MY LAST RESPECTS TO A LOCAL LEGEND

When I first heard the news of Bob Cosper’s passing, my first response was "The" Bob Cosper? Yes, The Bob Cosper. Bob Cosper the bowler, the legend, and the person I was privilege to know and bowl with for a short time toward the end of his career.

Bob Cosper was born in 1941, and passed away on Monday, June 25, 2001 at the age of 60. After a lengthy battle with diabetes, Cosper had one leg amputated several years earlier. This brought to a final conclusion the legendary bowling exploits of the man many affectionately knew as "Cuddles". Throughout his life, he fought a variety of other illnesses.

Many thoughts have come over me since learning of his death. I can remember way back in 1981, when I first left the ranks of junior bowling. Bob was one of the first local stars to offer assistance to me, instilling in me the potential that he thought I had to become a top bowlers.

In 1984, Bob asked me to accompany his team to the Annual Federal Employee’s Tournament in Anderson, Indiana. We arrived at the bowling center on Friday night to throw some practice games. This was back when I used to violently jerk my head to the left with every release of the ball. Naturally, it was a famous trademark that most everyone made fun of and many even tried to imitate for a shot or two. Of course, Bob couldn’t wait to get out on the lanes and show the locals, "Hey, wait until you see this kid throw the ball. This is how he does it." And with one flailing motion, Bob crept to the line in the mode of Eric Littig. Of course, Bob has was heavy man, and his lack of agility didn’t allow for the violent head jerk. And down he went, he hit the floor with such a thud, we all thought he was dead, but after being helped off the approach, Bob just laughed and said, "That’s pretty close, isn’t it." Everyone, including myself had to nod in agreement.

I was unfortunately competing against Bob’s Tapeworm Video team in 1992 when Bob rolled his last series in Tri-City Classic League competition. He physically fell to the ground several times that night, and it was obvious Bob was quite ill. Soon, he was forced to quit the league, and the game which had brought him so much enjoyment.

Bob Cosper’s Tri-City Classic League’s accomplishments are legendary. When the league celebrated its’ 100^th Anniversary last season, he was named as the third greatest bowler in league history. He racked up a whopping 7 average titles, the first coming in just his second season in our league (1966 - 1967) at age 25. His final average crown came in the 1979 - 1980 season. Cosper racked up 14 top - 5 average appearances, and finished among the top - 10 in our league a whopping 17 times. Cosper was a member of 7 league championship squads, and even in today’s era of huge numbers, Cosper’s career tally of 25-700 series in our league ranks way up the list.

In 1993, he was one of six charter members in our league’s Hall of Fame. Bob is a member of several local bowling Hall of Fames, but I can’t help but think how many more he should be a member of. Hopefully, this will happen some day; too bad he won’t be here to appreciate it.

Certainly, Bob Cosper will be remembered as one of the Midwest’s finest amateur bowlers of the past 50 years. His shotmaking was incredible. He seemed to rise to the top when conditions got tough, but he could hold his own in strike-fest just as readily. Cosper’s many tournament victories and superstar performances are far too numerous to list.

I’ll always worry that today’s generation never got to see the man in his prime; I am fortunate to say that in the mid-1980's when I was just getting started I witnessed his ability, and was honored to know him personally. My life was changed by knowing Bob Cosper, and I’ll be proud to say that I take with me today not just what he taught me about bowling, but that I can say I was proud to know Bob Cosper for just a short while in my life.

It was easy to recognize Bob, he was a very large man. But he possessed one of the most delicate approaches, and sweetest arm swings the local game has ever seen. His stature was only surpassed by his kindness and the size of his heart.

We’re going to miss you, Bob, but we will always remember the fun you had while you were here, and the indelible impact you made on our lives.

Bob Cosper’s legend will always live on.

Copyright 2001 Tri-City Classic League Bulletin.  Reprinted by permission of author.