover, Ralph and his partner, Maurie, developed some skill on the lanes and while not joining specific leagues, Ralph bowled in countless sweeps, holding his own against London’s best bowlers including Hall of Famer, Jackie Wilson.

However, in November of 1959, tragedy struck and, as a result of a fire in the restaurant below, the bowling centre burned to the ground. Unfortunately, Ralph and Maurie were under-insured but that didn’t stop either man from taking their settlement and adding their own money to it to build a modern 24 lane centre, London Bowl-A-Rama. The Thompson Road emporium opened in September of 1960. Unfortunately, Maurie died of complications from rheumatic fever in the early sixties and Ralph and Lyla were now partners in the bowling business.

Ralph used a customer-oriented approach to build a business that became the number one centre in London. He was especially proud of his youth program and, among his volunteers, were Inge Wellburn (Malcolmson) Rheaume and Stu and Marion Jones. Following in this tradition, is Bowl-A-Rama’s YBC Program Director and Zone Representative Mike Laur, who took over the program from his father, Steve Laur. In 1971, Ralph and his wife Sue were extremely proud as their youngest daughter, Brenda won both the Ontario and Canadian senior singles title, winning in Hamilton and Vancouver respectively. In addition, Ralph fully supported his Master Bowlers with full payment for uniforms and tournament fees. Also, Ralph’s genuine understanding of the problems that existed between the bowlers and proprietors led him to become involved with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Ontario. Initially, Ralph was involved at the committee level and, with President Don Walker and proprietors Ron Hawkins and Jack Fine, initiated an annual donation to the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress, which eventually became the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. In 1972, this grant was $6,000 and increased to $10,000 annually and, in total, exceeded $100,000 over a ten-year period. That same year, 1972, Ralph joined the BPAO Provincial Board for a one-year term and was elected the following year for two years serving as 5 pin Chairman in 1973-74 and Young Adult Bowlers’ Association chair the next season. At the same time, Ralph also saw the importance of the bowlers association and, through Ed Ramsey, got involved with the London 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. Ralph believed in the bowlers both locally and provincially and London Bowl-A-Rama became the hub of activity. Ralph hosted several provincial events and became an annual sponsor and attendee at the bowlers’ convention for twenty-five years. As early as 1973, Ralph was named Proprietor of the Year by the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress and his Decentralized Association first won provincial honours in 1978. On countless occasions, Ralph declined a lineage payment from the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress, choosing to consider it a donation to the bowlers group.

In the early eighties Ralph bought out his partner, Lyla, and Ralph’s son Gord and his wife, Judy, took over the management of the business. This move also allowed Ralph and Sue to enjoy some winter travel to their favourite location, Bermuda.

Gord and Judy have continued with Ralph’s tradition of strong customer service and have supported all groups, from the Youth Bowling Council, through the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and the Master Bowlers Association. Annually, Gord and Judy have supported the MBAO program with reduced rates and radio remote support that has raised the profile of 5 pin bowling in the London area.

In retirement, Ralph continues to visit the bowling centre on a weekly basis and trade stories with the senior bowlers enjoying his chosen sport. Sue, Ralph’s life partner for fifty-seven years, passed away in 1997, and, despite this great loss, Ralph enjoys the success of his entire family. His children have been very successful with Gord at the bowling lanes, an older son Brian who has retired as a superintendent with the London police department and daughter Brenda who is the Director of Logistics for McCormick Canada.

Looking back, Ralph continually recalls his positive relationship with his customers and as he says, "It’s really the only thing you can be competitive about".