BWAA Past President Gray dies
BWAA past president Ray Gray, the last living member of the great Chicago daily newspaper contingent, died Dec. 28 at age 92.

Gray served as BWAA president in 1975 while working for the Chicago American newspaper as bowling and outdoor editor. He also was featured on an outdoor radio broadcast for WGN.

The Chicago native bowled for many years in the ABC Tournament with the Universal team captained by Sam Weinstein. Also bowling with that group for more than 40 years were Sandy Shub, Angelo Biondo and Jim Fitzgerald. Captain Weinstein boasted that in over 40 years, the team never made a dime in prize money.

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Bud Fisher, former PBA Media Director, passes away
By Dick Evans
It is with a heavy heart that I write this obit about the wonderful life and unfortunate death of Saturday morning of E.A. (Bud) Fisher, a true bowling legend. Bud, the first employee hired by Eddie Elias when he founded the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958, was a warrior — living life to its fullest and fighting cancer with courage and a little wit.

He was injured while fighting in Europe during World War II and fought a fight and never hoisted the white flag even while being surrounded by human frailties that come from living life with gusto for more than 80 years.

Bud was hired to promote the PBA as its media director, no easy job for an unknown sports organization. But Bud went a step farther, he promoted the PBA and also the entire bowling industry.

Bud had a way with words and with human beings. When he arranged for a press dinner in Miami before the PBA tour arrived, writers from West Palm Beach to Miami would show up. Bud would entertain them with stories about the tour, the players and the bowling industry. You left feeling that you had dinner with a friend, not a promoter.

Bud Fisher knew everyone and everyone seemed to know Bud Fisher.

Unfortunately they don't make media directors like Bud Fisher any more. Instead of being blessed by the human touch of a wonderful human being like Bud Fisher, reporters today are often told to go on the Internet and look up the information requested on their web pages.

Saturday was the end of the line for the life of Bud Fisher but not for his legacy among reporters. He loved feeding information to reporters and that's probably the reason he told wife Mary to make sure that if anyone would like to honor him with a donation, then they should make the check out to the Bowling Writers Association of America.

The next time you hear thunder, it will be Bud Fisher up in heaven setting up pins for bowling writers.