Scott Carter hasn't bowled a 300 game or a 700 -series.

Despite four heart attacks and a stroke within the past six years, he hasn't stopped bowling, either.

"It's the only time I get out, the only social activity I do," said Carter, 56. "If I can't bowl, I might as well be dead."

Carter is in his second year as president of the Seven Mountains Bowling Association, a 2,000-member association in the State College area, and competed in the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Tournament last weekend at Family Bowlaway and Sherwood Lanes.

The tournament runs each weekend at those facilities through June 20.

Carter's average was 182 when he suffered a major heart attack over Memorial Day weekend in 1998.

"The day after I was admitted to Center Community Hospital, I was (flown by helicopter) to Danville," he said. "They thought my heart ruptured.

"I lost use of half my heart from that attack. My condition was inoperable."

Three mild heart attacks - each approximately a year apart - followed, along with a mild stroke. Carter returned to the lanes after each attack. He was back bowling only days after one of them.

He carries a 167 average today and takes only a short two-step approach before releasing the ball.

"My back hurts at times," he said. "There's a lot of strain on it, especially during singles and doubles when you never get a break.

"I never thought about just bowling the team event. If you can't do the whole thing, why do it at all?"

Carter's state tournament highlight occurred in 1984, the first year he competed in the event. His team bowled a 3,400 series at New Castle, becoming the first squad to do so, and left the tournament's first weekend in first place.

"Then ABC came in, ruled the shot wasn't legal and ordered the lanes be stripped," Carter said. "They let our score stand, though, and we wound up finishing seventh."

Cathy, Carter's wife of 27 years, started bowling 15 years ago and averages 127. She competed in the tournament's team event as well.

The couple met through a dating service, Carter proposed on their first date and they were married four months later.

"I wasn't concerned about Scott's returning to bowling (after the heart attacks)," Cathy Carter said. "I was concerned about him not being able to bowl.

"I didn't want him to become ostracized from everybody. That was the only thing I was worried about," she added.

Carter doesn't bowl as often as he used to. At his peak, he competed in four leagues a week. Now he's down to one.

He is applying to become a lifetime member of the PSBA Board of Directors. This year marked his 20th state tournament and he is a member of the Seven Mountains Bowling Association Hall of Fame for meritorious service.

Along with having a bad heart, Carter is a diabetic and an asthmatic. He is 100 percent disabled from the work force.

He knocked on a wooden table when he said he has not had a heart attack in two years.

"I don't know how I stand all of the smoke in the bowling alley - I just do it," Carter said. "My cardiologist told me I won't have to worry about going to work anymore nor about reaching 80," he said. "How's that for bedside manner?

"It doesn't matter. I plan to bowl until I die."