OREGON PROPRIETOR CHAMP HUSTED PASSES AWAY

Champ Husted, the longtime owner of Milwaukie Bowl in Milwaukie, Oregon, has passed away. He was 94.

Champ — that was his given name, not a nickname — served in the military and bowled competitively while in the service.  In 1957, he partnered with his father to build Milwaukie Bowl in a largely undeveloped area of metro Portland. Today, the center is surrounded by businesses and housing.

In 1967, Husted purchased nearby Kellogg Bowl and ran it until the COVID-19 pandemic rendered it no longer profitable. Today, a 173-unit residential development is on its former site.

Husted’s “bowling genes” were passed along to his son, Dave, who captured 14 titles on the PBA Tour, including three U.S. Open victories. Today, Dave runs Milwaukie Bowl with his son, Corey, who confirmed Champ’s death to BCM during Bowl Expo.

Corey said that the family was in the process of securing a large facility for his grandfather’s services because he had been active not only in the bowling community, but also various civic organizations and recovery groups.

“He had made it past 50 years of sobriety,” Corey said. “He was a great family man and a great bowling center owner, but I think that accomplishment — and the impact it had on others who also struggled — shouldn’t be forgotten.”