The Toronto Star has continually recognized the bowling industry’s support of the Sportsmen’s Corner of The Star Santa Claus Fund. The fund was started in 1943 and the first contribution by the bowlers was made on December 24, 1946, when Roy McWatters, the manager at the old Bowl-O-Drome Lanes on Yonge Street, encouraged several Metro Toronto proprietors to pass “the milk bottle” among the league bowlers. That year $1,249 was collected. In the ensuing 35 years, nearly $500,000 was donated to The Star Santa Claus fund by the bowlers.

To thank the bowlers for their generosity, The Toronto Star followed several routes. Mabel McDowell, who was very active in bowling, originally worked with “Mac” MacWatters and the Metro proprietors soliciting support for The Star Santa Claus Fund. But, more than that, Mabel was a student of the game and The Star used her instructional and leadership talents to travel across Ontario and meet the needs of a rapidly growing bowling community. During an eight year stretch, Mabel and her girls did hundreds of clinics in every part of Ontario and all financed by The Star. The instructors included many of the top bowlers of the day, including: Theda Procher, Marg Walford, Tiny Baker, Eileen Husted, Marg Bently, Vi Worron, Dotty Glandfield, and Doris Luke. In addition, The Star also published a booklet by Mabel called “Helpful Bowling Hints” and this fine instructional pamphlet was distributed at all the clinics.

In another direction, The Star sponsored an all Ontario youth tournament which crowned champions, not as bantams, juniors and seniors, but by age category. Initiated by Lou Detsky, he sold the idea to then sports editor Milt Dunnell and the tournament ran from 1963-1976. During that time, support from The Star reached many thousands of dollars in the form of advertising space, printing of entry forms and scoreboards, linage and travelling expenses. Many of Ontario’s top YBC bowlers achieved success in The Toronto Star tournament.

Bowling columns have always been a part of The Star scene. Gord Campbell covered the sport in the early years and he was followed by Joe Chrysdale and later, Terry Fraser, Mabel McDowell’s byline also appeared in The Star as she wrote about her clinics.

Beginning in 1974, Walter Heeney began a regular column that has continued on a twice-a-week basis throughout the bowling season. As an employee of the industry itself and also a prominent bowler, Walter was able to follow the stories, the personalities and the issues and give bowling a position in the media envied by many sports. In 1977, an instruction page, produced by The Star, was reproduced by the Bowling Proprietors of Canada and distributed to every fine pin centre in the country.

Also, during these latter years, The Star has annually supported the opening of the bowling season with a Metro map that included the location of more than 50 centres. In addition, The Star supported a highly successful “Let’s Go Bowling” program for golden age bowlers. The response was phenomenal and the program ‘participation bowling’ continues today and is a great success. A similar plan has been used for ladies’ daytime participation and the program has brought many new bowlers into the centres.

This tribute to The Star tonight covers nearly 40 years of association. During those four decades, many people were involved from both sides, bowling and The Star. Included from The Star are: Ben Sugarmen, Andy Lytle, Milt Dunnell, Jim Proudfoot, Ken McKee, Paul Warnick, Gord Campbell and Vern Archer. On the bowling side are: George Christoff, John Martin, tonight’s main Honouree, Jack Fine, Charlie Weeks, Morgan George, John Eluck and ‘Skip’ Vaughan.