Wife of PBA Founder says 'thank you' for helping fulfill one of her late husband's dreams By Dick Evans
02/04/09
I got up close and personal with an idol during the PBA's 50th Anniversary Gala celebration at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas on Jan. 23-25.
No, it wasn't Mark Roth or Marshall Holman or Dave Davis or Pete Weber, Mike Aulby or Parker Bohn or Brian Voss who was my idol.
It was somebody I have known for 30 plus years but really didn't know -- Peggy Elias (below, right), wife of PBA founder Eddie Elias.
This is how Peggy became an idol:
The Miami Herald paid my expenses to cover the Firestone Tournament of Champions in Akron for more than 25 years and during that time I made lifetime friends out of Chuck Pezzano and John Jowdy and learned to admire Eddie Elias, the founder of the Professional Bowlers Association.
My dealings with Eddie were strictly professional and I think he respected me even when I was giving him a hard time over PBA Tournament Director Harry Golden never starting squads on time, especially at night when I was facing a taut deadline.
Eddie's wife Peggy seldom came to Riviera Lanes, except on Saturdays for the live ABC telecast, the champions dinner at the Hilton after the TV show and then the celebrity pro-am at night. She was a former Miss Ohio and a professional singer and carried herself with class at all times.
I was just an obscure member of the working press, and there were about 20 of us. In the early years the Western Union operators in the press room sent our stories to our papers, later we started bringing our own telecopier machines to send our stories and even later our own computers.
My first one-on-one contact with Peggy was when I was media director for the PBA Senior tour and I called Peggy and asked her to bring Eddie (who a few years earlier had suffered a stroke) to the senior tournament in Naples, where Peggy and Eddie were living.
She brought Eddie to Woodside Lanes and the PBA seniors were thrilled and so was Eddie, the twinkle in his eyes would have stretched from Florida to Ohio. I wrote stories and took pictures and instantly felt admiration for the ease that Peggy Elias demonstrated while fulfilling her husband's every need for two hours.
Through his bowling background and work for the PBA, Chuck Pezzano became close friends of the Elias family and remained in close contact with Peggy even after Eddie's death 10 years ago.
Early last year I wrote a story about her memories of the Firestone Tournament of Champions so I was delighted when I learned late in 2008 that she had accepted the PBA's invitation to the PBA's 50th anniversary celebration. Imagine my surprise when Chuck called early this year and said Peggy wanted to take us and Lenny Nicholson (the Phantom) to dinner Friday night before the Saturday night Gala dinner in Las Vegas.
Chuck called again and said Peggy also wanted to sit between us at the Gala dinner, which meant we were going to be sitting at a prestigious table. Janay Leddy, (L-R Samantha, Rosie, Marta and Janay), director of community relations/events, made all the seating arrangements for the 430 guests from all walks of bowling life...to me she looked like an angel in her white evening gown while dashing here and there and somehow smiling at everyone.
I know that Peggy was impressed with the warmth shown her by everybody associated with bowling and the accolades given her late husband and I believe that she may attend more special bowling events if invited.
Her presence would add a touch of class to any bowling function. And as evidence I am going to print letters she sent to Fred Schreyer (CEO & Commissioner of the PBA), John Berglund (executive director of the PBA) and Janay Leddy. Peggy also sent copies to me.
Peggy's three letters precede a few other letters I received from other readers. I think they all are worth reading because they come from different walks of life.
Dear Fred:
Congratulations on The PBA's 50th Year Celebration Gala. Words cannot express how thrilled I was to experience this "Once in a Lifetime," incredible weekend. The beautiful book and trading cards of the Worlds 50 Greatest Pro Bowlers, the PBA shirts, the awesome scene of the 50 Greatest Bowlers group photo and the Ultimate autograph session was spectacular.
The entire weekend was implemented so perfectly with the assistance of lovely, Janay and the PBA Staff who went that extra mile to make the event extraordinary!
The special caring and respect you gave me was overwhelming and so much appreciated. You and the PBA made me feel welcome and at Home. Thank you for your open arms and for the respect you have given to the memory of Eddie.
