Richard M. Maus
If you were looking for a person who could be called the ultimate team player, one wouldn't have to look any further than Dick Maus. From the first time he picked up a bowling ball while serving in the Army overseas, to today, Dick has put " the team" first. Team bowling is what has mattered most and that is what he takes great pride in. That pride and his bowling ability have earned him a welcome spot in the Hall of Fame.
While stationed in France, this Army man started to bowl, fell in love with the game and has done well in it ever since. Upon his return to his home town, he was practicing at Michigan Lanes and manager Paul Wilcox suggested that Dick sub in a league that evening. As it turned out, Dick ended up bowling with Ken McBride.. and now there going into the Hall of Fame...quite a coincidence!
Dick has had many highlights in his career, most pertaining to team bowling, but a few are those that he did on his own. In 1963 Dick rolled a 290 game, high in the association, doing it with a "house ball". Seems he hadn't been bowling well that season and just thought he'd try something different! He has received the Chronicle Award for high series in the association twice in his career- in 1969 when he rolled a 732 and in 1977 he beat that with a 745. He was the association tournament actual singles champion in 1976, rolling 639, and in 1977, had high average with 205. In 1985, Dick rolled his highest game, a 299, shooting it in the association tournament. In four decades of bowling Dick has rolled numerous 700 series, his highest being 752 and has averaged over 200 many times.
Dick will tell you, "personal achievements are nice but team accomplishments are mush nicer". He has been on teams that were actual team champions in the association five times-in 1969, 75, 77, 86 and in 88. In 1969 and 1988 the teams also won the handicap division. Bowling mainly in classic leagues, he has been on teams that were league champions ten times during a 24 year span. Good bowlers attract good bowlers and Dick has been on teams with plenty of them including Hall of Famers Bill Liefer and Clyde McKentry.
He is very proud to have been a part of so many "team achievements", and proud to be in the Hall of Fame with the team concept the reason for it.