Betts elected to Hall of Fame
Don Betts received an early birthday present Wednesday when he was one of five inducted into the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame at the Meridian Centre.
“I filled out the sheet and sent it but didn’t think anything of it,” said Betts, who turns 75 next week. “I’m down east in Nova Scotia and then Chris Critelli called and let me know. I was shocked. I didn’t know what to say.”
Betts, who was inducted along with rower Clayton Brown, basketball builder Bob Miller, hockey player Mike Iggulden and rower Jane Stamp, becomes the first five pin bowler elected. Craig Woodhouse was previously elected in the 10 pin category.
Betts had a long and successful career, 28 times representing Niagara at the provincials and winning four titles. He also won two gold and one silver at the nationals, was twice bowler of the year in Ontario on team that won the senior provincials and was a senior provincial singles champion.
In 1995, Betts was voted one of the top 90 all-time bowlers in Canada and in 1999 was inducted into the Ontario Bowlers Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Niagara Five Pin Hall of Fame.
Betts dabbled in 10 pin but said five pin is where the money was.
“I played 10 pin. I was average, I won a couple of big tournaments, but there was no money in it, he said. “The money was in the States. If you were a 10-pinner in the States, you were in heaven.”
He recalled the five pin circuit as being much more lucrative.
“We had a tour in Ontario and if you won you went to nationals and there was money. I was lucky, the ones I won, were big. Grape and Wine was $4,000 and Rose Festival was $2,000 so the two biggest (local) tournaments, I won.”
He also recalls heading out west and coming home with a $7,000 cheque for winning.
“It was one of their big tournaments and ended up bowling 24 games in one day but won. Every time I came home we went on a trip. Took the kids. We used the money and had fun with it,” he said.
Betts has fond memories growing up in St. Catharines.
“It’s a great city. I grew up in Western Hill and there were three doors that were open. You were either going to be a priest, a criminal or work in a factory. I chose door No. 3 but I bordered on No. 2,” he smiled.
He moved to Truro four years ago when his son took a job in Nova Scotia.
“The grandkids were eight and four at the time, so out we went. They said they weren’t leaving without me.”
Betts originally wasn’t going to attend the ceremony, but got talked into coming by his wife.
“It’s pretty costly ($1,600 for a flight) but my wife said we’re going and we’re driving, to heck with it,” he said. “I’ve been here since Monday and have been around seeing everybody.
“I was here 70 years in this town. This is my town.”
Betts attended Sir Winston Churchill where he was Athlete of the Year, Bulldog of the Year, Basketball Player of the Year, Track Athlete of the Year and also captained the 1968 Bulldogs to their first St. Catharines Standard Basketball Tournament championship.
“I was lucky,” Betts said. “I seemed to fall into a lot of stuff.”
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