St. Louis Press Radio TV League renamed to honor Hall of Fame bowling writer John J. Archibald

by Scott Simon

Effective immediately, the St. Louis Press Radio TV has been changed to the John J. Archibald St. Louis Press Radio TV League.

Members unanimously voted for the name change on April 26 during to honor the long time St. Louis Post Dispatch bowling writer who also was a league member for 60 years until retiring in February 2009 after suffering a stroke.

Archibald, a 1949 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, worked at the Post Dispatch his entire career from 1950 until his retirement in 1990.

He covered St. Louis bowling for 40 years including the night in 1958 that the famed Budweiser team of Dick Weber, Don Carter, Ray Bluth, Pat Patterson and Tom Hennessey shot a then-ABC record 3858 team series at Floriss Lanes. John also covered the the PBA from its formative period in the 1960's until his retirement. He is a life member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and was their President in 1970.

John was elected to the St. Louis USBC Hall of Fame in 1985, the PBA Hall of Fame in 1989 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 1996. He also authored the book, Bowling for Boys and Girls, published by Follett Publications in 1963.

Outside the newsroom, John steadfastly promoted and participated in the Press Radio TV league, formed in the 1930's for workers at the St. Louis daily newspapers at the time, the Post Dispatch, St. Louis Globe Democrat and St. Louis Star Times. During his 60 year membership in the league, he witnessed league changes from a newspaper employee-only league to including workers at the city's radio and television stations and finally the inclusion of women in the league for the first time during the 2009-10 season.

The league will honor John Archibald with a plaque and celebrate the league's new name in September at Olivette Lanes when it begins the 2010-11 season.