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Holman enters today's event with memories of fallen father By TIM TROWER In the months leading to induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, Marshall Holman pondered his past and reflected on the rewards reaped as one of bowling's all-time greats. Two weeks prior to tonight's enshrinement ceremony at the Portland Center for the Performing arts, his thoughts were abruptly redirected. Holman lost his father, Phil, to cancer. "Like everyone else, your career, your whole life is so intertwined with your parents," Holman said Friday. "With my father just passing away, I've thought a lot about the years back when I was just starting to bowl." Three decades and more ago, Holman spent a lot of time at Medford Lanes. An inordinate amount of time, he says. It was fun. He didn't know then he was building the framework for a career. Neither did his dad. "At times," says Holman, 46, "he would have to come down there and escort me out so I could take care of something besides bowling." It's those kinds of thoughts occupying his mind as he drives to Portland today with his mother, Marge, to be honored along with five other of the state's greatest athletes. The rest of the 2001 class is Clyde Drexler, former Portland Trail Blazer; Rudy Chapa, former Oregon runner; Herschel McGriff, former NASCAR driver; Liz Downing, former duathlete; and Royce McDaniel, former Lewis & Clark College three-sport star. Holman has been decorated many times, having won 22 titles in 20 years on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His father swelled with pride each time, as he had in his son's youth and as he would as his son worked as a national TV commentator on bowling shows. It was hoped he'd be able to do so again tonight. "He passed away much faster than we thought he would," says Holman, "but he was very pleased and excited over the prospect of me going into the Hall of Fame. He was a big basketball fan, as most of us are, and he was more than a little familiar with Clyde Drexler's career. He thought it was pretty cool I was going in with Drexler." Holman is looking forward to meeting and talking with the other inductees. He's reminded of a Tonight Show episode about such events. "It becomes kind of a mutual admiration society, but in a nice way," he says, "where the six of us will be enjoying each other's company." Another good thing about this particular ceremony, he says, is that the honorees have been asked to keep their speeches to five minutes or less. "Heck," says Holman, "I can ad lib that." He won't, however. He'll talk about his good fortune to spend the bulk of his working life doing something he enjoys and at which he's naturally talented. He'll talk about how bowling success afforded him the luxury of living anywhere in the world and how his first choice always has been Medford and Southern Oregon. And, of course, he'll talk about his dad. "He's still proud," says Holman. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.