Edward (Ted) Akers – Athlete
Once tabbed the best bowler in Prince Albert, Ted Akers has a long and storied association with the sport.
Born August 13, 1925 in Prince Albert, Ted began actively competing in bowling as a teenager in 1944. It didn’t take the young Akers long to make a name for himself as he won the men’s high average title in 1948 with a 218.
Two years later Ted captured the Canadian Pacific Express Bowling Championship in Winnipeg and in 1953 he garnered his first of 12 provincial team spots for the Western Canadian Bowling Championships.
Ted has won numerous men’s league team championships, individual awards for high average and high triple along with countless tournaments, but his crowning glory came in December of 1969 when he became the first Prince Albert bowler record a perfect game ‑ 12 consecutive strikes for a 450 score.
Ted’s participation in the sport wasn’t always spent on the lanes as he was a founding member of the Prince Albert Five‑Pin Bowling Association in 1953 and was the recording secretary‑treasurer of the City Men’s Senior League for 25 years. Ted has also been the vice-president of the ways and means committee for three years along with arranging playoffs and awards banquets for numerous years.
Ted also coached the Prince Albert men’s team to the provincial championship in 1979, but it is as a player that he will be best remembered. In 50 years of competitive bowling, Ted has amassed an amazing 2,464,125 point total pinfall in 11,187 games. His lifetime average is 220 per game as he has registered 495 games of 300 or better and five games of 400 or better including the 1969 perfect game.
Ted was presented the Kay McKenzie‑Eileen Boulding Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to bowling in the city in 1969 and he was made a life member of the Saskatchewan Five Pin Bowling Association in 1987. It is with great pleasure that the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame includes Ted Akers in its athlete’s category.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
