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With tonight’s induction, Lorraine Murphy of Oshawa joins Don Guindon of Windsor, as Hall of Famers who have earned the honours through their efforts at the local level.
In addition, this induction is a second one for Lorraine, as in 1986 she was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame. In that induction, Lorraine joined world horseshoe pitching champion Dean McLaughlin, curlers Effie Hazelwood and Bob Walker, hockey star Billy Taylor and footballer Bill Dell on the podium.
As an all round athlete, Lorraine excelled in several sports including track, aquatics, softball, darts and bowling. She won several medals and awards as a youngster and culminated her softball career as Oshawa champs in 1944.
Lorraine’s bowling career spanned over forty years and she excelled both on the lanes and as an administrator. She has been a league executive throughout her career and in 1960, she assisted with the formation of the Oshawa Mixed Major League at Motor City Bowl, a league that became one of the most popular and prestigious in the area.
In 1968, Lorraine was on the founding committee of the Ontario Durham 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association, one of the most successful associations in OFPBA history. This zone has been named association of the year twice, and Lorraine has been an integral part of their success. Lorraine was treasurer of the year in Ontario in 1982, and membership winner in 1980. For her efforts, she received a life membership from the Ontario Durham Association in 1982, and the OFPBA bestowed a similar honour on Lorraine in 1986. On the lanes, Lorraine could hold her own with Oshawa’s top bowlers. She qualified for the provincial championships 10 times and even tried her hand at coaching, including a 1978 men’s team that included her son, Palmer Knight, a top Motor City bowler. In 1977, Lorraine as one of several bowlers who participated in 5 pin bowling’s first entry to the Ontario Winter Games in North Bay.
Looking back at a sixty-two year career, Lorraine can look with satisfaction at the association she has helped to build and the overall success of 5 pin bowling in Ontario.
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