He never put bowling behind him. Through his tours as a critic and feature writer, he persisted in turning out bowling columns for the sports section. He also contributed on the subject to the Encyclopedia Britannica and wrote a book titled "Bowling for Boys and Girls."
The American Bowling Congress regularly bestowed writing awards on Mr. Archibald and called him the sport's "winningest writer." The Professional Bowling Association's Hall of Fame made him a member, for meritorious service.
But his colleagues in the Everyday section used less flattering terms after they dispatched him to buy red shirts for the Everyday bowling team. Mr. Archibald, who was color-blind, returned with shirts in Frederick's-of-Hollywood pink, and the team spent a season being hooted at.
He promised when he retired in 1990 to continue writing an occasional column on bowling, and he did. His last one appeared in 1993.
He once wrote about what he wanted engraved on his tombstone:
" ‘Why don't you guys ever get anything in the newspapers about bowling?' "
