By Jason Gabak / Special to The Citizen
The Citizen Copyright © 2005
A division of Lee Publications, Inc.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005 11:09 AM EDT

AUBURN, NY - For 43 years, the ladies of the Auburn Women's Bowling Association have been in good hands under the supervision of a one determined and deeply committed woman, who has been a friend, a part of the family and their president.

At 89, Frances Lansbury has seen bowling inside and out and has enjoyed it all.

Lansbury said it was a fluke that she even started bowling in 1948.

"I'd been in an accident," Lansbury said. "So I was looking for something to do. I had a lot of friends who were bowlers and it was a challenge."

Lansbury said while it was a challenge, there was something about the game that sang to her and in the years since she started, she's had the pleasure of reaching some fantastic milestones, Lansbury said a couple stand out in her mind.

"In 1962, I bowled in the first WIBC (Women's International Bowling Congress) national tournament in Memphis," Lansbury said. "And in 1974, I was the first woman to bowl a 700 at the Polish Falcons, it was a real thrill."

Lansbury helped organize the New York 600 and 700 clubs for women and served as president of both organizations.

"There weren't many women that bowled that back then," Lansbury said. "Now there are more and more. We've come a long way."

But perhaps the accomplishment Lansbury is most proud of is her presidency of the AWBA, working her way through the board of directors and serving two years as Sergeant at arms; Lansbury became president in 1962.

Her years of service have earned her a great deal of respect among fellow bowlers.

"With most organizations it is what people are willing to give of themselves that makes it work," first vice president Diana Stockwell said.

"A lot of the time you'll find someone willing to do it for a few years, they are not willing to put as much into it as she has. She has seen that things stay together and get done properly to make better bowling in Auburn."

Lansbury's dedication to her position has afforded her the opportunity to travel the country, attending conferences with a single focus how to make women's bowling better.

"I've seen a lot of the country," Lansbury said. "And I have a lot of friends all over the United States. I've gone to all of the national meetings and found a lot of ideas to make bowling better at home."

In her years, Lansbury has seen many changes, but the most encouraging has been the breakdown of the line between men's and women's bowling.

Nationally, it has been decided to have one united organization for men and women that would allow for a greater ease in competition and mixed league situations, a move that Lansbury believes is good for the sport.

"There was a time when women weren't allowed to bowl," Lansbury said. "And we couldn't bowl with men. But we have come a long way. But we have come a long way and shown that we can compete and get in men's leagues. Yes I think it is a good thing."

But a new set of challenges face Lansbury.

Six years ago, she was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Until this year, Lansbury was still an active bowler, maintaining a 180 average through most of her career and never missing a national tournament.

"It kept me busy," Lansbury said. "Bowling has been my life, I lived it and devoted my life to bowling, now I can't and I miss it."

Friends like Stockwell have been a great help to Lansbury and they said she has certainly earned their respect.

"She is like the mother hen," Stockwell said. "She watches over all of us. She has been the backbone of women's bowling in Auburn and with out her it wouldn't be where it is."

Even as she has had increasing difficulty with her speech and movement, it has not kept Lansbury from her duties as president and she can not see a time when she will allow it to.

"It makes the job harder," Lansbury said. "But I can't see a time when I won't want to be involved in this. I like watching all the bowlers. We are a family and these are people that I am really close to."