The Washington times., 1933-12-22
By GINO SINH

1Dtl appear Monday.
BY GINo SINH
"Tad" Howard is proud Of one
thing above all others and that
is the part he has played in pro-
noting and popularizing the
duckpin game among women.
It was back in 1907, when bowl
ing alleys were considered i'm
proper places for women, that
"Tad" organized the first femi-
nine bowling team.
True to his trust, however,
HTad" refuses to divulge any Of
the members of that pioneer ag-
Gregation, though he admits some
are still actively engaged in
pounding the NAPLES.
Tad" inveigled a group OF
women workers in the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing to bowl
his team and several matches
were rolled whose scores are best
left in the blessed obscurity Of
the past.
The initial success of this ex-
pertinent broke down women'S
widespread opposition to duck
pins, and many Of them began to
frequent the better establishments.
Raised Social Standard
Their presence naturally put
the rougher element on their p's
and q's and thus Tad" can claim
to have contributed a goodly share
toward raising the social standard
Of the game.
Though Tad" has been in the
bowling business for a quarter of
a century Qonger than any other
man in the city,, few recognize
him as Joseph CaSSin Howard, sr.,
the name which was hung upon
his at the baptismal font.
He was born on M St., be-
tween Sixth and Seventh Sts.,
on July IS, 1881, and has never
resided out of Washington. He
attended parochial and private
schools.
Tad" was a half-back on the
Ideals" Sandlot football team
that made a name for itself
around the turn of the century.
However, a set of "roque"
courts in the neighborhood in
trigued Tad" more than the
"rougher" sports, and he became
one Of the most proficient rogue
players in the city. The game
was widely popular in those days
and Tad" played some of the
best men in the country.
His most priced athletic trophy
Is the Van Wickele Rogue"
medal which he won in 1906
against a field of nationally
known stars.
Real Estate Man
: Following school he became
TeA estate man, but that didn't
appeal to him. Early in 1907 he
bought the Casino alleys, located
ct Fourteenth and T SITS. N. w.
Here was formed Southern Rail.
way League which is still in ex-
1Stence. In 1914 TAD sold out
and became a floor manager at
the National Rifles, now the
Recreation, and stayed until
Harry Carroll bought the place.
From the Recreation he went to
Temple as manager, and in 1880
he took over the newly built Rem
devious alleys, where he has held
forth ever since.
Tad" remembers Lorraine GULL
as a little girl, watching women
bowl with wide-eyed wonderment.
He says that John S. Blick rolled
his first game at his Casino plant.
Tad" never rated among the
top-notch duckpin bowlers, though
he always rolled fair game. He
was a much better tenpin bowler,
and he remembers that he rolled a
1858 game Is years ago, which was
then considered remarkable per-
.tormance. He captained the Ca
Sino team which won the National
Capital League pennant in 1911.
Howard signs for the good old
days, when bowling was game of
pleasure. There were no prizes
and the emphasis was on good fel.
lowship. Whatever money was
on hand was usually spent on ban
Quets.
German Giant
"Tad" claims that Joe Thye,
German gjhnt, who held sway for
few brief years before the World
War. would have been the citys
greatest bowler if he had contin-
.ued. However, he disappeared
around 1915 and has never been
heard from since. Many believe
that he went back to Germany to
fight.
Says the Rendezvous chief:
"Thye was a huge, barrel
cheSted man, with prodigiousIy
long arms. He had a long,
sweeping swing, which sent the
ball wherever he aimed it with
extraordinary accuracy. Thye
led the X. C. League with ease
. couple of times"
Tad" considers himself as a
promoter of duckpins, but re-
Gently he flashed as a bowler
when he pounded out two "400"
sets in practice on the same day.
He still bowls with Genoa team,
in the K. C. League, and carries
fair average.
EpIcNu McITo 81 ANEDc