As Dick Evans wrote, 'Seldom do things of great expectations exceed expectations and you want to pinch yourself to make sure you are experiencing reality and not just dreaming. Everyone was overflowing with pride and praise.'
I was one of those proud people, proud of you, the PBA and the Professional Bowlers and the spectacular weekend to Celebrate 50 of the Greatest Pro Bowlers in the World.
Please give my best to your family. Looking forward to seeing you at one of the tournaments.
Peggy.
Dear John:
It was a pleasure meeting you at the PBA's 50th Year Celebration Gala. Eddie's dream was that the bowling industry would mutually come together and work together. The Bowling Foundation, Strike Ten and the BPAA has made his dream come to fruition.
It was a magical evening for me. To witness the Bowling Industry supporting the PBA's Gala event was overwhelming.
I was proud of you, John, for all your efforts in getting all the different organizations to work for the good of bowling.
Please give my gratitude to Jim Sturm and Frank DeSocio and other members of the BPAA board for making it possible to Celebrate The PBA's 50th Anniversary with the spectacular Gala and for the title sponsorship in March.
Thank you, my friend!
Peggy.
Dearest Janay:
Congratulations on a spectacular PBA, 50th Year Celebration. Words cannot express how thrilled I was to experience this "Once in a Life Time," incredible weekend. Janay, from receiving the first PBA Packet and receiving the first email from you, I knew you were nothing but 'First Class.'
When meeting you for the first time you were not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside, as well.
The caring and respect you gave me was overwhelming and so much appreciated. You and the PBA made me feel welcome and at Home. Thank you for your open arms and for the respect you have given the memory of Eddie.
This all came together because of you, your personal touch and great expertise.
I loved my lovely white rose but truly, you are the Rose.
Peggy.
It was a first class event in this writer's opinion, especially since I got to sit next to the classy Peggy Elias.
I have to personally thank and congratulate Tom Clark on the PBA Gala promotion and his personal PBA promotion. Keep up the great work.
Contact Dick Evans at Evans121@aol.com
Pictures courtesy of Joan Taylor.
Column
PBA 50th Anniversary celebration was a first class event
I got up close and personal with an idol during the PBA's 50th Anniversary Gala celebration at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas on Jan. 23-25.No, it wasn't Mark Roth or Marshall Holman or Dave Davis or Pete Weber, Mike Aulby or Parker Bohn or Brian Voss who was my idol.
It was somebody I have known for 30 plus years but really didn't know -- Peggy Elias (below, right), wife of PBA founder Eddie Elias.
This is how Peggy became an idol:The Miami Herald paid my expenses to cover the Firestone Tournament of Champions in Akron for more than 25 years and during that time I made lifetime friends out of Chuck Pezzano and John Jowdy and learned to admire Eddie Elias, the founder of the Professional Bowlers Association.
My dealings with Eddie were strictly professional and I think he respected me even when I was giving him a hard time over PBA Tournament Director Harry Golden never starting squads on time, especially at night when I was facing a taut deadline.
Eddie's wife Peggy seldom came to Riviera Lanes, except on Saturdays for the live ABC telecast, the champions dinner at the Hilton after the TV show and then the celebrity pro-am at night. She was a former Miss Ohio and a professional singer and carried herself with class at all times.
I was just an obscure member of the working press, and there were about 20 of us. In the early years the Western Union operators in the press room sent our stories to our papers, later we started bringing our own telecopier machines to send our stories and even later our own computers.
My first one-on-one contact with Peggy was when I was media director for the PBA Senior tour and I called Peggy and asked her to bring Eddie (who a few years earlier had suffered a stroke) to the senior tournament in Naples, where Peggy and Eddie were living.
She brought Eddie to Woodside Lanes and the PBA seniors were thrilled and so was Eddie, the twinkle in his eyes would have stretched from Florida to Ohio. I wrote stories and took pictures and instantly felt admiration for the ease that Peggy Elias demonstrated while fulfilling her husband's every need for two hours.
Through his bowling background and work for the PBA, Chuck Pezzano became close friends of the Elias family and remained in close contact with Peggy even after Eddie's death 10 years ago.
