The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-02-22
BY GINO SINH

SWEEPSTAKES Will o. ACCOAO WV
and established himself firmly
among the city's "big five"
He was rated third in the cit!
and fifth nationally for his flint
work generally.
This year, with the Dixie anc
U. S. Sweepstakes diadems in the
bag, he is the leading CONTENDER
not only for the local top rating
but also for the No. l post IN tne
nation.
Clarke. the scion of an Army
officer, was presented TO nlS
father on october 10, 1902. while
at brownsville, Texas. ClarKe'S
father, Britisher, was born II
India.
When less than a year old his
daddy took him to Cuba, where
he had been ordered, for Two
wears. Then followed a stay AZ
Charleston, S. c. and back u
Cuba. ,,.
Fort Myer, Va, was the mex!
location, and his father decloeo
to make washington his perman
ent residence.
Attended Central High
Aston went through the Addison
graded school and then had TWO
wears at Central High. He COM
pleted his high school at Burning
ton, VT. while his father was al
Fort Ethan Allen.
Again in washington he OBJ
tanned a position as a shoe clerk
in GEORGETOWN. Next he was en-
nloyed by the Gas Light Company
as a salesman. He is married ana
has two daughters, one 1O-year-
old Allyn, he expects to cut quite
a figure as a bowler.
In grammar school AStor went
in for track and won medal 1or
the 6O-yard sprint and also I'M
ished second in the running broad
lump. AS a young man he played
the outfield on the CLARENDON
baseball team, and also was sub
stitute end on the Waverly eleven
On his off days during the sum-
Iner he can be found on the puonc
golf links, chasing the little Wnlte
pellet over bills and daleS.
Clarke started his bowling ca
reer by leading the Georgetown
Church League with a 1O3 aver
age during the 1925-26 season.
The next four years he rolled IN
the Clarendon Commercial and
washington Gas Light Leagues
carrying fair averages but nothing
to light bonfires about.
Visits downtown brought him
to the Coliseum where fore
gathered the city's best money
shooters, Max Rosenberg, George
Friend, Tony Santini, Joe and
Paul Harrison, Jack Wolsten-
holme and others. He broke in
upon their games. 1t was Just
the incentive his latent talents
needed. His game developed
rapidly.
NOnchalant Entry
He nonchalantly plunked down
his entry fee when Campbell came
along, and as nonchalantly pro,
ceeded to win it with an 1879
set, a record, compiled with three
600 sets. Investigation brought
out that Clarke was averaging ~
in the Washington Gas Light
and a few weeks later he again
flashed to the fore when ne
missed annexing the Maryland
Virginia Sweepstakes by one pin
He finished second in averages
by a few pins in the Maryland
Virginia League.
The next year he was signed
by Lucky Strike, in the District
League and Pale DryS, in the
National Capital.
He led the National Capital
with a record 122-47 average,
and was fourth in the District,
Just a few pins under 100. He
was ranked fourth in the city.
During the 1928 season he
finished second in the National
Capital League and seventh in
the District. He added the
George washington and Potomac
Sweepstakes laurels to his col
lection and contributed brilliantly
to many special matches and rec
ord performances,
Sweeps to Top
This year he swept right up to
the top of the heap by tucking
away the Washington Times
Dixie Sweepstakes crown in No
vember with 2013, the first
major event of the season. He
backed this up by grabbing the
U. S. Sweepstakes in January with
?, 2076 and has been keeping up
a terrific fire on the naples in
special matches.
Clarke has been on practically
every one record breaking team
Of the past three years. starting
with Pale Drys' 698 game. He
contributed to the Lucky Strikes
1865, Occidentals' 1876 game and
2065 set, Silver Spring Skating
Kinks 1866. and, of course, the
recent 1905 five game record Of
the OccidentalS.
Personally he holds world
records for seven games, 1920. 20
games, 2757. Is games. 1882. and
35 games. 1909, besides tying the
New England five game mark,
743. Two years ago he rolled
225 in an open game, the second
HIGHEST m record