Pictured Above Is: Becky Shumway.
Newly Elected AZ State Board Member, Becky Shumway, Trades Role For Three Minutes To Sing National Anthem At Events.
Avid Karaoke Contestent, Does This As A Way To Honor Those Who Fought For Our Freedom.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Pinetop/Lakeside - - - In the Greater White Mountain communities of Show Low and Pinetop/Lakeside, in north eastern Arizona. Becky Shumway is known to her friends as a: mom, grandmother, dependable co-worker, avid bowler, and a recently elected Arizona State USBC board member.
And now you can add singer of our national anthem to her list of credits.
If you have bowled in the Arizona State Women's or Open tournaments in the last couple of years at AMF McRay Lanes, or Brunswick Via Linda Lanes, you may have been able to listen to her do her thing. A thing that has been a hidden secret of hers until recently.
"Singing was something I just grew up with. We sang at church, in school choirs, and around the campfires at family reunions which is one of my favorite past times," she says, of how she got into singing. "I do see a few surprised looks every once in a while from bowlers who bowl in our tournaments."
How she got started singing the national anthem at bowling tournaments was unique in itself also.
"I started singing the anthem at state events a few years ago, when the music wouldn't cue up," she says, of her beginning in singing the anthem. "Sometimes I do get nervous, but its easier to sing the anthem around strangers. Than in a room full of your peers where you have to make eye contact with later."
If it is the team event at tournaments, and depending if the center has 40 lanes at the event. Becky usually belts out the anthem in front of 160 bowlers, plus those who are there watching the bowlers bowl. Bowlers are always asked to face the flag out of respect before she sings the anthem.
"I always feel good about the national anthem, because our country is something to be proud of. And I feel like when I sing from the heart, its saying 'thank you to those who fought for our freedom'," she says, of how she feels when she gets done singing it. "The feedback I get from the bowlers is always positive,".
While no one has ever asked her to try out for 'America Idol', or audition for singing the anthem at an Arizona Dbacks baseball games She has one good reason why she hasn't tried it yet.
"No, I have never been asked for either," she says, of the above. "I definitely feel I am not that good!"
But, maybe with our help, its time AI and the Dbacks find out who this young lady is and give her a shot. When she is not singing the anthem at events, you can find her doing karaoke at Tukee's. A resturaunt and lounge in Awatukee.
"My sister, some friends, and I karaoke quite a bit at a place called Tukee's," she says, of how she keeps her singing voice in shape. "It's really fun, and that's why we do it. We enjoy doing our 'go to' songs, and trying new songs some nights. (Sometimes that doesn't go too well). So, measured in the amount of fun we have, it is very successful."
For her singing career moving forward, she says she will continue to sing the National Anthem at events when asked to do so. Continue karaoke like a rock star, and sing to her grandchildren.
"I am already there," she said, when asked on what it would take to get her vocal corde's to where she wants them to be.
For the second time within the last three years, the Greater White Mountains USBC hosted a major event for the Arizona State USBC. The first one was in October 2016, when it hosted the Arizona State Jamboree at the Holiday Inn in Pinetop/Lakeside. The second one was this March, when it hosted the annual state meeting at the Holiday Inn Express in Show Low. It was at the state meeting where Becky was elected to the state board by those delegates who were in attendance.
"I am honored to be on the board, and serve the bowlers of Arizona," she said, of her election to the board. "I am excited, and I enjoy helping out at the tournaments."
At the meeting in March also, current AZ State USBC President Ella Mercer announced that she would not seek re-election to the post. And Gary Williams of Copper Counties USBC was elected as the new president to succeed her. She and Rose Peterson have served on the AZ State Board for about 20 years each, and are the current Arizona Women's State Tournament Directors.
"That is like asking a newborn to fill Shaquille O' Neils shoes," she said, of Ella and Rose's departure from the state board and finding someone to fill their shoes."It will never happen. Ella and Rose have spent many hours serving the bowlers. Staying up late at night, and losing sleep over concerns with the Arizona USBC. I can only hope to be as dedicated as they have been."
She knows it will take a lot of work to hopefully accomplish what Ella and Rose have through out their years of service, but she is ready for the challenge ahead.
"To accomplish that I will need to set aside time. Be more outgoing and introduce myself to bowlers I don't know," she says, of being a new member of the state board. "And invite new bowlers to tournaments to help them be excited about bowling. I will also have to study up on all the rules, so I can have the knowledge they do."
GWM is located about three-and-a-half hours east of Mesa. During the 2017-18 season, it had 280 sanctioned bowlers. Ponderosa Lanes is owned by Vangie Johansen. The bowling center hosted three tournaments for the GWM Association last year, and they were: the Dick Macie Youth Scotch Doubles, the GWM City Open, and the GWM Women's City Tournament. All of their tournaments are open to anyone in the state.
"This year has been one for the books. Recently we have lost two bowlers who were very loved in our league. Tom Cole was 89 years-old and part of the Greater White Mountain community for over 45 years. He started bowling when he was 13. He had an amazing passion for bowling, and all who met him felt like they were his favorite person," she says, of being a small association. "Gary Parker lost a long battle with cancer, and he will be missed tremendously as well. He and his wife split their time between the White Mountains and Tucson. We were truly blessed to know these men, and they were the reason people came out to bowl and then stayed for more."
While losing someone who is close to you, is always hard to deal with. Being involved in bowling in a small community has its challenges, too.
"Living in a small community is amazing for raising kids. As far as supporting bowling in a small community. We try hard to keep people happy," she says, of the GWM USBC goals every year. "We try to put on great events, that make people want to come back. By opening our women's tournament, and our open city tournament, we hope we will get more people from out of our area involved. Seriously, its gorgeous up here! Who wouldn't want to come up for a visit."
As for what she does for a living, Becky is a Manager of the White Mountain SAFE house. It is a shelter for victims of domestic violence and violent crimes.
"We have a 16 bed facility that takes in families, and individuals who have been victimized. Its a high stress job, and you see things you never thought could happen in our little area," she says, of her profession. "Bowling balances this, by getting to hang out with my bowling family. Laughing, and just being part of something great. My bowling family has been there for me through a lot of rough times. Hosting the AZ State Jamboree in 2016, and the annual meeting in March is always a treat for the GWM USBC. She says she couldn't have asked for better volunteers to be able to pull both of these events off without a hitch."
"Association Manager Doug Kinghorn, announced he was resigning at the end of the fiscal year, and Deiter Frantz will be taking over in August. Doug and his wife Brenda, have put in many hours to build our association," she says, of the changes coming to the GWM USBC. "We may be small, but when it comes to getting volunteers many step up. I felt that meet and greet went well and was happy to get to talk with, and meet many fellow bowlers. It was more like a family reunion. The annual meeting I feel went smoothly, and that had nothing to do with us. The State Board works very hard to improve each year as they receive feedback from fellow bowlers."
State of Arizona Bowling News - April 26, 2013