Roger D. Rowley has been involved in bowling most of his life, on the lanes in competition, in management with several bowling companies/centers, and especially as a proprietor/entrepreneur where he created a bowling supply company and created several products that are very much on the market today. Although Roger had a brief stint (two years) as a youth bowler, it was following his United States Army service in the Presidential Honor Guard when his bowling career started to rise. During his first five years of bowling, his average rose 30 pins into the low 200s and bowling became a passion for him ever since.
A regional PBA/PBA Senior member for over 30 years starting in the mid 1980s, his 25 perfect games and eight 800 series span nine different bowling centers. He was active in local events and tournaments, winning local scratch tournaments, the Virginia State Team Tournament in the mid-1990s, and four titles in Roger Tarr’s “Over 40” event until injuries (knee replacement) necessitated some time away from physically bowling. Roger has bowled three perfect games after age 60, including one at the 2019 NCAUSBCA Senior Tournament at Bowl America Falls Church and another one at the 2019 BVL Mixed Tournament at Bowl America Shirley.
Prior to Roger’s time away from performing on the lanes, his personal accomplishments included a high series of 822; a league average of 220 or higher in 14 of 15 winter seasons from 1999 to 2013 (with a high average of 232 in 2002); and an NCAUSBCA Top 10 ranking in the 2009-2010 season with a 220.873.
Even taking 2˝ years off of bowling before his knee replacement did not stop Roger from contributing to the sport he loves. He enjoys talking with others about the sport and working with them to improve their game, especially youth bowlers. Those whom he instructed knew of his accomplishments on the lanes and felt confident that his knowledge would improve their game.
Roger has created products designed to help bowlers resolve common problems during league and tournament play. The first was “The Grip Strip,” designed to aid in a better grip during the backswing, which, following a few tweaks, became the staple product for his company, Rowl Rite Bowling. More products came as a result, including “Grime Solver,” which was an approved “anytime use” ball cleaner by USBC; and “Dry n Slide,” a powder that aids in sliding by absorbing moisture from the bowler’s shoes. His vision resulted in products available in over 50 pro shops across three countries. Rowl Rite Bowling had the opportunity to sponsor the University of Florida Gators bowling program for two seasons with products and promoting the sport of bowling, as well as some touring PBA players utilizing his products.
Roger’s creativity was also seen in the creation of a scratch league using a challenge format—a three-game league where each game is scored differently. There also were separate jackpots that allowed bowlers to win money throughout the course of the season.
Roger’s league challenge format became a reality in the summer of 2011 with 22 teams in a 40-lane center; the following two summers, the league had 40 teams. The interest in this format parlayed into the creation of additional leagues locally and in other parts of the country, with an emphasis on more challenging lane conditions that our current youth bowlers (tomorrow’s adult bowlers) see more frequently than ever before.
The passion and commitment Roger has for our sport is unparalleled. His creative nature has brought forth products and resources that came directly from his experiences and challenges on the lanes, things that all bowlers face. His creativity generated a renewed interest in scratch bowling that continues to engage and challenge bowlers. And his return to the lanes following his knee replacement surgery will certainly bring forth more contributions for our sport.
Since Roger’s return to bowling in 2015, he has once again maintained a 220-plus average in each season since. Most recently, Roger won the VISE VMSBT Senior/Super Senior Scratch Challenge I, beating local Hall of Famer and PBA member Lee Brosius in the finals. He has also bowled three more 300 games since his return.
Roger also has created several new tournaments that have done very well. One of which, The Scratch Call-Out Tournament, where scratch bowlers must actually call out their opponent from the field and beat them in a two-game total pins match, and then in order of pin fall, bowlers will again call out their opponent round by round until the last one standing is the Call Out Champion. So the eventual winner actually gets to call out their opponent all the way to the title.
The Hall of Fame recognizes those in our association whose visions and contributions to our sport have made a difference for the industry. The accomplishments of Roger D. Rowley, both on and off the lanes, along with his dedication and passion for our sport, make him a worthy addition to the NCAUSBCA Hall of Fame.
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