The Washington times., 1934-03-05
By GINO SINH

Harry Rider Stanford, one OF
District duckpin's immortals, has
also indelibly written his name
among the city's billiard players.
Stanford and Frank Sherman,
who is considered the kingfish OF
local cue wizards, staged the
most memorable pocket billiard
exhibition in local annals at the
University Club nearly a genera
ton ago when both were at the
top of their game. Sherman won,
100 to SO, after a nip and tuck
battle which had a large audi
ence pop-eyed.
Harry twice won the annual
Royal billiard tournament which
drew all the top notch players
of the city. He also always man
aged to squeeze so points or bet
ter whenever he faced nationally
famed stars giving exhibitions
here.
Stanford was one of the regu
lars on the famous Royal team,
which won the District League
pennant seven times.
Wins City Singles Twice
Through the "a years the
W.CD.A. tournament has been
conducted annually he is the
only one to have ever won the
singles championship twice, in
1912 and again in 1918.
The Stanford family was aug.
mented by the future 'duckpin
and billiard star on November
II, 1882, while residing in Bos-
ton, Mass. When he was 3 the
family moved to Washington.
Harry attended Maryland Agrl-
cultural Prep Schol and went to
the college through his sopho'
more year.
His first job was as copy boy'
In the editorial office of the Bos-
ton Herald. Next he joined a
lumber company at Georgetown,
S. c., and five years later he re-
turned to washington where he
opened his own business, the Stan
ford Paper Company, one of the
largest in the city today.
College Sports
At college Harry went out for
football and baseball. but forced
to quit school after two years he
was unable to make the varsity
teams. He Subbed at LETT end and
was a pitcher on the second nine,
He was bowling excellent duck
pin scores for several years before
he joined any league. About
1907 he was recruited by the
Eoodfellows, the District League
team remembered because it went
out more to have a good time on
the drives, rather than to win
pennants.
In 1910, Harry shifted to the
Royals and continued with them
until 1923, when the team dis
banded. From 1912 to 1917 Stan
ford'S name appeared we'll up near
the top among the District League
first 10 high average men. He led
the league during 1856, was
second the year previous, and
third the following year.
Monopoly on Pennant
Next to the District League,
Stanford did his best bowling in
the Arcade League with the re-
nowned IngleSides. Ray Morgan,
former Washington second base
man, was one of his teammates.
The InglesideS had a sort of
monopoly on the pennant and in
1912 swept the final series, 27
games, to capture the champion
ship, after being apparently out
Of running.
He and Andy Goodman used
to battle right down to the last
night of the season for high in
dividual honors in that league.
Stanford also bowled with Stans-
bury in the Masonic League and
with the Palace team in the Ma
tional Capital
Harry contributed his share to
quite few District duckpin rec
ords. When the Royals twice
boosted the District high set
mark, Stanford was drubbing the
headpin at his favorite spot,
fourth. He was also a member
Of George L. Isemann's Giants
and CreScentS All-Stars VIII o
rolled against Roanoke and Mar
tinsburg back in 1915.
Tried Again
After he had been out of the
game for a half dozen years,
Harry returned to the drives with
the Maryland University League
several years ago, but after a few
weeks gave up.
Il soon realized that 1 was
no longer a bowler" he ex-
planned.
He took a bit of interest in
golf.
But 1 had to give that up,
tOO," he says. Henry TAFT
ROdier is to blame for that.
He was such a terrible golfer
that I SwOre that If he beat
me / would quit the game.
Well, he beat me-"
Stanford was also something
Of an amateur actor with old
Soldier Home Dramatic Club,
but once when he got "balled
up" on his usual three words, he
decided to let others carry on in