Mark and Diane Roth

SEATTLE, Wash. (June 4, 2009) – Mark Roth, recently ranked No. 5 on a list of the Professional Bowlers Association’s 50 greatest players in the organization’s first 50 years, has suffered a stroke which has left him partially paralyzed on his left side.

Roth, 58, was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., on Sunday, his wife Denise said, after feeling ill for several days.

“He’s brighter today,” she said Thursday. “His (left) leg is showing a little improvement. He told me he’s going to walk again and I believe him. He’s the will power to do it.”

Denise Roth said her husband will be transferred to a rehabilitation facility as early as Friday to begin a lengthy recovery process.

“Mark and I both want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone, from the bottoms of our hearts. The out-pouring of affection and concern and well wishes has been overwhelming,” she added.

Roth, who owns 34 PBA Tour titles and a pair of Senior Tour titles, is widely considered the player who introduced the “power game” to bowling. The Fulton, N.Y., resident was inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame on May 1 in Reno, Nev.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Denise Roth has asked that well-wishers not send any additional flowers or cards until Mark is moved. She will advise the PBA as soon as she knows his new address. His contact information will then be posted on pba.com).

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and will award over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour.  The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny’s, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Motel 6, Pepsi-Cola
and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.  This season marks the 50th Anniversary of the PBA Tour.

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