Tom Cowan’s career as a volunteer and builder of the bowling industry covers a span of thirty five years beginning in the Youth Bowling Council at Kempview Bowl in Barrie in 1957.

Today, Tom is currently in his sixth year as president of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and his is also a vice president at the Canadian level.

Tom Cowan was born in Toronto in 1928. However, he spent his childhood in Niagara Falls, and from that city, joined Ontario Hydro in 1948. With Hydro, Tom was subsequently transferred to Kitchener in 1953, before settling in Barrie in 1957. Through his neighbour, the late Steve Wiggins, Tom joined a bowling league at Kempview. Tom quickly became a league executive, experience that would be invaluable in his later yeas as a bowling executive. At the same time, Tom & his wife Mar, signed their three children to the youth league at Kempview and Tom was hooked.

With the beginning of a provincial system of organized bowling in the early sixties, Kempview proprietor Art Love asked Tom to attend a York Simcoe meeting and he joined the Board as Northern Representative of this large zone. By just the second meeting, Tom was name Vice President of the Association and, in 1969, he began a three year term as York Simcoe president.

During his presidency, Tom spearheaded a membership drive and also teamed up with Al Richardson and Jimmy Hoult to develop the High-Low Doubles Tournament, which has become one of the most successful events on the OF5PA calendar.

By 1976, it became evident that the York Simcoe zone stretching from Richmond Hill to Georgian Bay, was too large to adequately serve the membership over such a vast area. As such, a new zone, Huronia, was born and Tom was a natural as its first president. From that first day, the Huronia zone has been recognized as one of the most efficient & well run zones in Ontario. Tom remained as president for three years and, during that time, also moved to the provincial board, as a director in 1979.

Despite Tom’s role in the leadership of Huronia and also his position on the provincial board, Tom never forgot his roots. Working with his former colleagues in York Simcoe, he developed the North/South tournament which has been held each year alternating between York Simcoe and Huronia and has been immensely popular. In addition, following the sudden passing of his friend, Steve Wiggins, Tom also served as president of the decentralized Kempview Association in 1986.

At the provincial level, Tom advanced to the position of vice president in 1985 and, in 1987, when Eric Whittaker moved from the president to Chief Executive Officer, Tom was a natural to take his place. At this time, Tom also retired from Ontario Hydro and brought time, experience wisdom, empathy, understanding, and the ability to lead the organization.

With Tom’s heavy administrative workload, his own personal bowling game has been sacrificed. However, it wasn’t always so. Tom, in his own right, has bowled a 1061 high triple and also won the Ontario Mixed Team championship with the York Simcoe zone in 1971.

While Tom’s volunteer commitments continue to grow, his wife of forty-six years, Marg, has been his partner, his supporter, and his best friend. Today, while living in Barrie, both Tom & Marg keep close contact with their three children, Ron, Greg and Karen and also take pride in their first grandchild, Darryl.

Five pin bowling is in good hands, under the leadership of Hall of Famer, Tom Cowan.