Jack Heethouse
Jack Heethouse started bowling when he was about 10 years old. His father, who worked at Brunswick, thought it would be a idea for his only child to take up an activity, so he had his only son bowl at Maple Lanes. Little did he know how much impact Jack would have in the Muskegon area in the years that followed.
Jack instantly took to bowling, throwing decent scores right away. He loved bowling so much, he used his school bus ticket (kids rode to school on the city bus) to go to the bowling alley, and walked to school.
It was January 15, 1969, when Jack had one of his proudest bowling moments. The 24 year old fired a 300 game, and followed it up a few years later with his highest series of 751. With a high average of 212, some would expect Jack to perform well in tournaments as well. Some wouldn't be disappointed.
Jack's tournament resume sparkles with success. Twice he has won the all-events category in the Greater Muskegon City Tournament. Not to outdo himself, he's been part of the doubles actual champions as well. And, as if that weren't enough, Jack has an all-events handicap championship under his belt to boot. Quite a compilation of scores, and it all happened in the late 60's and early 70's. Jack was one of the most dominant bowlers during that 10 year span.
While a bilateral knee replacement keeps Jack from bowling today, he says he was able to bowl for so long because of his backswing. " My backswing was very short and compact, and I had a very smooth approach," he said.
While his experiences in bowling have been competitive, Jack always had " a lot of fun " at every bowling outing he took part in. Jack and his wife Mary will have their 37 year wedding anniversary on May 24, and while Mary and their children don't bowl, they have been nothing but supportive to Jack all the while.
Welcome to the Greater Muskegon Bowling Hall of Fame, Jack, you've definitely earned it.