Hobbies are often lifelong passions, and for 77-year-old Aurora resident Stanley McGraw, it’s all about bowling.
This year, the former factory worker and U.S. Army veteran completed his 50th year as secretary of the Aurora Protestant Church Bowling League — a 12-team group that competes over a 32-week span at Parkside Lanes in Aurora.
Terry Baumann of Oswego, a counter clerk at the bowling alley who has worked there nearly 25 years, said he has known McGraw “since we were out of high school.”
“I knew Stan’s dad when he was president of the Aurora National Bank,” he said. “I used to compete against him and his dad who were on leagues of their own. I know he’s a very active guy.”
Beyond his bowling interests, McGraw’s resume includes singing in the Fourth Street Methodist Church choir and being a member of the men’s service group there.
“I got the bowling thing from my dad and the singing from my mom,” McGraw said. “I wouldn’t say I enjoy one more than the other – they’re both different but I enjoy them both very much.”
The Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, the pastor at Fourth Street, calls McGraw, “one of the good guys.”
“Stan is one of the legacy members as his father and mother were members of the church and she had a wonderful voice,” Taylor said. “Clearly, Stan’s been taught that this is what you do, and he’s been a faithful member of the church and his heart is in the right place.”
McGraw said he began bowling under his father’s tutelage at the age of about 10 and recalled the league’s long history.
“My dad was actually the secretary of the league for 25 years, and then another guy took it over for 10 years, and now I’ve been at it for 50,” he said. “I’ve done it, I guess, to keep the league going and you enjoy the fellowship with the participants.”
McGraw said the league began at the YMCA before moving to the former Elk’s Club, then on to Classic Lanes and St. Paul’s Lutheran Lanes before moving to Parkside.
“Last year in the league, I had a 188 average which was one of the best – it’s just about having knowledge of the game,” he said.
These days, McGraw doesn’t practice as much, saying that he bowls “only once a week.” There was a time when he bowled every day.
When asked about his lifetime best game, McGraw said he did roll a perfect 300 game once.
“It was back in 1992 and I guess that’s the equivalent of a pitcher throwing a no-hitter,” McGraw said. “The best thing about it was I threw the perfect game against my dad’s team. I had some balls where I wasn’t sure all the pins were going to go down.”
Meanwhile, McGraw said he’s been re-elected to serve his 51st year as league secretary and has no plans of hanging it up as secretary or bowler.
“As long as my health holds up, I plan on doing this,” he said. “I plan on participating as long as I can.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
