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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 29, 2004 Closure of Medford Lanes saddens bowlers By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Members of the bowling community, some of whom have patronized Medford Lanes for decades, expressed both sadness and concern over the closing of the center this week. The sadness, of course, is the reaction to an era ending. The concern is whether the sport will suffer locally because of fewer lanes. Owner Roy Rider sold Medford Lanes to Kids Unlimited, a youth agency. It closed Monday. "Isn’t it terrible," said Dona Pottruff. "That’s where I attempted to learn to bowl. I think of all the friendships I made there. We had a lot of good times ... and sometimes broken spirits when you didn’t bowl good." Advertisement The closure of Medford Lanes, which originated in the 1930s and moved to its Riverside Avenue locale in 1952, leaves Lava Lanes and Roxy Ann Lanes as Medford’s remaining centers. Lava has 40 lanes and Roxy Ann 24. There were 38 lanes at Medford Lanes. "I think it’s bad for bowling," said Ric Donnelly, owner of Lava Lanes, noting there are only so many lanes available at peak hours — weekday early evenings. "You’re taking some of those bowlers out." Donnelly’s evening leagues are virtually full Monday through Friday. There are openings in day leagues. At Roxy Ann, which recently was taken over by Lela and John Larkin, the evening leagues are also full. It didn’t hurt that a strong Thursday night league at Medford Lanes pledged to move to Roxy Ann Friday nights. "That was an unexpected surprise," said Lela Larkin. Not unlike the announcement earlier this week. Rider, who is fighting terminal cancer, had hoped to sell the center and see it continue operations, but those plans fell through. He originally partnered with longtime owner Andy Anderson in 1980, then with Bob Stroh in 1982 as Anderson was bought out. Anderson bought Medford Lanes in 1949, when it was located on Main Street, then moved his then 12 lanes down the road a few years later and gradually expanded the center. "It’s the end of an era," said Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Marshall Holman, who learned his craft there. "Medford Lanes was a mainstay in Southern Oregon since well before I got involved in it." Holman remembers the first time he bowled there. At 12, he had seen bowling on TV for the first time and begged his father to take him to Medford Lanes so he could try it. "We went down and bowled on Lane 25," said Holman. "I shot a 71. Not a 171, a 71. I remember that very well. I showed absolutely no prodigy ability whatsoever." He eventually would, but many others who passed through the doors and lofted balls down the lanes didn’t. They were there for the competition, the camaraderie, even the food. Pottruff called Anderson "a great cook." Bob Miller, like Pottruff a longtime bowler and youth instructor, also remembers the meals, like the 89-cent breakfast and terrific pies. But the center represented much more. "When I came here, it was really going," said Miller. "They had two leagues a night almost all the time and a lot of tournaments. Andy was really a promoter. It’s really a history of Medford, and I think a page has been taken out. "At least it’s going to serve young people, and Andy cared about young people." Like others, Jerome Lee, for decades one of the region’s top bowlers, is dismayed over the circumstances that led to the closure as much as the actual shutting down. "I think if Roy were in good health, he’d keep the thing going and bowling would have an upsurge," said Lee. "With him out of the business, it’s just one less person to help promote the game of bowling." Holman had similar sentiments. "I feel bad that it’s coming to an end," he said, "but I understand why it’s time." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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