by Randy Ooney
My Nickel’s Worth by Randy Ooney
Mr. Hanson
As the Corona Virus has affected us all, including the necessary closure of our bowling centers, I am posting a trivia question. Who were Glen Olson, Gordy Dahl, Leroy Bryant, and Bill Baden? Of course they were teammates of my good friend Bob Hanson. A great team from Minneapolis who captured an ABC National All Events title in St. Paul, MN in 1965. And just to produce that it was not a fluke, they won ABC National Tournaments in 1970 and 1972 in the five man team division. With sadness, I learned that the last living member of one of the greatest bowling teams in the state of Minnesota, Mr. Bob Hanson has left.us.![](images/BobHanson1_000.jpg)
I got to know Bob Hanson well about ten years ago when we had a group bowling pot games at Texa Tonka Lanes in St, Louis Park. Bob was a frequent competitor with his teammate Gordy Dahl who we lost several years ago. I enjoyed bowling with Bob, however he was better than me, even though he was 20 years older than I. We both shared hundreds of different stories about our bowling careers.
Several years ago, Bob left the frozen tundra for a home with his son in Florida. I know he was dealing with aches and pains, you know – the stuff with us old timers have to deal with. About a year ago he returned to Minnesota to visit with so many of his fiends at an MSC bowling tournament at River City Lanes in Monticello. I jumped in the van and headed out there for a great conversation with Bob. Neither of us was healthy enough to bowl, but we were healthy enough to chew the fat. Bob was a veteran and was being seen at the VA hospital in Eastern Florida.
Several years ago, “My Nickel’s Worth” featured an article about Bob called “Minnesota Slim”, You may be able to find it under past articles or Google.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Hanson. The entire Minnesota bowling world will miss you.
![](images/1_000.jpg)
past articles
![](images/MaxBowlingOfficialLogosmcopy_045.jpg)