Ladewig, << LAD uh wihg, >> Marion (1914-2010), is recognized as the greatest woman bowler of all time. During the 1950-1951 season, she became the only bowler in history to win all-events titles on the city, state, and national levels in one season. The Bowling Writers Association of America named Ladewig Woman Bowler of the Year a record nine times, from 1950 to 1954, 1957 to 1959, and in 1963.
Marion Van Oosten Ladewig was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Oct. 30, 1914. She began to dominate women’s bowling by about 1950. Ladewig won what is now called the Women’s U.S. Open eight times between 1949 and 1963 and captured the all-events title of the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) in 1950 and 1955. She won the World Invitational title in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1963, and 1964. She was elected to the WIBC Hall of Fame in 1964. Ladewig died on April 16, 2010.
