Gary Mage, a PBA Hall of Famer, died Monday surrounded by family at his home in Vancouver, Wash. Mage was 78 years old, a few days shy of his 79th birthday.
After Mage’s exemplary contributions during his four-plus decades with the PBA, he was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 2021 and inducted in 2022.
Mage bowled on the PBA Tour primarily during the 1960s and 1970s, winning the 1972 Seattle Open, but his legacy with the PBA extends far beyond his playing days. Mage founded the PBA Northwest Region in 1979 and served as regional director until his retirement in 2020. Mage also managed the PBA West Region from 2004-2020.
“Gary Mage WAS the PBA,” PBA Tour Commissioner Tom Clark said. “He ran more professional tournaments than anyone ever, as the creator and manager of the Northwest Region and then also the West Region manager. First a player, and a player representative, Mr. Mage had countless talents, most of all his integrity and trustworthiness. Our thoughts and love to his wife Toni, family, friends and the countless PBA bowlers who looked up to him for guidance and relied on him for their careers.
“We know Gary was greeted at heaven’s gates by his great friend Earl Anthony, and the stories they’ll tell and games they’ll bowl together, will go on forever.”
When Mage announced his retirement from the PBA in 2020, he chose Josh Blanchard to succeed him in running the Northwest and West regions.
Blanchard, who was with Mage during his final days, said he felt honored to receive a call from Mage asking him to take over the regions.
“I learned a lot from him, not only about the job but about life,” Blanchard said. “Most people don't know that Gary had a pivotal moment in his life at a young age, where he was either going to become a professional bowler or he was going to go to school to become a pastor. He was pretty a religious guy, but he felt like he could influence more people's lives by staying in bowling. I would say that that's a true statement.
“He didn't care how many titles you had. He cared that you were a good person and if you needed help getting your life straight off the lanes, he was going to be there to help you.”
PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman was among the greatest players to come out of Mage’s beloved Northwest Region.
“Gary was a friend of mine since I was a teenager and always a great supporter of my career,” Holman said. “He was a trusted friend. I am going to miss him.”
During his 2022 PBA Hall of Fame induction, Mage spoke about his career.
“I was a bowler like all of you guys,” a smiling Mage said. “The only difference is instead of complaining about my cross, who I was following or who was throwing all the bowling balls, I made the mistake of complaining that there weren't any tournaments to bowl in the Northwest. Next thing I knew, I was the regional manager for the Northwest.
“I joined the PBA in 1965. I was able to go out on tour, and I got to bowl with all the greats. I had the privilege of being ‘that guy.’ When Dick Weber won his last title, he beat ‘that guy.’ That was me. When Earl Anthony won his last title, he beat ‘that guy.’ He was me. That was my story.”
More information about Mage’s services will be announced at a later date.
Northwest Bowlers who know Gary best have voiced their sadness and admiration for Gary on social media:
Very sad today. Learned a few hours ago that Gary Mage passed away last night. Kick to the gut. Haven’t quite caught my breath. Still don’t know what to say, but I’ll try. I have to.
Gary was for the bowlers, and all about the bowlers, especially the NW. I can’t prove it, but I’m sure the NW is still its own region because of him and he fought to keep it that way. He knew he’d lose the NW bowlers he started this region for. I know I would’ve quit if we were absorbed into the West region. So, he basically saved my bowling “career” as a professional by his concern for the bowlers.
I got in trouble with Gary plenty of times. I threw a fit then, but in the long run I deserved them all. Then there were times Gary let me know he valued me as well. One specific instance, we had just finished qualifying. I was in pain and exhausted, so he told me I was clear from bowling pro-am. I was putting my stuff away in the paddock, about to go back to the hotel. He approached me and said “I hate to do this, but guys are pissing and moaning about bowling tonight and I don’t want to deal with them, would you please bowl, you don’t have to though.” I didn’t hesitate, and told him I’d stay. He then told me that I was on his ‘A’ list of favorite people, and said that was straight from the heart. I’ll never forget that, because he knows A LOT of people
I got inducted into the Clark County hall of fame 8 years ago, which Gary is also in that hall of fame, so he had a vote. First time I saw him after it was announced, he showed me he was genuinely happy for me and that I did deserve it. He said he saw the ballot when it came across. I asked him if he voted for me, and with his gravelly chuckle and voice said, “YES”, like it was a no-brainer. Well, I didn’t feel like it was a no-brainer or automatically deserved. For him to have that reaction confirmed for me that I did belong. Gary was hard to impress. It means a lot to me that I did impress him, in some way.
He was tournament director for all 11 of my titles. My 11th title was his last as tournament director in the NW. The gravelly voice and chuckle announced me as tournament champion each time. That’s the picture attached. I don’t have any pictures with Gary, so I’m sharing this. You see what he and Toni wrote, which means more than any bowling success. It was friend to friend, to show me I’m loved as a person, and they know what I am as a man, not a bowler. That paper is framed, and very much valued to me. Every time I see it, I’ll remember who Gary really was, not my tournament director, but my friend.
Yes, I’m crying in your presence yet again. I’ll miss you, Mr. Mage. Fly high.
RIP Gary Mage... a true ambassador of the game of bowling. Always fun to sit and chat with you. I'm glad you're no longer in ur pain and now are among the angels in the sky....
You always told the same story when our paths crossed.
" a group a bowlers were standing around talking about their high series, and all were like, yeah 840, 830, 850....and one responds that he has a big 8...
Gary replies, well Hylton here has a small 9.
This one really stings, Gary Mage was the reason the PBA Regional Tour - Northwest Region was created and still going today! If it wasn’t for Gary I wouldn’t have joined the PBA and bowled these tournaments. I’ve known Gary and Toni pretty much my whole life, from watching me set up plastic pins and trying to copy my dad’s huge high back swing when I was a little kid, to watching me compete and watching me win my first regional title and watching me win player of the year, those are the memories I’m always gonna cherish. Much love and Prayers to Toni Mage and the rest of the Mage family through this difficult time. RIP Gary until we meet again
Photo: PBA.COM
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