“BOWLING MAGAZINE” the official publication of the American Bowling Congress said it all when they coined the phrase, “John Trager: Mr Bowling in Canada”. His amazing career started in 5 Pin bowling in 1944. It wasn’t until 1948 that he got involved in Ten Pin bowling at St. Joseph’s Men’s Club. There Trager started in the administration of the game when he was elected League Secretary. In his bowling prime he was bowling five times a week.

Always a good Ten Pin bowler, averaging around 185, Trager felt he would never be a great one. He decided to make his mark in the executive end. Starting in 1952, his first position was with the Winnipeg Ten Pin Bowling Association as a director and during the following nine years worked his way up to the position of President. Provincially he was a founding member of the Manitoba Provincial Ten Pin Bowling Association formed in 1964 and assumed the position of Secretary-Treasurer, a post he held until June of 1995. In 1973 he was instrumental in the formation of the Manitoba Ten Pin Federation and served as its President for 17 years. On the Canadian scene John Trager was a founding member of the Canadian Ten Pin Federation in 1964. He was elected Secretary-Treasurer (five years) and President in 1985.

With the FIQ, the world’s Ten Pin bowling body, he was a delegation head on three occasions, alternate to the Presidium for the FIQ American Zone, Chairperson of the hosting committee for North and South America and was the FIQ auditor 1987-1991. For four years Trager served as a Director for the Canadian Olympic Association and served as a director for the Pan Am Games Board. Individually John Trager was named a life member of the CTPF, MPTPF and the WBA. He was inducted into the Manitoba Bowling and the CTPF Halls of Fame. John Trager was selected by the MSF as the Outstanding Volunteer in 1981.