Like many of the early bowling stars, Joseph “Rusty” Starr earned his bowling skills while working as a pinboy. Rusty and his brother David worked at several bowling centres which were close to the family home, including one at Bathurst and College and another at a private club on Huron Street.

Born in 1917, the depression of the thirties pushed Rusty into the work force early and he became a cutter in the clothing business, specifically working with the uniform maker, Sainthill Levine, in his local area of Bathurst and College.

From this location, Rusty honed his bowling skills at Spadina Bowl, a centre where “sweeps” or, bowling for money, was a frequent weekend activity. As well, Rusty participated in league play with the United Clothing Workers of America, as part of the popular industrial leagues of the day.

Following a return from the war in 1946, Rusty began his bowling in earnest. The only tournament available was conducted by the Canadian Bowling Associaiton. Bowlers form across Metro and some parts of Ontario participated in the annual event at the end of each season. In 1953, Rusty won this event on a team with Tommy Mallon, who was the first Canadian Singles Champion and other notables such as Maw Mori and the late Jack Bregman.

This annual tournament led to the birth of the City Major League and Rusty’s first tream was Pete’s Grill. From the early fifties to the league’s demise in the late sixties, Rsty was a dominant player also bowling with Tuxedo Junciton, I’Connor Bowl, Steel Art Signs and Willow Bowl. Each year, only the high averages participated in a singles championship and Rusty qualified almost every year. He won his first singles title in 1953 with a fifteen game score of 4067, defeating Lou Hrivnak and Lorne Taylor. His Pete’s Grill team won league honours in 1956 and in the 1958-59 season, Rusty not only won the high average ittle with a 253 mark but also bowled a 1026 high triple. In 1967, Rusty completely dominated the singles competition with a fifteen game score of 4422 or 289 average and this score set a record for the event.

With the invention of the automatic pinsetter n 1957, Rusty was invited to join the Double Diamond Advisory Staff. Along with stars of the day and current Hall of Famers, Helen Richards, Jimmy Hoult and Dot Peppin, the quartet opened several new centres and conducted countless bowling exhibitions. In fact, as part of the building and expansion program for five pin bowling, Rusty spent a month in the Bahamas promoting five pin bowling to the world.

Back home, rusty qualified fo rthe first Ontairo Championship conducted by the Ontario Bowlers’ congress. The provincial championships were held in Guelph and the Canadian finals were on lanes especially constructed for the event in the Kitchener Auditorium. Representing eastern Canada, the York West men rolled a ten game score of 12,227 and Rusty outpinned every bowler in the event.

Willow Bowl became Rusty’s base of operation during his alter years. In the irday night men’s league, his team were league champions three times and, in addition, won high average honours in 1964 with 271 and also added a 1023 high triple in 1967.

While usty was an aaccomplished tournament bowler, he was also a storng money bowler as well. In the sixties, the biggest sweeps of the day were held at Willow Bowl following the Friday night major league. Very quickly, Rusty, along with Hall of Famers, Jim Hoult, Holly Leet and Fraser Hambly were barred form the local action and forced to hold their own competition.

Overall, Rusty’s career spanned nearly thirty years and ended with his untimely passing on March 29, 1974.