Theodore Gruszkowski Jr. started out in bowling in 1953 as a pinboy at Bay View Lanes in Milwaukee, Wis. He has been a league bowler and frequently a league officer in numerous leagues since that time.
In 1989, Ted was elected president of the Guys ‘N Dolls league at Fair Lanes Dale City and served in that capacity for eight years, making the league his pet project. A partial list of his accomplishments with that league includes:
- Developing a set of bylaws and playing rules unsurpassed by any in this area. Copies of these bylaws and rules have been furnished to numerous organizations nationwide since the league was featured in the January 1994 issue of Bowling Magazine.
- Establishing the league’s Community Charity Program, which each year raises funds and merchandise for local charities.
- Established the league’s activities program which organizes various parties and other activities throughout the year to assure that this "social" league has fun.
The Guys ‘N Dolls league became so popular that it expanded to include two summer leagues (56 teams, 280 bowlers), which also bowled at Dale City.
Following is a partial list of Ted’s various bowling-related memberships, positions, and board seats, past and present:
- Member of the NCABA board of directors since 1992.
- Chairman of the NCABA Public Relations Committee.
- Director, Southern Bowling Writers Association.
- Member, Bowling Writers Association of America.
- Reporter, Mid-Atlantic Bowling News and The Bowling News.
- Commentator, Jones Communications Network "Sports Scene."
Many people hold membership in numerous organizations because it looks good on their business cards or resumé. Ted belongs to these organizations because he wants to make a difference. He attends the meetings, usually at his own expense. He volunteers to serve on committees when he feels he has the expertise to help. He works hard with each of these organizations, trying to expand the game/sport of bowling as we know it.
Ted’s biggest and perhaps most time-consuming project ever is serving as bowling writer for the Potomac News. He honestly believes that this publicity vehicle has the potential to help expand bowling by providing much-deserved recognition to the people currently participating in our sport. On any given weekend, Ted drives a couple of hundred miles to visit various centers and collect information for his column. When the column comes out each Sunday, he makes copies and mails or delivers them to any pro shop or bowling center that will display them.
For his long-term devotion to the promotion and overall advancement of bowling, Theodore Gruszkowski Jr. is a most worthy addition to the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
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