The Washington times., 1933-12-11
BY GINO SINH

SS"SS'
By GINO SINH
Track star, choir singer, base
ball player, liquor salesman,
pianist, embryo lawyer, soldier,
automobile and real estate sales
man
No, that is not a list of pro-
4eSSionS.
It's just a few things George
L. Isemann did before he be-
came the grand mogul of the
National Duck Pin Bowling Con-
greSS.
What's more. George is all
WaShingtonian. He was born
here, raised here, attended school
here, and even got married within
q stones throw of the Capitol.
However, he chose Virginia porn
girl for that particular ceremony,
George first saw the light Of
day on January 18; 1890, 1--WE
are assured that the year is cor
rect) on Massachusetts, Avenue,
near Tenth Street northwest. He
attended Central High. where
he distinguished himself as
Sprinter and hurdler.
Equals Record
He was awarded a medal by
the Delaware A. A. for eQualing
the worlds 220-yard sprint record
Of his day.
George pitched semi-pro base
ball with Bethlehem, and even
had a tryout with major league
team.
During his spare time he sang
baritone in the choir of st. Mary's
Catholic Church at Rockville.
Shortly after he graduated from
high school his uncle, Christian
Xander, widely known liquor dis
tributor, died, and George had to
give up ideas Of going to college
to carry on the business. He was
doing a great job of it when pro-
hibition stopped him.
He then Joined the Army, anx-
iouS to go to France, but his eyes
failed to make the grade, and he
was assigned to General Lords Of.
flee in the War Building, where
he worked himself up to a shave
tail"
Following the war he thought he
would become lawyer, and soon
had his home Uttered with law
books. However, the subject |
seemed to have been bit too dry
for a peppery man like Mrs. Ise-
mann's boy.
He also took fling at selling
autos and real estate.
Fond of Duckpins
In the meantime he had taken
q deep liking to duckpins. Just
before the war George organized
an all-star team, with such men
as Pop" HALEY, Johnny Baum,
Andy Goddard and Pop" Mi
chaud, and bowled an intercity
match with Martinsburg, w. Va.
It was a grand success.
George was also one Of the pro-
moters Of the ill-fated Atlantic
Coast Bowling Association tourna-
ment in 1915. He bitterly dis
agreed with his coworkers over the
way that tournament was run, and
its quick demise soon proved the
keenness Of his observations.
After the war Isemann again
took an active part in duckpins,
and twice was elected w. c. D. A.
secretary. Once in 1922 and again
In 1927.
Always an enthusiastic and |
clear thinking rooter for duck
pins, it was only natural that
when the National Duckpin Bowl
. ing Congress was formed in 1927,
he was selected for its most i'm
portant post, secretary.
George has never given his
hackers reason to regret the move
for he has marched up and down
the Atlantic Coast spreading the
duckpin gospel so that today 1t is
the major indoor game from Bos-
ton to Atlanta, Ga.
Good Bowler
He is a good bowler himself,
but his anxiety to help others in
the game, has kept him from win
ming laurelS for himself. How
ever, he has turned in some bril-
liant scores in many cities bowling
as the Masked Marvel" and
boasts that he has rolled on more
alleys than any other bowler
alive!
George comes from a fine
family. His father, who died
when he was just years old,
was professor of music at George
town University. His mother,
still alive, was an accomplished
musician and linguist. Henry
Xander, noted local music teacher
and linguist, was another of his
uncleS.
George studied voice in his
younger days and also was some
thing of a pianist, but music's
loss was duckpins' greatest gain.
He is a thirty-second degree
Mason, and took all his degrees,
both Scottish and York, before
he was % years old, one Of the
youngest to do it in Washington.
Last. but not least, the 81" in
Georges name stands for Lin
coin" And George is also a
great "emancipator." He eman-
cipated duckpins from tenpins.
FOLLOWS HIS DAD
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