FRAN DEKEN

Inducted 1997 - Superior Performance

Fran Deken’s brother wouldn’t let her bowl in their league, so at the tender age of ten, she formed her own bowling league consisting of four teams of four girls from her 6^th grade class.  Her mother provided the transportation in her station wagon for all the teams every week and Fran’s bowling career got off to a good start.  At the end of that first year, Fran had attained a high average of 126.  Her career has spanned over 45 years and taken her all over the world.   She has won gold and silver medals while competing in collegiate tournaments and attribute her competitive spirit to the collegiate circuit she bowled in while a member of the University of Iowa bowling team.  She has always been encouraged to bowl by her family, especially by her mother, who learned to bowl at age 62.  In addition to her skills on the lane, Fran has also contributed her managerial skills to several organizations, primarily the LPBT.  Fran organized and ran over 100 professional tournaments for her fellow pros that earned her an entry into the LPBT Hall of Fame.  Fran has also been a board member of the Bowling Writers Association of America for many years and in March of 1999, she was elected Second Vice President.  In 1994, Fran accompanied the LVWBA delegates to Salt Lake City to help with the LVWBA bid for the WIBC tournament.  Her newest favorite bowling memory brings a smile to her face as she recalls winning the 1998 Nevada Senior Bowlers Tour Doubles with her husband Dave.