Adcraft Bowling Begins 100th Season!

It was January 1924 when a group of Adcrafters decided that forming a bowling league would create a social atmosphere where camaraderie and business could co-exist. That year, Adcraft was only eighteen years old, the country had forty-eight states, Calvin Coolidge was president, gas cost twelve to twenty-five cents per gallon, and Wheaties cereal and the Milky Way candy bar were introduced.  

Gathering on Monday nights, the weekly “tournament” as it was then called, grew in popularity and is now the oldest continuously existing bowling league here in the official Bowling Capital of the World!

Adcraft Detroit threw a big party to celebrate the milestone event, with Hungry Howie’s providing pizza and salad for Adcraft bowlers and non-bowlers. Phil Goodman, Metro-Detroit United States Bowling Congress (MDUSBC) Association Manager, and MDUSBC Vice President Dwayne Anderson presented special commemorative plaques to Adcraft Detroit President Laura Murphy and Adcraft Bowling League President Paul Gross.

As far back as anyone can remember (at least fifty years, according to Adcrafter Gary May), the Adcraft president rolled the ceremonial first ball to start the bowling season (if you have any old Adcrafters laying around at home or in the office, find an early September issue and you’ll see the annual famous photo). Some have joked over the years that this traditional event marked the first “official” duty of the new Adcraft president! To start the historic 100^th anniversary season, Adcraft Detroit President Laura Murphy and past presidents Robby Hukka, Casey Hurbis, Anthony Winters and Tom Talbert simultaneously rolled the ceremonial first ball, with all of them crushing the pins but, remarkably, only two strikes resulting.

And with that, Adcraft Bowling’s 100th season was under way! Watch your Adcrafter and the Adcraft Bowling League Page throughout the season for periodic updates!