Senior bowler has spent life on lanes

     By W.G. Ramirez
     View staff writer
      When Professional Bowlers Association great Earl Anthony was born in 1938, Southeast resident Sylvia Hadlock was 30.
      When 1997 PBA Senior Player of the Year Gary Dickinson was born in 1943, Hadlock was in her sixth year of bowling.
      And when the PBA was born, in 1958, Hadlock's bowling experience turned 21.
      At a spry 90 years old, Hadlock is still going strong.
      "She is amazing," said Natalie Mallory, who lives down the street from Hadlock. "She has taught herself Spanish, how to play the organ and how to paint; she is not just a bowler."
      Mallory said she never put things in perspective and hadn't thought about the comparison between their ages, but was amazed to realize that Hadlock was 55 and had already bowled for 26 years when she was born in 1963.
      Now they bowl together, on separate teams, in the Winter Ladies Day on Tuesday mornings at Sam's Town.
      Two weeks ago, members of the league treated Hadlock to a surprise 90th birthday party at the lanes, which found the lively senior at her best during competition.
      "I think it's the exercise that keeps me going, I think it's excellent exercise," said Hadlock, immediately after she nailed a 3-5-10 split. "And I like to throw the ball."
      Hadlock first threw one down the lane in 1937, in Bloomington, Ind., where she is originally from.
      The biggest difference, she remembers from 61 years ago, is there were pin boys at the end of each alley to pick up and reset the pins.
      "They had a different look than these plastic ones too," she said. "And you always had to wait for the pinboys to move out of the way. Plus you had to keep score yourself."
      After moving to Houston, where she began working at a department store named Foley Brothers, she began bowling competitively in a league the company had started for employees.
      But when she moved to Los Angeles in 1950, she took a hiatus from the sport for quite some time.
      After relocating to Las Vegas in 1978, her frequency on the lanes increased once again and she has now been bowling at Sam's Town for nearly 17 years.
      "I like the association and the other ladies," Hadlock said. "Just since I've been in this league, I've found many friendships. And many of the ladies who have dropped out I remain friends with."
      Hadlock bowls for the Mazol Tovs, who were in third after the week of Nov. 3. At the time, she maintained a 67 handicap and was averaging a 116. Her high game was 161, while her high-handicap game was 226.
      Hadlock, who gets her eyes checked annually, said she doesn't take any medication and gets regular check-ups "oh, about every two or three years."
      Dora Gottlieb, president of the league, said she has never seen a frown on Hadlock's face, and that many times, it's Hadlock's bright spirit lifting everyone else's.
      "She has such a good attitude about everything," Gottlieb said. "She is such a nice lady, very friendly. ... That's just the type of lady she is."
      Said Mallory: "Being able to come here every week, she just always has such a good attitude and is ready to make each day better."
      Members of the Winter Ladies Day league can count on seeing that sweet, little smile for quite some time, too.
      How long does she plan to bowl?
      "Until I can't, I guess," Hadlock said.