Born: 1945 (North Attleboro, Massachusetts)
Biography:
Dorothy Ann Fothergill, born around 1945, is an American former left-handed ten-pin bowler who competed in the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA). Despite her brief career, which was cut short by injury, she left a lasting impact on the sport. Fothergill’s skill and determination propelled her to win an impressive 12 titles on the PWBA Tour, including six major championships. Her incredible achievements led to her being named the Woman Bowler of the Year in 1968 and 1969. Beyond her success in women’s bowling, she also faced adversity when she sued the Professional Bowlers Association in 1970 after her application to compete in men’s tournaments was rejected. Fothergill’s contributions to the sport were recognized when she was inducted into the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Hall of Fame in 1980. Additionally, she was one of the charter inductees into the PWBA Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dotty Fothergill was raised in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and graduated from North Attleboro High School in 1963. At the young age of 18, she demonstrated her bowling prowess by finishing third in The Boston Globe’s Ten Pin Tournament. Fothergill supported herself as a secretary at Walpole Lanes while pursuing her bowling career. In 1966, she caught a glimpse of the success that awaited her when she placed third at the WIBC doubles tournament in New Orleans. The following year, Fothergill joined the PWBA Tour, securing sponsorship from Lincoln Lanes in Rhode Island. Her career took off as she claimed her first professional tournament victory at the PWBA Papago Phoenix Open in March 1967, earning $1,850 in prize money. Just a month later, she set a women’s record with a staggering 2,409 points in 12 games, winning the women’s division in the Sixth Annual Connecticut Cancer Bowlathon.
Fothergill’s greatest achievements came in 1968 and 1969 when she dominated the sport. At ages 23 and 24, she secured seven PWBA titles, four of which were major championships. Her exceptional performances during these years led to her being named the Woman Bowler of the Year in consecutive years by the Bowling Writers’ Association of America (BWAA). In 1968, Fothergill became the first woman bowler to earn over $10,000 in a single season, highlighting her remarkable success. Despite her petite stature of 5 feet 1 inch (155 cm) and 110 pounds (50 kg), Fothergill displayed immense power and accuracy while throwing a 16-pound (7.3 kg) ball, leaving her competitors in awe. The author of a profile on Fothergill likened her approach to a hungry wolf after a lamb chop.
Among her notable tournament victories in 1968 and 1969, Fothergill set an all-time WIBC record in May 1968 with a total score of 2,101 in nine games at the Schenectady Press tournament. She then made history by winning the Women’s BPAA All-Star championship (later renamed the U.S. Women’s Open) in Garden City, New York, making her the first woman to claim victory in her first All-Star appearance. Additionally, she became the first left-hander in either the men’s or women’s division to win an All-Star championship. Throughout the 36-game championship, Fothergill maintained an average score of 211.11, just falling short of perfection.
Fothergill’s bowling career was tragically cut short by an injury, denying her from achieving even greater heights in the sport. Despite this setback, she remained an inspiration to many bowlers, both male and female. Her exceptional skill, dedication, and breakthroughs in women’s bowling played a significant role in advancing the sport. Her lawsuit against the Professional Bowlers Association in pursuit of equal opportunities demonstrated her courage and determination to challenge the status quo.
Awards:
– Woman Bowler of the Year (1968)
– Woman Bowler of the Year (1969)
– Inductee of the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Hall of Fame (1980)
– Inductee of the PWBA Hall of Fame (1995)