Tuffy Leemans played in the NFL from 1936-1943. In his rookie season, he led the league in rushing and was named an All-Pro.
In 1978, Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans was inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame for his time with the New York Giants. At that point, he hadn’t just achieved one of the highest honors in the NFL… he had also become a local legend among Duckpin Bowlers in Montgomery County.
Following his impressive rookie season, he married Theodora Rinaldi in Silver Spring. Tuffy and his family moved to Silver Spring following his NFL playing and coaching career. He started a laundry and dry cleaning business in D.C. Later, he opened Tuffy Leemans’ Duckpin Bowling Lanes.
Tuffy Leemans’ Glenmont Duckpin Bowling Lanes, located in the basement of the Glenmont Arcade, boasted 24-lanes and a place for casual players and serious league bowlers to have a good time.
Duckpin bowling was becoming incredibly popular on the East Coast and in Montgomery County when Leemans’ opened in 1952. Duckpin bowling alleys were popping up around the area, including an alley in White Oak that opened in 1959 and still operates today.
Tuffy passed away in 1979, but his family continued to operate the bowling until it closed in 2002.
Tuffy Leemans has made a lasting impact on Montgomery County, where even today residents share fond memories of bowling at the alley.
