Walter R. Steinsiek generously has offered his considerable talents for the benefit of NCABA and it members for over a quarter century.
He has designed and illustrated numerous covers for BOWL Magazine, often taking the time to supply several variations of a particular cover—many never seen by the public—to permit editorial discretion. While many covers have included Walt’s renowned side-splitting humor, perhaps his most memorable one actually had many bowlers holding back tears—his February 1991 illustration of an NCABA member, serving his country in the desert during the Gulf War, reading the latest BOWL Magazine and wondering aloud how his bowling teammates back home were doing without him.
His cartoons are a staple of the magazine. An award-winning editorial cartoonist, Walt at times can be serious here as well. For example, he once chided parents who place unnecessary pressure on their children during competition, and he even has used his sharp pen to reinforce association policy in the minds of members, particularly when it comes to reminding league secretaries of the importance of submitting final average sheets.
His well-known caricatures—those of the “instant” variety and otherwise—have been pleasant surprises for bowling officials, league bowlers, tournament champions, and other recipients. Walt clearly enhanced Hall of Famer Paul Mohn’s ABC Presidential Installation Dinner in 1985 by presenting “presidential gift” caricatures to each of Mohn’s 10 vice presidents and then special surprise caricatures to Mohn and ABC’s executive secretary and assistant executive secretary.
An accomplished sign painter, Walt has created banners and other artwork for many bowling events, including local and national collegiate functions and area men’s and women’s pro tour stops. His oversized champion’s prize checks have been seen many times on ESPN and ABC-TV.
While a resident of Laurel, he served as a columnist for Down the Lanes and The Bulletin and as editor/publisher/photographer/columnist of the Baltimore/Washington Bowling News during the 1980s and early 1990s before selling the paper and “retiring” to his present home in Florida. During that time, Walt sponsored several teams, and he regularly made financial contributions to tournaments, especially youth and charity events. In addition, he occasionally wrote articles for BOWL Magazine—a policy that continues to this day.
Since ncaba.org began in 1997, he has helped augment the association’s Web site each week by offering a different cartoon for posting from one of his three books. Incidentally, thanks to Walt, sales of these books often have raised much-needed funds for bowling organizations and charities nationwide.
No stranger to the NCABA/WDCAWBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Walt created the event’s current official banner as well as the portrait representing deceased members. He also has assisted in the production of the Hall of Fame program, designed and illustrated Hall of Fame covers for BOWL Magazine, and he even served as guest speaker for the 1989 function while immediate past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.
Cartoonist, illustrator, designer, caricaturist, editor, publisher, photographer, columnist, author, sponsor, you name it: If it involves the promotion and/or recognition of our game, Walter R. Steinsiek has been deeply involved—and he has excelled in virtually every way while doing so. NCABA has been most fortunate to have this multitalented and widely respected individual donating his time on its behalf for all these years. Needless to say, he is an outstanding addition to its Hall of Fame.