THE DENVER BOWLING SENATE

AN AFFILIATE OF

THE NATIONAL BOWLING ASSOCIATION, INC.

They were excited, focused and determined to make this dream a reality. A group of twenty bowlers met in August 1972 with the express purpose of forming the Denver Bowling Senate.

Interest was sparked after attending a convention and tournament in 1972, held in Chicago, of the National Bowling Association, an organization formed, to promote the sport of bowling for African Americans in the United States.  It was then that the message became clear; they wanted to become an affiliate of TNBA, for the purpose of uniting all bowlers and friends of bowling into a central organization in the Metropolitan Denver area.

 Their efforts, spear-headed by Shirley Shockley, become a reality on October 19, 1972, when it was communicated that their application to become THE DENVER BOWLING SENATE! (DBS), an affiliate of The National Bowling Association, Inc. (TNBA) had been approved.

Some of the first charter members were: Earlene Edwards, (Who is still very active and the current Secretary of the Denver Bowling Senate.)  Emmari Alexander, Flo Calloway, Eleanor Carter, Athalene Darden, Edgar Darden, Azalia Harris, Pearl Peters, Mary Singleton, Alma Suggs, Gladys Taylor, Willetta Walker, Bernita Buckner, Ozzie Carter, Margaret Davenport, Luella Flanigan, Gazie Jackson, Audrie McConnell, Delores Milligan, Cathy Sanders, Rosie Mae Smith, Pearl Frazier, Jo Ann Lee, Julia Richardson, Josephine Russell, Matye Slaughter, I.M. Smith, Bill Washington, Frank King, Margaret Holman, Lorraine Hobbs, Ray Wiggins, Mattie Thomas, Jack Shockley, Owen Sebree, Williams O’Brien, Adella Miller, Viola Garlington, Roand Garlington, Leo Davis, Marian Campbell, Herchell Campbell, Ruth Brady, Sylvester Booker, Alvina Booker.

The National Bowling Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, organized in August 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, for the express purpose of encouraging Negroes to develop their skills in the game of Ten Pins. It was originally known as the "National Negro Bowling Association" because at the time of its birth, Negroes and other Non-Caucasians were not permitted to belong to ABC or WIBC because of certain restrictive clauses in their Constitutions. In 1944, it was renamed "The National Bowling Association, Inc." Later it participated actively in the fight for "Equality in Bowling," and in 1950 both ABC and WIBC removed the Non-Caucasian clauses from their Constitutions. Starting in 1951 TNBA members have enjoyed the privilege of competing in all open sanctioned tournaments.

Although approximately 80% of its present membership is Black, TNBA has NO RACIAL RESTRICTIONS WHATSOEVER AS TO MEMBERSHIP. TNBA' s motto is "Promoter of Sportsmanship, Fellowship and Friendship" - Ideals which are accomplished through organized competition.

For the Black bowler especially, TNBA membership should be as automatic as ABC and WIBC membership is to all bowlers mainly because the National Bowling Association is one of the largest BLACK FOUNDED, BLACK OPERATED AND BLACK DIRECTED organizations in the country. The National Bowling Association was instrumental in opening the doors of open competition in the ten-pin sport throughout our country for Black Bowlers.

The Denver Bowling Senate wanted to further the goals of TNBA, which ignited the enthusiasm of our founders.  Then 48 members strong, they worked relentlessly having monthly bowling tournaments, meetings, dances and raffles to spark interest and increase the membership.  Today, The Denver Bowling Senate is an organization, with a membership of 300+ strong.

Our organization offers an excellent Junior Bowling Program, where participating youth learn the skill of bowling and competition, and win scholarship awards for their efforts. We provide an annual membership tournament and monthly tournaments, for adult members to test their skill in competitive play.  We also provide a scholarship program for graduating seniors, in addition to administering an awards program for outstanding bowling achievement. 

Our senate is fortunate enough to have ONE OF THE ORIGINAL founders of  TNBA residing in the metropolitan area, Clarence King.