Rick Morris, a 1977 Parkersburg South graduate, recently was inducted into the Parkersburg USBC Hall of Fame. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Rick Morris, a 1977 graduate of Parkersburg South, recently became the newest member to be inducted into the Parkersburg USBC Hall of Fame.

“Friends and family came and it was really touching,” admitted Morris, who was inducted two weeks ago at the Moose Lodge.

“I had a young bowler that I bowled with since she was like 14 years old. She and her mother came along with my wife. My fellow bowlers were there and there were 73 people in attendance. It was really nice.”

Morris, who used to travel all over and started JR Builders back in 1997 in Chillicothe, still works at both the Pike Street and Emerson Lanes at times in the pro shop drilling balls.

“My aunt came along one day and she was an avid bowler and she wanted somebody to go bowling with her,” Morris recalled of how he was introduced to the sport. “She took two or three of us boys and we went along.

“I just fell in love with the sport. We bowled one time and I loved doing it. I worked for Ren-Dor and worked for Bob Newberry and Tom Newberry, his son, when I was younger and got out of high school.”

Morris, who admitted he doesn’t know exactly how many career 300s and 800 series he has on his resume, has always carried at least a 200 average with a career-high of 227.

“Which I don’t remember that,” quipped Morris of his best average. “I was in the top 10 averages when I bowled at Shawnee (Lanes).

“When you were in the top 10 they let you and all your friends that go bowling, to bowl for $1 a game. That was really great, especially if you like to bowl.”

In 1978, Morris was “drafted” into the Red Crown League.

“You didn’t make a team and just join. They actually did a draft, like a football draft,” Morris recalled.

“I was lucky enough to get drafted and the same year I shot my first sanctioned 300.”

Morris said he still gets help from current coach Mike Shady and gave lots of props to Marvin Emerick.

“He was my youth coach and helped me along,” Morris said of Emerick. “Super nice guy. He really made a big influence on me in bowling.

“I actually put a floor in for Mike in his home when I went to Pennsylvania. That’s how Chip Taylor and I got to know Mike. He’s ranked right up there in the United States as one of the best coaches.”

When asked how long before his second career 300 came around Morris was quick to respond.

“It seemed forever,” he said. “That one there was the sweetest. I never rolled another one in Parkersburg. I moved around with my work and I was in Ohio and bowled my second 300 at Shawnee Lanes. I really never kept track of the 300s and 800s. Every time I had a 300, whatever they donate I think it’s $50, I have them donate it to breast cancer.

“I’ve gotten rings for two 800 series and six 300s. My best year I shot three 300s and a 799 series over at Emerson and that’s not been that long ago. I’m not a big numbers guy and I never really kept track. You can always remember the ones that don’t count. I remember I shot an 834 in a tournament that wasn’t sanctioned and I ended up winning the tournament, but it didn’t count for an award. That’s alright. Everybody does that.”

The ex-Patriot, who said he wished bowling would’ve been a sport when he was in school, admitted he usually bowls a couple times a week and still competes in a lot of tournaments.

In fact, Morris claimed a senior tournament title earlier this year at the Russell Family Bowling Center in Woodsfield.

Morris, who is currently remodeling board member Scott Morton’s kitchen, admitted “what I’m really good at, I’m an extremely good finish carpenter and a tile layer. I build a lot of custom showers.”

One evening while bowling he heard an announcement from the front desk.

“It was about four weeks before the ceremony and Eric Clark just announced it over the intercom and I was shocked,” Morris said. “I was honestly shocked.

“They didn’t think I should be shocked, but there’s a lot of people I look up to. A lot of bowlers who bowl well and I was really touched they picked me out of all those bowlers.”

Although unexpected, Morris was obviously more than grateful to have the respect of his peers.

“I just appreciate everybody for all their support and I appreciate Josie Knight for doing my ceremony because I had to get somebody to introduce me and talk about me, and I picked her,” he said. “I was very touched she did it. She’s almost like another daughter.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com