January 21, 2025 Nolan Hughes

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.