Ladewig, Marion (1914–)

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Ladewig, Marion (1914–)

American bowler. Born Marion VanOosten, Oct 30, 1914, in Grand Rapids, Michigan; married in 1930 (div. 1940).

One of bowling's greats, won the 1st National All-Star Match Games open to women (1949); won numerous Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) tournaments; was the 1st woman to win the Bowling Proprietors Association of American Women's All-Star title (1949); won 7 more All-Star tournaments (1949–53, 1957, 1959, and 1963); held World Invitational titles (1957, 1960, 1962–64); was Women's International Bowling Congress All-Events champion (1950, 1955); helped organize Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA); retired from tournament play (1965); helped raise professional bowling to new competitive heights and wrote syndicated column on bowling tips. Named Woman Bowler of Year 9 times (1950–54, 1957–59, 1963); inducted into International Bowling Museum Hall of Fame (1991).

See also Women in World History.