Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Overturned truck on Highway 62 causing traffic delays ... Commercial solar farm proposed north of Medford ... Josephine County Sheriff: Oil slick in river may indicate location of submerged car ... Overturned truck on Highway 62 causing traffic delays ... Commercial solar farm proposed north of Medford ... Josephine County Sheriff: Oil slick in river may indicate location of submerged car ... Closure of Medford Lanes saddens bowlers By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 29, 2004 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 6:42 AM By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 29, 2004 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 6:42 AM » Social News 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. — 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 By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 29, 2004 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 6:42 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501