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By Pat McDonough
Wednesday, June 19, 1974
The bond young man walked up to the check-in table at the Landgraf Classic and signed his name : Whitey Munn, Jr.
The name of Whitey Munn immediately evoked memories of an almost legendary bowling "Iron Man."
A generation ago the late Munn was the acknowledged "Marathon" champion. Anyone who was interested in bowling 50 games in one day was welcome to contact Whitey and he had a match.
Whitey had been an iron worker for most of his life and his ace card was stamina. Plus a bowling hand and thumb which could withstand a ten to twelve hour bowling session.
His most celebrated match was with Frank Serpico of Philadelphia. The pair bowled 25 games on a Saturday afternoon, thenreturned in the evening for 25 more. Whitey averaged an incredible 231 for the match, his opponent averaged a creditable 208 for the event.
In the 17th game of the match both opened with eight-timers. Serpico stopped at that point but but Munn went on to a 300 game.
In the final five games Whitey had 235, 246, 278 218 and 231 for a 241 average. In one stretch he averaged 251 for 20 games.
Munn's unique talent was for marathon matches but he met and beat the best in the area in matches of less than marathon length. He was a great team bowler and was a member of the National Team Match Champions, the Bowlers Journal outfit which included Joe Falcaro, Marty Cassio, Chester Arnhorst and Junie McMahon. McMahon and Cassio are in the ABC Hall of Fame and Falcaro has been close to election in recent voting.
Munn, who is a member of the Union County Hall of Fame, once served as secratary of the New Jersey State Proprietors Assn. He also toured with Andy Varapapa in the late 1930s.
As Whitey Munn, Jr. came off the lanes in the Landgraf Classic Manny Falcaro was ready to go on for the next squad. Manny is a son of the late Joe Falcaro, a rival of Whitey in many matches, individual and team. The sons had never met previously.
