Bobby Gets His Balls Back

Posted: April 23, 2006 
Filed under: All in the Family
Tagged: bob francoeur, bowling
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Robert Francoeur first crashed the sport pages in 1954 as city and state candlepin bowling champion and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1993. At 79, he’s still fiercely competitive, but lost his groove when his favorite bowling balls were stolen from his car. Believe it or not, his bowling balls were recovered and returned from a Nashua sewer. Ew, gross! Get out their and knock ‘em down Pepere!

The Nashua, New Hampshire resident, now rolling out of the Londonderry Bowling Center, still is making news after a half-century of competitive excellence. He was a member of world and men’s team champions in 1990, and of a first place team in the Traveling League. From the early 1950s to the present, few have seen as many balls in the direction of the head pin. He bowled two or three leagues a week, adding tournaments and rolloffs on weekends. At 66, he remains a competitive threat in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire select ranks. He’s long been a fixture in MBA events, and recognition expanded via television appearances. In 1964, he was singles champion for nine weeks on Channel 9, and singles kingpin for two weeks on Channel 50 in both 1986 and 1989. Other lane laurels included singles best in 1955 and 1979, and singles champ and member of the doubles “A” state title team in 1971. Francoeur was a member of the state mixed title team in 1976, and of men’s team champions in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He also was a member of world title teams in 1988, 1989, and 1990. He was a MBA senior champion in 1982. Francoeur also collected tournament honors in Boston American and American Legion events, and sectional father and son, and father and daughter competition at Bowlaway; Rochester, New Hampshire, and other titles at New Hampshire lanes Gate City Bowl, and Plaza, Nashua; L-N-L, Hudson, and Bowl-A-Drome, Bedford.