My daughter asked me what I thought was the "perfect" junior bowling program. Since I grew up in the junior bowling program that was fostered and coached by my mentor, Robert "Bob" Kurihara, there is no other choice for me.

From 1960 to 1967, the Junior Bowling Club of Hilo produced at least one state champion every year - I believe the total number of junior champions was at least 12. Bob moved to Honolulu in about 1964 or 1965, but, I feel his legacy carried on for several years after he left.

Bob believed in developing the whole child. The junior bowlers, therefore, were responsible for nearly every administrative aspect of the program. The coaches were the mentors, and counselors, but the bowlers were the officers who took care of the operation of the league.

We were taught from an early age to conduct the meetings, develop the rules and regulations (AJBC and YBA) and enforce them, do our own fund-raising, and be involved with a seemingly endless list of things that had to be done to conduct a successful organization.

The "Choc-List" for the format of the program I grew up in is as follows:

1) The first lanes were set aside for the new entrants or "Beginners" into the club. Here they learned the basics of the sport covering nearly everything that a beginner should know about bowling, including a tour of the mechanic's area.

2) The next set of lanes were for the "Novice" division. After having learned the basic fundamentals, they were placed on teams for their initial experience in competition. Their introduction into election of league offices and how to run a bowling league began here.

3) When they continued on to the "Junior" division, they were able to begin forming their own teams, keeping in mind that the coaches were the final arbiters if the team they were forming was over-stacked with talent. Preparation began for them to start serving as overall league officers.

4) By the time they became "Seniors," most of the bowlers were well-rounded enough to be able to organize and conduct their own leagues. They were also promoters of the sport of bowling.

Bob never did seek fame, but, after moving to Honolulu, he organized and conducted successful junior programs that continued to foster state champions for many years. Thanks, Bob, for all the lives you touched.

A Hui Hou!