The Keglers League, an African American bowling team
Prior to 1960, there were no organized bowling leagues for African Americans and they were not invited to bowl with the white leagues. A group of avid African American bowlers came together and formed the Keglers League. The newly formed league assembled a committee and met with the R&R Bowling Lane owner, Douglas Rubnitz. Mr. Rubnitz agreed to let the Keglers League bowl at the R&R Lane for the 1960 season under the condition that none of the African American bowlers go into the bar lounge, the league agreed. During the first season, no one went into the bar, a waitress would take their drink orders and bring them to the bowlers. The next year the African American bowlers were allowed into the lounge to order drinks and refreshments.
The first season there were eight or ten teams in the league on Saturday afternoons. Kegler League members: Leon Davidson, Earl Drake, Wes Simmons, Van Martin, Levert Givhan, Walter “Babe” Ingram, Lou Murphy, Dee Gilliam, Julia (Evelyn) Gilliam, Dan Smith, Robert House, Nancy Banks, Walter Knight, Sally Howard, Mary Kenney, Jeanie Donaldson, Odel Hyde, Herman Grady, Pat Kenney, Kathleen Cole, Rudolph Mahan, Alberta Francis, Betty Steele, Bobby Jackson, Gladys Easley, Robert Gilliam, Floye Gilliam, Betty Turman, Marcia, Drake, Wyetta Branigan and Lola Bandy.
The third season the Kegler League began bowling against teams from Milwaukee and Elgin, IL. Eventually the league moved to Viking Lanes and changed their name to the Major League in 1965. The interest in bowling grew in Beloit and the league added more names. Joining were Irma Bradford, Arnett Henry, Leonard Grady, Marva Towles and Lossie Davis just to name a few.
Within a few years, African American men and women’s teams had joined the once all-white leagues at Viking Lanes in South Beloit.
In 1964, The Beloit Traveling League was formed under the leadership of Dee Guilliam. Beloit hosted the National Traveling Bowlers League meetings in 1967 at the Holiday Inn and again in 1969 at the Plantation Motor Inn. During the 1980’s Walter Knight served at the National Parliamentarian to the NTBL.
The 1987 Women’s National NTBL Championship was won by Beloit team! The Champions were Faye Hereford, Nancy Shaw, Jewell Betts, Mae Martin, Barbara Hickman, Grace Bradley and Dyane Black.
