Armelia Jameson estimates that she's been bowling between 40 and 45 years and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
The 83-year-old Magnolian recently received a 30-year participating plaque from the Arkansas State USBC Women's Bowling Association.
Jameson recalled bowling at the Bowl-O-Rama in McNeil during the 1960s and 1970s.
"They closed down and I started bowling in Springhill and El Dorado. Other than 1982, I really have no records on when and how long I've been doing this," she said.
Jameson has been bowling for 27 years on the national level and received her 25-year plaque two years ago.
She has never bowled a perfect game, but her highest recorded score was 276.
"I took a 149 average to state and bowled a 150 average. Last year, our team placed 27th in the tournament," she said. "I have bowled in 27 national tournaments and more than 25 senior tournaments."
According to Jameson, she comes from a bowling family.
"My dad, mother and two brothers all bowled. All my teammates now have health problems and don't bowl any more. I've had to get out and find other teams to join," she explained.
Jameson now drives to El Dorado twice a week to continue participating in the sport she loves.
"I don't bowl during the summer, because I want to rest from it," she said with a smile.
"It's a fun thing to do. On Wednesday mornings, I go over to El Dorado. When we finish, some of us go out to eat or shop. It's like a day out for us," she added.
Jameson felt by sharing the news of her 30-year state plaque may interest some of her former teammates.
"I don't see any of them that much and I thought putting it in the paper would help me share this," she said.
Of the ones she bowled with over the years, Jameson said she may be the only one from the area still doing it.
Jameson recalled the days when there were probably at least 12 local women's bowling teams.
She called the sport a "dying art."
"I hate to see it happening. I don't know how long things will last in El Dorado. On Monday night, we only had three teams with four bowlers on each team," she said, adding "that's only 12 people bowling."
Jameson said there will be a meeting in August to see if there will be enough to bowl next season.
"I think we will still have enough to bowl on Wednesday mornings, so I think I will still be in it," she mentioned.
However, she explained that were only four teams with two members each.
"If one of them get sick or can't bowl, I don't know what will happen. You just can't find anyone interested in bowling anymore," she stated.
In an attempt to find new bowlers, Jameson said they have advertised, called and talked to people.
"It's just a dying art, like I said and I hate to see it happening," she mentioned.
Jameson said her mother bowled until she was 88 years old.
Turning 84 next month, Jameson said she still has four more years to go.
Jameson is hoping she can bowl as long as her mother did, but added she bowled with a lady who was 84 who bowled a 192 in the tournament.
"Bowling is fun and you get to meet so many different people at tournaments and other places. I just enjoy it," said Jameson.
She agreed that bowling was one of the major fun times for young people growing up.
"There's nothing here for them now. How do they expect kids to stay out of trouble if they don't have something to do," she said, agreeing that there's no movie theater, bowling alley or miniature golf.