Perhaps there’s no more dramatic way to become interested in tenpins than to try the sport for the first time with three handsome Air Force NCO’s. At the urging of none other than her husband, Larry, Sallie joined him and his two friends for open bowling on a rainy Sunday in 1956. Needless to say, she has been “hooked” on bowling since that day. Less than two months later, she joined a league and ended that season with a 133 average. Following that Sallie accompanied her husband for a four year tour of duty in Japan, where she bowled 5 to 7 leagues weekly, and where she maintained an average of 171 for more than two years.
After Larry retired in 1964, the Heiser’s returned to Charleston. Soon thereafter it became apparent that what began as a dramatic fascination would develope into a lifetime of service and dedication to bowlers and the sport of bowling.
Sallie served 2 years as SCWBA Director, 14 years as a delegate to SCWBA Conventions, and 16 years as a WIBC delegate to the National Conventions. For 21 consecutive years, she has served the Charleston WBA, first as Director for 3 years, then as 2nd Vice-President for 2 years and as of July 31, 1989, she will have served 16 years as President.
Sallie has served on and chaired many committees on the local, state and national level. Her service has also reached our youth bowling programs. She was elected SCJBA Director for 1 year, and Director of the Greater Charleston JBA for 5 years. When Sallie became an AJBC Certified Coach, she volunteered every Saturday as a Coach Instructor for the next 5 years.
For her contributions to the Charleston community, she has been recognized with 6 Certificates of Appreciation from the Charleston Veteran’s Hospital for volunteer work with hospitalized veteran’s, and 5 Certificates of Appreciation from Eunice Kennedy Shriver for her contribution and work with the Special Olympics Program. She also holds a Lifetime Pass as a Donor to the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Intermingled with Sallie’s service were some very good bowling performances. She was the 1983 SCWBA Senior Tournament Class B All Events Champion, with a score of 1241, where she earned a 150 pins over average with a 661 series. She has participated in 18 WIBC Championship Tournaments, 23 SCWBA Championship Tournaments, 23 Charleston WBA Annual Championship Tournaments and 8 SCWBA Senior Championship Tournaments.
She holds 24 WIBC League Championship Emblems, has bowled two All Spare games and one triplicate game. Sallie is a past member of the SCWBA 225 Club, and has a career high game of 264, high series of 661, and high season average of 171.
Charleston WBA honored Sallie in 1987 by inducting her into the Charleston WBA Hall of Fame.
From all the members of the SCWBA Hall of Fam e Board of Directors and the members of the SCWBA Board of Directors, and bowling friends everywhere, we offer our best wishes to you on this special day. Sallie has truly earned her place in the SCWBA Hall of Fame.
