The Washington times., 1933-12-25
By GINO SINH

rounding out his ninth 3ear as
the Washington City Duckpin Ac-
sociation secretary, came two days
late for his first Christmas, but
he has been plenty ahead of time
in everything else ever since.
"Ebby" shifted his first breath
: Of mortal ozone on December 27,
1889, in Pinesburg, Washington
: county, Maryland.
A precocious student, he grad
uated from Clear Spring County
High School in June, 1908, when
less than IA years Of age-the
youngest ever to graduate from
that school.
, At school he played baseball, as
q pitcher and outfielder. He also
played sandlot baseball after he
came to Washington in 1905. His
weight, he never has weighed more
%. than 1876 pounds until few years
ago, was a big handicap to him
in baseball and he recalls, with a
smile, that he never could go nine
innings on the mound.
'Ebby's" first job was call boy
In the Cumberland railroad sta
ton. His next job was working
with well-knoWn electrical firm
in washington, and then he
changed to his present position,
which he has held for rs years.
Wanted to Be Chemist
Arville, when he came to the
Capital, had an idea Of becoming
a chemist and began a course at
q. W. night school, but was forced
to abandon it year later, as all
his money had to be devoted to
the support of his mother and
sister.
Chemistry still has a warm spot
, In his heart, but his present work
will not permit him to dabble
in it.
"Ebby" has something in COM
mon with Secretary Woodin, of
the Treasury. He also plays the
mandolin, though, unlike the
aforementioned Cabinet officer,
does not care about playing in
bed. He doesn't care for "jazz"
or "tin-pan alley" tunes.
: He tickles the ivories a bit, too,
and at one time had a wide repu-
tation as a tenor singer. He still
sings occasionally. He has done
most of his vocalizing at func-
tions of the various organizations
of which he is a member, but
also was a member of the Peck
Memorial Chapel minstrels which
enjoyed wide popularity in the
city Just before and during the
war days.
32d Degree Mason
"Ebby" is a 32d degree Mason,
q Shriner and a member Of the
Grotto. He has belonged for
years to the Royal Arcanum and
the Knights of Pythias. He was
Master of Albert Pike Lodge in
1927, Patron of the Acacia Chap
ter, Eastern Star, 1880, and the
Grand Regent of the Royal Ar
canum of the District, 1924. He
is also a member of the Board OF
Trade.
He is a rabid baseball fan and
. boasts that, until two years ago,
he saw the Griffmen play at
least so games each season. He
has seen every world series game
held at Griff Stadium.
He also was something OF a
tennis player. joining the famous
Dumbarton Club during the war,
and he often opposed Clarence
Charest, Tom Yeager, and other
topnotchers of the day.
"Ebby's" first bowling VEN
ture was in the Royal Arcanum
League in 1917. He didn't take
a serious interest in the game,
however, until 1921, when he or
ganized the Albert Pike team IN
the Masonic League.
Three years later he became
Secretary-treaSurer of the Ma
sonic League, and in 1925 he was
elected secretary of the w. c. D.
A. He still holds both positions
and seems likely to do so Tor
SOmeClme TO come.
Until last year as w. c. D. A.
secretary he showed an increase
of team entries in the city tourna-
ment. achieving a record OF 4lO
in 1892. The depression was TOO
much for him last April.
"Ebby" is also proud OF the work
he did with Ray Cross in organlZ-
ing the Eastern Star League IN
1928, which now has 20 teams on
its roster, and is the biggest
women circuit in the city. It
started as a 14-team loop.
Missed 6 Games in IL Years
His greatest claim to fame as
a bowler is that he has missed
only six games in IL seasons OF
bowling in the Masonic League,
which for the past 10 years has
listed more than 100 games on its
schedule.
An Attack of typhoid fever in
December, 1928, forced him to
absent himself from the alleys for
several weeks. buS postponementS
and the intercession Of the Christ
mas holidays, helped somewhat to
save his record.
Another thing he remembers
with pleasure is the time Howard
Ryon, of the Naval Lodge, rolled
100, a worlds record, against
him at anchor. "Ebby" strove
valiantly to keep up with his
''hot mitted" rival and had a