BUTLER — Richard "Dick" Kline is gone. His legacy lives on.

Kline, longtime equipment man at Family Bowlaway who spent 45 years in the bowling business, died last month at age 61.

His son, Richard Jr., 30, has worked as a mechanic at Sherwood Lanes since 1991. Dick Kline's brother, Tom, 55, has been manager of Sherwood Lanes for the past 25 years and an employee there since the facility opened in 1971.

Both can do any work required at a bowling house: Take care of business behind the desk, prepare the lanes, repair ball returns, pin-setters, etc.

"Everything I learned about this business, I picked up from my dad," Richard Kline said. "He showed me everything."

Ditto for his uncle.

"I got into the bowling business because of him," Tom Kline said of his brother. "Dick knew all there was to know."

Tom Kline's first job in bowling was with his uncle Carl (Sacco) and Al DeMatt, who owned Lyndora Lanes, a former 8-lane house.

DeMatt managed Sherwood Lanes when it opened and Kline joined him. When DeMatt retired 10 years later, Kline took over as manager and remains in that position today.

"There's still a lot of people bowling in leagues here who were here when this place opened," Kline said.

Among some of Kline's favorite bowlers of all-time? Bo Ordy, Ray and Ralph Henry, and Ron Brandon.

"It was like watching the pros, watching those guys bowl," Kline said. "They're just so smooth."

When lanes were oiled with lacquer in the 1970s, Kline used a burlap sack to buff the oil in. Once bowling switched to urethane to oil lanes, he used a linen cloth to put the oil down.

Automated machines began putting the oil down in the early 1980s.

"We've seen a lot of changes over the years," Kline said. "There used to be two kinds of bowling balls — plastic and rubber."

"Now there are hundreds," Richard Kline said.

The last eight lanes at Sherwood Lanes — No.'s 17 through 24 — are original lanes from Lyndora Lanes.

"They've been resurfaced, but that's what's under there," Tom Kline said. "Some of this equipment is 60 years old and still works fine."

Richard Kline Jr. was raised in West Orange, N.J., as his father worked at numerous bowling houses in New Jersey before moving back to Butler in 1991.

"I want to go back to New Jersey eventually," Richard Kline said. "There are a few places where Dad used to work that I know I could pick up at.

"It means a lot to me to work in bowling. That was Dad's life and I love it, too."

Richard Jr. is almost a natural at working with equipment.

"When I was a kid, I used to take tools apart and put them back together," he said. "Dad never got mad when I took something apart because he knew that."

Kline family members have proven to be natural bowlers as well.

Dick Kline rolled numerous perfect games. Tom Kline has rolled one perfect game in league play, as has Richard Jr. — both at Sherwood Lanes.

The younger Kline owns an 800-series as well.

"Oct. 1, 1996," he said proudly. "It was just before my 21st birthday."

Kline rolled an 808 that night, putting together games of 254, 255 and 299. His perfect game occurred in January of 1997.

Kline Jr. is just now getting back into league bowling. His uncle doesn't do much league bowling anymore.

"Too busy back here," he said with a chuckle, standing behind the counter. "What's kept me in bowling so long is the people. They're nice to deal with.

"The game's not like it used to be. Leagues were huge in size at one time. The Armco C League used to take up 16 lanes. Now it uses eight."

Local businesses have also impacted the sport.

"When Pullman Standard closed down, we lost a lot of bowlers. Guys used to come over here during their lunch break to practice," Kline said.

"I've seen a lot of people grow up here. I've seen a lot of people pass on. (Pointing to an 83-year-old woman on Lane 5) but see there … bowling never gets too old," he added.

DeMatt showed Kline the value of treating customers kindly.

"I stand back here and give advice to some league bowlers and they're receptive to it," Kline said.

Dick Kline showed his family the value of running a bowling business.

"I can't see myself doing anything else," his son said.