KING FERRY #- For Pat Ward the bowling alley in King Ferry has been a fixture throughout his life, like a second home in many ways since he was just 4 years old.
“I grew up across the street,” Ward said. “So I've been bowling here since I was about 5. I was always here hanging out or for open bowling. I think it was only 10 cents a game back then, so me and my friends would spend the whole day here just bowling.”
From that early age, Ward knew he had found a game he loved.
“The competition and spending time with your friends - that made it a lot of fun,” Ward said. “If we weren't out playing basketball or baseball or football we were here and we were here all winter bowling. We just always had a lot of fun here.”
As Ward got older he got more and more involved in the game, joining the junior leagues.
“When you're younger you are always trying to get the big score,” Ward said. “There was a lot of fun and good competition and I really enjoyed all of the stuff when I was that age. You were always trying to get your score bigger and bigger and trying to just do a little bit better than your last game.”
Since he was 16, Ward has also split his time with racing, driving DIRT modifieds, but he has never been too far from King Ferry Lanes.
“I race all summer,” Ward said. “So I'm busy all the time with that. But as soon as it ends I'm back bowling. I'm pretty much here all winter.”
These days Ward, 50, is still incredibly passionate about the lanes, but with a new-found wisdom.
“I'm still OK,” Ward said. “I average about 190, and I bowl in three leagues and sub a couple nights a week. Now I don't take it as seriously as I did when I was a kid. I still love it, but now it is more about having fun and going out and hanging out with friends and just enjoying ourselves.”
Over the course of his career, on top of maintaining a 190 average, Ward has wracked up three 299 games, while searching for the elusive 300 and a 791 series and is still looking for the 800.
“When I was younger I was a lot more intense about it,” Ward said. “When you are that age you want to win all the time. Now I just want to have a good time and see how well I can do.”
Ward has been at the lanes so often and for so long, he has become a fixture and a familiar face to many in King Ferry, especially to owner Bill Dockstader.
“We've always been good friends,” Ward said. “He has always been good to me and we've got to be really close.”
Ward can often be found lending a hand when things get busy around the alley.
“I like to help out,” Ward said. “I've known Bill for so long and I don't like to see the customers unhappy, so when things get busy or there is a lot going on I'll just jump in and help out however I can.”
This kind of help and dedication is something Ward is proud to be able to do in a place that has been a focal point in his life and the lives of many in the King Ferry community.
“This has always been a great place,” Ward said. “I've always liked being here and it is an important part of the community. It is a good place for people to come and relax and have a good time and we are supported really well by the people in the community and I think it is important to have a place like that and I'm glad to be able to be here and to help.”
From that early age, Ward knew he had found a game he loved.
“The competition and spending time with your friends - that made it a lot of fun,” Ward said. “If we weren't out playing basketball or baseball or football we were here and we were here all winter bowling. We just always had a lot of fun here.”
As Ward got older he got more and more involved in the game, joining the junior leagues.
“When you're younger you are always trying to get the big score,” Ward said. “There was a lot of fun and good competition and I really enjoyed all of the stuff when I was that age. You were always trying to get your score bigger and bigger and trying to just do a little bit better than your last game.”
Since he was 16, Ward has also split his time with racing, driving DIRT modifieds, but he has never been too far from King Ferry Lanes.
“I race all summer,” Ward said. “So I'm busy all the time with that. But as soon as it ends I'm back bowling. I'm pretty much here all winter.”
These days Ward, 50, is still incredibly passionate about the lanes, but with a new-found wisdom.
“I'm still OK,” Ward said. “I average about 190, and I bowl in three leagues and sub a couple nights a week. Now I don't take it as seriously as I did when I was a kid. I still love it, but now it is more about having fun and going out and hanging out with friends and just enjoying ourselves.”
Over the course of his career, on top of maintaining a 190 average, Ward has wracked up three 299 games, while searching for the elusive 300 and a 791 series and is still looking for the 800.
“When I was younger I was a lot more intense about it,” Ward said. “When you are that age you want to win all the time. Now I just want to have a good time and see how well I can do.”
Ward has been at the lanes so often and for so long, he has become a fixture and a familiar face to many in King Ferry, especially to owner Bill Dockstader.
“We've always been good friends,” Ward said. “He has always been good to me and we've got to be really close.”
Ward can often be found lending a hand when things get busy around the alley.
“I like to help out,” Ward said. “I've known Bill for so long and I don't like to see the customers unhappy, so when things get busy or there is a lot going on I'll just jump in and help out however I can.”
This kind of help and dedication is something Ward is proud to be able to do in a place that has been a focal point in his life and the lives of many in the King Ferry community.
“This has always been a great place,” Ward said. “I've always liked being here and it is an important part of the community. It is a good place for people to come and relax and have a good time and we are supported really well by the people in the community and I think it is important to have a place like that and I'm glad to be able to be here and to help.”
The Citizens' Say
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