AUBURN - For more than 40 years, Gil Ward has rarely stepped away from the bowling alley.

Ward, 90, has dedicated much of his time over the past four decades to the game that came to him rather late in life.

“I started when I was about 50,” Ward said. “I started bowling at Starlite when it first opened. I had a neighbor who was in a league and they had someone drop out, so me and my wife, Becky, joined and we bowled in that mixed league. And I've been bowling ever since.”

Ward stayed busy, bowling in a mixed league with his wife as well as bowling in several other leagues, simultaneously for a number of years.

“The first league we joined is still going,” Ward said. “I bowled for the Owasco Fire Department. I bowled in the Golden Agers league that was sponsored by the Salvation Army. I've always enjoyed it and I just go out there and try to have fun and do good.”

In 1985, Ward's wife passed away and bowling gave him a second home of sorts and something to keep him occupied.

“That was one the reasons I kept bowling,” Ward said. “I'm not too much into the competitive side of things, but I've made a lot of friends and it is nice to see them and spend some time with them.”

For more than 20 years, Ward has stayed busy both on and off the lanes.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Ward is a fixture at the Polish Falcon Lanes bowling in the senior citizen leagues.

But more than just spending time on the lanes, Ward has held the position of secretary/treasurer for all these years.

“I record the scores and all that,” Ward said. “I send in reports and figure out prize money, all those kinds of things, all on the computer now, but that is a big part of what I do.”

Ward said that this season he did pass along the role of treasurer to another bowler, but he has held on to his position as secretary for the league.

“Every year I try to get someone else to take it,” Ward said. “But nobody wants to take it, so I said that I'd do it. But I do enjoy the secretary part of things, it is fun.”

The leagues at the Polish Falcon have wrapped up for the year already, but Ward said he plans to keep busy this summer.

“I'm going to join a summer league in Weedsport,” Ward said. “I like to stay busy and bowling in the summer gives me something to do.”

By next fall Ward said he plans to pick right back up where he left off at the Polish Falcons.

“I do enjoy it,” Ward said. “I like bowling and I like being the secretary. I'm not too good at the bowling part, but I like it, it gives me something to do and it keeps me busy. I'll be doing it for as long as I can manage.”