Atlanta friends mark 44th consecutive national tournament at 2006 Women's Championships

Reno, Nev. - Jo Milam and Ann Murray marked their 44th consecutive national tournament bowling together at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.

The two Atlanta women, ages 77 and 82, first met on the lanes in 1963, then traveled to the nationals in Memphis that year. They've been at it ever since, with only one near miss.

The advent of daylight-saving time in New York City in 1967 caught them napping and almost caused them to miss their flight to Rochester for the tournament. A New York cabbie managed to save the day.

In 1996 in Buffalo, Milam's individual tournament string almost came to an abrupt end when she hurt her foot severely enough that she had to return to Atlanta without having bowled. When her doctor released her, she shuffled off to Buffalo two weeks later and kept the streak intact.

These two Georgia peaches have more in common than just an abiding love for the sport. In fact, one might call them mutual mothers-in-law, since Murray's son, Robert, married Milam's daughter, Cathy. Like their parents, the two offspring - wed now 30 years - met through their mothers' bowling league in Atlanta.

But they quickly found out that blood is not thicker than bowling. When Cathy and Robert wanted to marry on a Thursday, their mothers nixed it because it would have interfered with their league night.

Milam and Murray bowl for Base Manufacturing at the Northeast Fun Bowl and Suburban Lanes in the Atlanta area, where they carry 151 and 156 averages, respectively. Milam has been bowling 53 years, Murray for 52.

The friends have seen a lot of changes in bowling over six decades, but the one constant seems to be the sport's practitioners. "The facilities, lanes and equipment are so much better," said Milan. "But the bowlers haven't changed," Murray chimed in. "They're the same warm and friendly people who care."

5/22/2006



By Bob Sagan