Early last year I wrote a story about her memories of the Firestone Tournament of Champions so I was delighted when I learned late in 2008 that she had accepted the PBA's invitation to the PBA's 50th anniversary celebration. Imagine my surprise when Chuck called early this year and said Peggy wanted to take us and Lenny Nicholson (the Phantom) to dinner Friday night before the Saturday night Gala dinner in Las Vegas.
Chuck called again and said Peggy also wanted to sit between us at the Gala dinner, which meant we were going to be sitting at a prestigious table. Janay Leddy, (L-R Samantha, Rosie, Marta and Janay), director of community relations/events, made all the seating arrangements for the 430 guests from all walks of bowling life...to me she looked like an angel in her white evening gown while dashing here and there and somehow smiling at everyone.I know that Peggy was impressed with the warmth shown her by everybody associated with bowling and the accolades given her late husband and I believe that she may attend more special bowling events if invited.
Her presence would add a touch of class to any bowling function. And as evidence I am going to print letters she sent to Fred Schreyer (CEO & Commissioner of the PBA), John Berglund (executive director of the PBA) and Janay Leddy. Peggy also sent copies to me.
Peggy's three letters precede a few other letters I received from other readers. I think they all are worth reading because they come from different walks of life.
Dear Fred:
Congratulations on The PBA's 50th Year Celebration Gala. Words cannot express how thrilled I was to experience this "Once in a Lifetime," incredible weekend. The beautiful book and trading cards of the Worlds 50 Greatest Pro Bowlers, the PBA shirts, the awesome scene of the 50 Greatest Bowlers group photo and the Ultimate autograph session was spectacular.
The entire weekend was implemented so perfectly with the assistance of lovely, Janay and the PBA Staff who went that extra mile to make the event extraordinary!
The special caring and respect you gave me was overwhelming and so much appreciated. You and the PBA made me feel welcome and at Home. Thank you for your open arms and for the respect you have given to the memory of Eddie.
As Dick Evans wrote, 'Seldom do things of great expectations exceed expectations and you want to pinch yourself to make sure you are experiencing reality and not just dreaming. Everyone was overflowing with pride and praise.'
I was one of those proud people, proud of you, the PBA and the Professional Bowlers and the spectacular weekend to Celebrate 50 of the Greatest Pro Bowlers in the World.
Please give my best to your family. Looking forward to seeing you at one of the tournaments.
Peggy.
Dear John:
It was a pleasure meeting you at the PBA's 50th Year Celebration Gala. Eddie's dream was that the bowling industry would mutually come together and work together. The Bowling Foundation, Strike Ten and the BPAA has made his dream come to fruition.
It was a magical evening for me. To witness the Bowling Industry supporting the PBA's Gala event was overwhelming.
I was proud of you, John, for all your efforts in getting all the different organizations to work for the good of bowling.
Please give my gratitude to Jim Sturm and Frank DeSocio and other members of the BPAA board for making it possible to Celebrate The PBA's 50th Anniversary with the spectacular Gala and for the title sponsorship in March.
Thank you, my friend!
Peggy.
Dearest Janay:
Congratulations on a spectacular PBA, 50th Year Celebration. Words cannot express how thrilled I was to experience this "Once in a Life Time," incredible weekend. Janay, from receiving the first PBA Packet and receiving the first email from you, I knew you were nothing but 'First Class.'
When meeting you for the first time you were not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside, as well.
The caring and respect you gave me was overwhelming and so much appreciated. You and the PBA made me feel welcome and at Home. Thank you for your open arms and for the respect you have given the memory of Eddie.
This all came together because of you, your personal touch and great expertise.
I loved my lovely white rose but truly, you are the Rose.
Peggy.
It was a first class event in this writer's opinion, especially since I got to sit next to the classy Peggy Elias.
I have to personally thank and congratulate Tom Clark on the PBA Gala promotion and his personal PBA promotion. Keep up the great work.
Contact Dick Evans at Evans121@aol.com
Pictures courtesy of Joan Taylor.
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