BUTLER TWP — Consider the comeback complete.

Dick Hillwig, 71, of Butler, who was temporarily paralyzed after back surgery in 1997, recently rolled the first perfect game of his 55-year bowling career.

The 300 game occurred Feb. 17 in the Strikes and Spares League at Family Bowlaway.

"I had all but given up hope of rolling one,"Hillwig said. "I figured my chances had just about run out."

Hillwig bowled in three leagues a week before his surgery, including the City and Imperial leagues, the top two men's leagues at Sherwood Lanes. He now bowls only in the Strikes and Spares League.

His highest single-season average was 206, "though I averaged between 200 and 210 for a few years there,"Hillwig recalled.

An arthritic condition in his back necessitated surgery and took him away from bowling for two years.

"My spinal function shut down during the operation and I was temporarily parlyzed,"Hillwig said. "I wound up in intensive care for a while at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh.

"Feeling in my limbs came back pretty quickly, but I still had to learn how to do everything all over again."

While in intensive care, Hillwig suffered congestive heart failure and had more surgery to repair three blockages.

Hillwig's comeback began when he got out of his hospital bed and took two steps forward. He was released from the hospital once he could walk 150 feet with the aid of a walker.

A chemical compounder by trade, Hillwig couldn't work for two years because he was permitted to lift only 35 pounds at a time.

"I wound up finding a job after those two years, worked for a year and retired," he said.

But he's far from retired in bowling.

"I began bowling again in 2000," Hillwig said. "I wanted some exercise and I just have to bowl. I'd been doing it all my life."

In the early 1990s, Hillwig nearly bowled a perfect game in the City League. He rolled 10 consecutive strikes before settling for a 285.

Three years ago, he rolled 15 consecutive strikes on a league night — finishing one game with 10 in a row and beginning the next game with five straight.

Hillwig had a 280 that night, but no perfect game.

During the 1980s, he won the Butler County Cancer Tournament with a then career-best 740 series.

Impressive, but no 300.

Finally, on Feb. 17, it all came together.

Hillwig rolled 12 straight strikes for his 300. All 12 shots were in the pocket. None were Brooklyn; all were solid hits.

"The strange part about it was I got up on the approach for the 10th frame and wasn't nervous at all,"Hillwig said. "I knew I had my line and all I had to do was not make a mistake.

"I told myself this was probably my last chance for a perfect game, so I better do it."

He bowled a 218 and a 237 in the other two games, giving him a career-best 755 series.

Now that the perfect game is in his record hook, Hillwig isn't through challenging himself.

"I've still never had an 800 series," he said. "I play golf and haven't had a hole-in-one yet, either. That's the perfect shot in golf, just like the perfect game in bowling.

"I didn't start playing golf until I was 58, so that may be more of a challenge."

At 71, Hillwig might be the oldest bowler in Butler to roll a perfect game.

"I know Jim Zarnick was 68 when he bowled one,"Hillwig said. "I bowled with Ralph and Ray Henry for a few years and their 300 games came earlier.

"If I'm the oldest, so be it. I've had to switch to a lighter ball — 15 pounds — but if you put the shot where it needs to be with enough velocity, the pins will go down."

Hillwig is living proof.