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BWAA HALL OF FAMER FRANK KIETZ DIES AT 91
(BWAA thanks the staff of California Bowling News for its help in gathering information about Frank)
Frank Kietz, affectionately known to friends and co-workers as “the Bowling News Curmudgeon,” died in Lake Forest, Calif., on April 2 of complications after suffering a heart attack. He was 91.
Kietz, a bowling writer for more than 50 years and a contributor to the California Bowling News for three-plus decades, was an out-spoken enthusiast for integrity and honesty in bowling. In his younger days, he took on the powerful American Bowling Congress, condemning its “Caucasians only” membership policy and urging the organization to open its doors to bowlers of all nationalities.
Whether you agreed with him or not, Kietz made people think.
A champion of the common man and the “average” league bowler, Kietz was a fixture at every important California bowling event and many national activities. He was honored by the Bowling Writers Association of America’s as recipient of its Mort Luby Sr. Hall of Fame Award for distinguished service to bowling journalism in 2005 after serving as that organization’s president in 1984.
Kietz was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 23, 1916, as the only child of German immigrant parents. His family moved to Lynwood, Calif., in 1919 where he graduated from high school and entering the work force as a typesetter for the Long Beach Independent.
Kietz was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II in 1945. After completing his military service, he met and married Betty in 1951, acquiring children Vicki and Michael in the process. He and Betty almost celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before she passed away.
Kietz will always be remembered as being a good teacher and having a sharp mind. He frequently demonstrated his great knowledge of the abstract and prided himself as being a “know it all.” His love for writing and his passion for bowling led to a new career in writing for the California Bowling News.
Writing for the newspaper opened Frank’s eyes to traveling and carried him to many different parts of the world. He won many awards for his writing endeavors and was eventually honored by BWAA for his years of distinguished service to bowling journalism.
On April Fool’s Day, no less, Frank had just bowled a 245 game in his senior no-tap league when he became short of breath. He drove himself to the emergency room, but he passed away the next morning with his family at his bedside.
He is survived by daughter Vicki and her husband Hank Plaisier, son Michael Kietz and wife Ellen, granddaughter Erin and her husband Scott Neiderhiser, granddaughter Melanie Dewald, and great-grandson Carter Neiderhiser.
Services were held on April 7.
Frank Kietz “legacy.com” Guest Book
If you would like to leave your kind words about Frank for his family, please make use of this link to access his “guest book” on legacy.com.
In Memory of Frank Keitz
FROM BWAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE JAMES:
Frank was one of the nicest and most dedicated bowling people BWAA has ever had. Just a week ago he called to apologize for probably not being able to attend our convention in Orlando … although he was still working on it. He was still bowling regularly and tossed some pretty high scores lately, even though they were 9-pin no-taps.
FROM JOHN CHAPMAN, SADDLEBACK LANES:
Orange County suffered another great loss recently as Frank Keitz, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing over the last several years, passed away. It is with great sadness that I relive this memory of a man who devoted his life to bowling. However, I was lucky enough to see and to converse with him recently at the Orange County Bowling Council meeting.
Frank was a man who not only covered the world of bowling, but he was also man who cared about its direction. He traveled to many bowling centers and facilities to keep track of the events and the stories that needed to be told. He certainly got around for a man of his age.
Searching my memories, I found that Frank always had a story to tell. He remembered the days when people were eager to add their names to waiting lists just to get into leagues and tournaments. He recalled a time when a bowling center staff relied on a more personal touch to keep its players, and to recruit new ones. Despite a few writing errors and factual inaccuracies, those lessons showed in his work.
In casual conversation, I found that Frank constantly had thought-provoking ideas on how to better the world of bowling. In those times I had the privilege of speaking with him, I came away with a more clear understanding of the history of bowling and how we could learn from it. I am embarrassed to say that I was guilty. Too often, I along with a few others smiled amongst ourselves and discounted his words. In retrospect, I will heed his advice. My future will include recapturing that personal touch, and to find new and improved ways of getting the youth of today involved in bowling.
Thank you Mr. Frank Keitz, Saddleback Lanes and I will miss you.
FROM TREESA SPENCER (CALIFORNIA BOWLING NEWS ADVERTISER):
Hey Joe, wait for me!
“Joe’s just a kid,” Frank 91, said when referring to his 88-year-old friend, Joe Lyou.
Both men have been sports writers and friends for more years than most of us have been alive and have covered more bowling tournaments together than probably any other journalists in the history of bowling.
It isn’t surprising that when Joe left this earth on March 22, to cover the biggest and best tournament in the universe that Frank would join him just a few days later.
Frank was passionate about bowling, so much so that he still bowled four, or more days a week at Forest Lanes, which is about two tenths of a mile from his charming mobile home in Forest Gardens in Lake Forest. His last recorded game; a day or so before he died was a whopping 248.
He covered every tournament he could, especially the ladies’ tournaments. His uncanny memory for names and scores were a source of amazement. When he and Joe would return from their adventures they would sit on the phone and discuss their versions of who did what until their arguments would get so heated that one would hang up on the other. They had an unspoken agreement to agree to disagree but no agreement about how loud they could yell at each other. The yelling matches never stopped them from making their weekly calls to each other.
Frank was indeed an inspiration to the employees at Forest Lanes. He never let an illness or pain stop him from doing the things he wanted to do. “I treat those things with contempt,” he would say.
“Somehow we just thought that he would always be around,” said Gail, a long time coffee shop employee. “The first thing he would do when he came in the bowl was ask for a cup of black coffee and then he would sit down and start talking. “Frank, we can’t sit here and talk all day,” she would finally say, then he would let her know his coffee was cold, so she would heat it up and he would wander off to talk to someone else.
His favorite lanes were 19-20 or 21 so he could look out the front doors and keep an eye on his car. Yep, he still drove.
The energetic Frank habitually took brisk walks around his mobile home park every night, had coffee with the neighbors at the clubhouse every morning at 9 and played bingo every Thursday night.
Whenever the number B5 was called, Frank would yell “BEER FRAME!” In his memory, it is now a tradition that his bingo friends continue to do.
(4-15-2008)
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