Elaine Hagin earns Flowers for the Living Award
07/02/09
Since its beginning in 1961, the Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award has been given to great people in the bowling industry who have made exceptional contributions over the years to enhance the growth, welfare and image of bowling.
This year's winner, Elaine Hagin of Castro Valley, Calif., epitomizes those words. For six decades, she has served bowling, not for monetary reward, but from a deep love of the game and people around the world who share her love and devotion to the sport.
Photo courtesy of Joan B. Taylor
An even better description of Hagin's qualifications for this prestigious honor was rendered by the late Sam Weinstein, former co-chair of the award. "This award is not necessary for any great deed or spectacular accomplishment, but just for being a person in our world who truly deserves a pat on the back to let them know we love them and admire them for what they have done and stood for," he said.
Hagin's love affair with bowling began in her home state of California where she spearheaded numerous programs and projects for the Women's International Bowling Congress and American Bowling Congress. Her early work was so outstanding that it led to her being inducted into local, state and national halls of fame, but this "Flowers" honor is for the intanglble elements, enthusiasm and 'can do spirit' she brought to the organizations she served.
Hagin always has believed that almost anything is possible for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for it and that attitude has produced results for bowling.
As Bowlers to Veterans Link national chair, she said 'we can raise millions," and they did. When the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame was planned in St. Louis, she was a part of finding funds to pay for it and behind the efforts to make it one of the premier sports museums in the world. Now she is working to do the same for the new IBMHF in Arlington, Texas.
As a WIBC national officer, she helped make that organization one of the best in the world. As USA Bowling president, she started a Title IX task force that led to National Collegiate Athletic Association status for women's collegiate bowling programs. In 1999, she brought recognition to bowling by winning the Women's Sports Foundation President's Award for her work in the development and advancement of women's sports.
By earning the Flowers award, Hagin's friends and collegues have noticed all her outstanding achievements and noted that she perfoemed them almost flawlessly, with style and grace her entire career.
The Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award is presented by The Bowling Foundation, bowling's official charitable arm. The award was created in 1961 by Cleveland Kegler publisher Sam Levine and a small group of newspapermen. It was inspired by a poem written by one of its founders, Ohio Associated Press editor Fritz Howell. His poem "Flowers for the Living" suggests that deserving people be honored "while they are still alive to smell the flowers."
USBC News
Since its beginning in 1961, the Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award has been given to great people in the bowling industry who have made exceptional contributions over the years to enhance the growth, welfare and image of bowling.This year's winner, Elaine Hagin of Castro Valley, Calif., epitomizes those words. For six decades, she has served bowling, not for monetary reward, but from a deep love of the game and people around the world who share her love and devotion to the sport.
Photo courtesy of Joan B. Taylor
An even better description of Hagin's qualifications for this prestigious honor was rendered by the late Sam Weinstein, former co-chair of the award. "This award is not necessary for any great deed or spectacular accomplishment, but just for being a person in our world who truly deserves a pat on the back to let them know we love them and admire them for what they have done and stood for," he said.
Hagin's love affair with bowling began in her home state of California where she spearheaded numerous programs and projects for the Women's International Bowling Congress and American Bowling Congress. Her early work was so outstanding that it led to her being inducted into local, state and national halls of fame, but this "Flowers" honor is for the intanglble elements, enthusiasm and 'can do spirit' she brought to the organizations she served.
Hagin always has believed that almost anything is possible for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for it and that attitude has produced results for bowling.
As Bowlers to Veterans Link national chair, she said 'we can raise millions," and they did. When the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame was planned in St. Louis, she was a part of finding funds to pay for it and behind the efforts to make it one of the premier sports museums in the world. Now she is working to do the same for the new IBMHF in Arlington, Texas.
As a WIBC national officer, she helped make that organization one of the best in the world. As USA Bowling president, she started a Title IX task force that led to National Collegiate Athletic Association status for women's collegiate bowling programs. In 1999, she brought recognition to bowling by winning the Women's Sports Foundation President's Award for her work in the development and advancement of women's sports.
By earning the Flowers award, Hagin's friends and collegues have noticed all her outstanding achievements and noted that she perfoemed them almost flawlessly, with style and grace her entire career.
The Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award is presented by The Bowling Foundation, bowling's official charitable arm. The award was created in 1961 by Cleveland Kegler publisher Sam Levine and a small group of newspapermen. It was inspired by a poem written by one of its founders, Ohio Associated Press editor Fritz Howell. His poem "Flowers for the Living" suggests that deserving people be honored "while they are still alive to smell the flowers."
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