For personal reasons, WDCAWBA First Vice President Doris Shepherd did not seek reelection at the association's annual meeting on April 1, 2001.
After serving the board for 38 years, you can imagine this announcement comes with great nostalgia. It goes way back to when she joined the board as a director in 1963, served on many committees, including AJBC (now YABA) and became active with the children. After she and her colleagues passed the coaches' exam, they went to a restaurant next to Ten Pin Coliseum (now AMF Alexandria), had lunch, and were presented their certificates.
She doesn't want anyone reading this to think that it was easy at that time because the fight for blacks to belong and be treated with respect still had a while to go. For example, even though she enjoyed her lunch that day, the late Matt Bennie had to go ahead of the group and get permission for Doris and Alice Chambers Stroman to come into the restaurant.
Doris worked with Martha Burton at Bowl America Town Center, where the youths bowled. She helped to get the youngsters everything they had coming to them and put together a group of young men and took them to Virginia, where they participated in a travel league. Doris personally made many trips from Town Center to the kids' City Tournament or whatever event in which they were privileged to bowl. Along the way, all the little fellows—her son, Torrance, among them—learned to fix a flat tire.
Shortly before some of this action with the children, the late Eddie Allen with his wife, Betty, formed the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT AJBC. Eddie was elected president and Doris was elected vice president. Many good and proud accomplishments were made, all to make sure the youngsters were enjoying clean fun. The slogan then was, "Take them out of the streets and bring them into the alley." It wasn't long after that if a board member referred to a bowling center as an "alley" she was fined $1.
From 1974 to 1983, Doris served as WDCAWBA's fifth vice president. YABA, Side Tournaments, and her favorite, BVL, were among the many committees appointed under her. Years ago, chances were sold for the BVL drive. You had to put your score that night on the chance slip and turn it in to the center manager. At the end of the drive, the center that turned in the most slips won a trophy. Half of the money collected went to BVL, and the other half went into a prize fund to pay bowlers. One bowler out of 10 won a prize. Checks were delivered to the center, and the manager gave them out as bowlers returned the following week.
It was then that Doris came up with the idea of the BVL Kickoff Tournament as we know it today, inviting veterans and giving them a meal and a trophy donated by the bowlers. This went over well because in conjunction with the BVL Kickoff Tournament, the association began collecting money. It was called "Pass the Hat Type Thing." The format went over fabulously, and all monies collected went straight to BVL. WDCAWBA has led the nation for the last six years in collections of donations for BVL.
The first kickoff was held at Alexandria Bowl, with the late Matt Bennie as the top bowler. Even though winners are recognized to some degree, no veteran goes home empty-handed. Doris' husband, the late Louis Shepherd, would transport many of the veterans in his own vehicle to take them back to their respective hospitals. Once the drive began, it wasn't long before the hospitals fell in line and began transporting their own veterans and providing a nurse to accompany them when necessary.
From 1983-1984, Doris served as WDCAWBA's fourth vice president and was second vice president from 1984-1985. Since then, she has served as first vice president. For many years, WDCAWBA has tried to reach 500 teams in its City Tournament. If ever there were a time to have accomplished this, however, it was when the association was at the peak of its membership in the 1970s. Entering the tournament, though, came with many stipulations expressly made, many blacks believed, to exclude them from participating.
For example, you couldn't compete in the tournament unless you bowled in your "home center" on a five-woman team; those bowling in doubles or triples leagues couldn't just make up a team and bowl. And forget bowling with people from another center. At the tournament, blacks were asked to leave the center immediately after bowling unless they were ordering food. They also were asked not to bring spectators. Later, women and men bowlers at Town Center ventured out to Bowl America Silver Hill, Fair Lanes University, and to lanes in Virginia. They integrated the Triple A Travel league and began to bowl wherever tournaments were held.
Years ago, after blacks checked in at the WIBC Tournament, they had to go to a room where they were briefed on where they were, where they could and couldn't go, told that they should never go out alone, and what the consequences could be if they "strayed off the path." But with what Doris called drive and "sticktoitiveness," blacks overcame the scares and rules established just for them and continued to enjoy the game.
At joint association workshops in the 1960s that included a luncheon with finger food and sodas, the late Al Stea and Doris took the stage and answered all types of written questions that earlier had been passed up to them by the attendees. The associations later began to conduct preseason workshops at the individual bowling centers, and to this day, board members report news about rules changes and other important information from the WIBC Annual Meeting to the bowlers at these workshops.
Another of the highlights of Doris' bowling career was to receive the President's Award from Martha Burton and a second award from Nell Horne. Doris was thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Her only regret was that "Shep" wasn't around to help her celebrate, considering all the many hours he gave their family while she was out at the meetings or other bowling business.
During her reign as first vice president, Doris has represented the president at socials, opening of lane ceremonies, and other functions for Ginny Thoms and Nell Horne.
When asked how she feels about leaving, Doris said, "Thirty-eight years is a long time, but if given the chance, I'd do it all over again. The wonderful acquaintances made and trials gone through—I wouldn't trade it for a thing."
Doris wishes her association the very best and won't be too far away. She plans to be around for a while to pitch in now and then when possible.
It goes without saying that Doris will be sorely missed in so many ways, but even a workhorse gets a break sometimes. Thanks, Doris, for all you've done for the association over the last 38 years. And thank you for all the help and guidance you've given us new directors and future leaders of the WDCAWBA.
— Director Carolyn Woodhouse