First Posted: 2/5/2015
WILKES-BARRE — Tom Redding started something special in the winter of 1948.
Redding founded the Pittston Knights of Columbus Bowling League that year, which is now held at Chacko’s in Wilkes-Barre. Each year, the council remembers Redding with the Tom Redding Memorial Tournament.
The tournament will be held today, Feb. 8 at Chacko’s. All Knights bowling league members are invited to attend. Following the tournament, a meal will be held at the council on Main Street in Pittston.
The tournament is an individual handicapped tournament — anyone has a chance to win.
“It’s a nice way to get together in his game,” Knights President Fran Aukenbrand said. “We bowl and have a good time then head back to the council afterwards.”
Winners of the tournament will receive a cash prize and all participants get T-shirts. The cost to enter is $30. All the money raised 100 percent spent on the tournament, Aukenbrand said.
Redding was an avid bowler until he passed away in the 1960s at the age of 92. He was a trustee for the Pittston Knights of Columbus for many years while founding the bowling league. The league started with eight members in 1948 and has as many as 80 participants through the years.
The numbers for the league declined a bit, therefore, the league joined forces with the Wilkes-Barre Knights of Columbus Council 302.
Aukenbrand said the tournament usually draws around 30 bowlers.
Each year, the International Knights of Columbus hold a three-month long tournament at host cities throughout the country. Each council has a chance to attend and win. Council bowlers attend one event and the scores are combined with other events to determine a winner.
Eight years ago, Aukenbrand and his bowling partner Greg Serfass won the the High Doubles portion of the tournament. In 2012, the Pittston Knights hosted the 87th annual tournament.
This year, the council will be traveling to just outside Wilmington, Del. for the tournament. The tournament starts in April. But first, the Redding tournament is on everyone’s mind.
“We are a fun league,” Aukenbrand said. “There’s no animosity and everyone is laughing. It’s just fun.
“Even at the international events, every one is having a good time. We have more fun than anything else.”
