So apparently, this dude was an early Spokanite. He had a lot of firsts in Spokane: first guy to drive the first commissioned patrol wagon (not sure what the means); the first Spokane police photographer; and first Spokanite to categorize said photos (seems like an obvious thing to do, but he was the first); and the first guy to organize a Spokane Police Beneficial Association. No one (NO ONE) can argue persuasively that those are not super awesome firsts. But his most awesome first of all: "Officer Lewis was credited with being the first person in Spokane to throw a bowling ball in 1889...". Now that's rad.
Or is it?
Call me cynical, but the way that's phrased, with the, "was credited" part, kind of sheds some doubt on if he was *really* THE first guy to throw a bowling ball in Spokane. Where did the ball come from? Did he get it in the mail, take it out of the package, and throw it? Is it possible, for example, that maybe someone made the ball in Spokane and maybe tested it out before handing if off to Officer Lewis for the ceremonial first throw? Or perhaps the guys setting up the first official bowling event gave it a shot before Officer Lewis and his official party of accredited bowlers came along?
I don't want to take anything away from Officer Lewis. Actually., I do: this whole "was credited" business seems pretty cheesy. He's got the wagon and the photos and categorization of photos, and the Beneficial Association... but I'm thinking he's not really the guy that threw the first bowling ball in Spokane and that just adding that he "was credited" doesn't make it so. |
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