Katherine Linder

Katherine Linder

Katherine (Kate) Linder was a pillar of strength in several sports. She was a participant, contributor and promoter of bowling, golf and baseball in the area, New York State and northwestern Pennsylvania. However, it was in bowling that she received the most recognition. Linder served as president of the Jamestown Women's Bowling Association for 16 years and during that span she began numerous programs.

Junior bowling was started during her reign along with a Blind Bowlers League and special charity tournaments in conjunction with the Happiness Friendship Fund. It was also during that period the New York State Women's Bowling Association Tournament came to Jamestown twice in 1952 and 1964.

She was elected to the New York State Women's Bowling Association Board of Directors in 1953 and served in that capacity for 18 years. In 1978 she was named to the New York State Bowling Hall of Fame and received a similar honor from the Jamestown Area Bowling Council in October of 1987.

Born on December 1, 1910, Linder competed in bowling, golf, softball, volleyball and basketball over the years. Linder organized the Conewango Forks Women's Golf Club, the Womens Softball and Baseball League Intercity with teams from Jamestown, Buffalo, Erie, Pennsylvania and the Seneca Indian Reservation. She was a Jamestown delegate in the Women's International Bowling Congress for 32 years and participated in tournaments and served on many committees, thus, earning recognition. Additionally, for four years she was secretary of the Jamestown Women's Association.

Linder headed Mayor Carl Sanford's Steering Committee to bring professional organized baseball back to Jamestown in 1961. Professional baseball has been here all but three years ever since then. Linder certainly left her mark on area sports, and especially women's bowling.

Katherine Linder died in 1990. She was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

Join the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame

A membership program is available to persons who are interested in preserving the history of sports in Chautauqua County and honoring the outstanding individuals who have created our cherished sports memories.

In addition to helping the CSHoF carry out its twin missions of maintaining a hall of fame and exhibit hall, members will receive several value-added benefits for their membership fee.

To join, please contact Russ Ecklund at
716-484-7684 or send an e-mail to membership@chautauquasportshalloffame.org

Inductees are honored at the hall in Jamestown, NY.

Visit the CSHoF Museum

Arrangements can be made for a group to tour the museum anytime it would like by contacting Grace Dolan at 716-484-1224 or Bill Rollinger at 716-763-8229.