His alley spares no expense
 
04:00 AM CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2004
 

By ALAN PEPPARD / The Dallas Morning News
 


Texas oil legend H.L. Hunt has been dead longer than a quarter of a
century, but his Mount Vernon estate on White Rock Lake is more abuzz
than when he was alive. H.L.'s sporting interests leaned toward
football
and horse racing, but the current laird of Mount Vernon, commercial
real
estater John Amend, is a bowler.

On Friday night, some of the biggest names in Dallas and in
professional bowling will pour through the gates of Mount Vernon, a
replica of George Washington's home on the Potomac, for the grand
opening of what may be the nicest private bowling alley in the country.


A select few got private previews this week. On Tuesday afternoon,
Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks christened his new ball at the estate,
bowling an impressive 201.

It's a rare breed that has a bowling alley built at their home, and
those who do are usually content with one or two lanes. But Mr. Amend
didn't want a long, skinny building resembling a flagpole factory on
his
property. That's why workers have been toiling to complete his
four-lane
center.

In keeping with the architecture of the estate, the building has three
cupolas on its rooftop. Inside, a bank of flat-screen plasma TVs, a
karaoke machine and a concert hall sound system adorn the joint. Mr.
Amend and his wife, Teresa, plan to open the place for charity events.

It's no coincidence that work was completed just as the Professional
Bowlers Association tour arrived in Dallas for this week's PBA Days Inn
Open at Don Carter's All-Star Lanes. Not only will Mr. Amend be bowling
in Wednesday's Pro-Am (last year, his partner was Mark Cuban), but he
will also host most of the pro bowlers for the Friday night unveiling
of
his lanes.

Mr. Amend worked closely with bowling's Brunswick Corporation to build
the center, and Brunswick president Warren Hardy is flying in from
Chicago for the party, while Bill Chrisman, CEO of Storm Products ("The
Bowler's Company") ball manufacturer, is coming from Salt Lake City.

Others expected Friday include former Mount Vernon resident Caroline
Rose Hunt, daughter of H.L., with Fort Worth oilman Charles Simmons;
Dallas Mavericks founder Don Carter (not to be confused with the pro
bowler) with his wife, Linda; first sibling Milla Perry Jones, sister
of
Gov. Rick Perry; Dr. O.S. Hawkins , president of the Southern Baptist
Annuity Board, and his wife, Susie; Crescent Real Estate Equities Co.
CEO John Goff and president Denny Alberts; financier John Tolleson and
his wife, Debbie ; Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas; U.S. Risk Insurance
CEO
Randall Goss ; and Houston's Dr. John Mendelsohn, president of M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center, and his wife, Ann.

"I did get a regret from President Bush," says Mr. Amend
 

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Tisker- Looks like Tarzan, bowls like Jane
Visionary Staff Member (not really)