July 28, 2005 — Ronald McGregor of Temple Hills, Md., who served as president of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association during the 2003-2004 season, was elected to the NCABA Hall of Fame last Sunday by eligible voters during the association's monthly board meeting at Bowl America Woodbridge.
McGregor will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in ceremonies to be held Saturday, October 15 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md.
February 27, 2005 — Delegates this afternoon elected Kirk Williams (left) of District Heights, Md., president of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association for the 2005-2006 season at NCABA's 61st annual Council of Delegates Meeting at The Willow Tree Inn in Montgomery Village, Md.
During the meeting, the delegates approved a proposal that would allow NCABA to merge with the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association, the Vir-Mar-District YABA Junior Bowling Association, and other associations to form one local association under the newly created United States Bowling Congress (USBC). Officials noted that remaining jurisdictional disputes with bordering women's associations must be resolved for any merger to be officially recognized by USBC, and thus such a merger likely would form no earlier than the 2006-2007 season.
In the contest for fifth vice president, Lee Johnson (right) of Midland, Va., defeated Noel Dysart of Silver Spring, Md. Other officers advancing via ballot included Gene O. Mays of the District, first vice president; Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md., second vice president; Md.; Michael Coleman of Manassas, Va., third vice president; and Bob Ashley of Chantilly, Va., fourth vice president.
The delegates elected Hank Osborne of Great Mills, Md., a director for a two-year term ending July 31, 2007. Also elected were incumbents Richard Anderson of Waldorf, Md., Timothy Bailey Sr. of Reston, Va., Fred Bevenour of Silver Spring, Richard Brown Jr. of Waldorf, Timothy Carte of Odenton, Md., David Gregg of Gaithersburg, Md., Carl Kilby Sr. of Chantilly, Robert Lewis of Bethesda, Md., Will Marchanyvalentin of Frederick, Md., Darron Mayes of Fort Washington, Md., and Michael McKittrick of Alexandria, Va.
President Bill Grover of Burke earned a life membership via delegate vote for his dedicated service to the NCABA and its members. He received a 10-year association service award earlier in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Ralph Hayward of Waldorf received a 30-year service award, while Ron Dailey of Alexandria received a 25-year service award (as will Rosella Scott Jr., of the District who was absent), Jon Emery of Fort Washington took home a 20-year service award, and Alex Padua Jr. of Wheaton, Md., collected a 10-year service award.
The 61st annual Council of Delegates Meeting of the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association will be held Sunday, February 27, 2005 at The Willow Tree Inn at the Montgomery Village Golf Club, 19550 Montgomery Village Avenue in Montgomery Village, Md. Delegate registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, at which time lunch will be served. The meeting will begin at approximately 1 p.m.
All leagues are urged to send their representatives to this important meeting. This is the time when the bowlers can express their views on important facets of the bowling operation of leagues and the association, its programs, and any phase of the sport.
If the originally designated bowler cannot attend, league secretaries can authorize a league member to attend as the league’s representative by filling out this form.
Officers and directors of the NCABA for the 2005-2006 season will be elected at this meeting. The Nominating Committee has presented a report to the board of directors, and it has the board’s approval. For president: Kirk Williams of District Heights; first vice president: Gene O. Mays of the District; second vice president: Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md.; third vice president: Michael Coleman of Manassas; fourth vice president: Bob Ashley of Chantilly; and fifth vice president: Noel Dysart of Silver Spring or Lee Johnson of Midland, Va.
For life membership: Bill Grover of Burke.
Directors nominated for a two-year term ending July 31, 2007 include incumbents Richard Anderson of Waldorf, Timothy Bailey Sr. of Reston, Fred Bevenour of Silver Spring, Richard Brown Jr. of Waldorf, Timothy Carte of Odenton, Md., Reinardo Garcia of Hollywood, Md., David Gregg of Gaithersburg, Carl Kilby Sr. of Chantilly, Robert Lewis of Bethesda, Will Marchanyvalentin of Frederick, Md., Darron Mayes of Fort Washington, and Michael McKittrick of Alexandria.
KIRK S. WILLIAMS, the nominee for president, is a native of the District and represents his family’s fifth generation. He has served on the NCABA board for 19 years and has been on the Awards, Program Evaluation, Hall of Fame, and other committees.
He has attended the American Bowling Congress and Virginia State Bowling Association conventions as a delegate for 18 years. He is the lane director at AMF Alexandria and has assisted at workshops at this center. Kirk believes that as president he will have an opportunity to better serve bowlers in promoting the sport and helping others in the sport. If elected, he pledges to fulfill his duties and responsibilities with the best of his ability, and he is willing to face the challenge.
He retired from the Department of Treasury in 2000 after 30 years of service.
Kirk, who began bowling in 1968, has a high average of 195, with a high game of 290 and top series of 740. The past years sometimes have been a struggle, but they also have been very fruitful. Kirk appreciates those bowlers who take the time to become involved and believes that their continued involvement will be needed as the association moves closer to a single membership organization.
Kirk and his wife Maxye have been married 20 years. They live in District Heights and have a daughter, two sons, and eight grandchildren.
GENE O. MAYS, the nominee for first vice president, was born and educated in Alberta, Virginia. He retired from the D.C. Government after 31 years of service and also retired from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service. Gene has been bowling since 1969 and has assisted bowlers in various capacities. He has accompanied adult and youth bowlers on numerous trips to compete in tournaments in the greater northeastern part of the country. He is past chairman of the Suspension Committee and the 3 C’s Tournament and formerly served as a lane director for AMF University. His bowling average consistently has been over 200 for the past few years.
He is a former ROTC instructor and is currently a part-time travel consultant. Since retiring, Gene has become a master tour guide with expertise in American and Black history and the Civil War. Additionally, he is very active in community affairs in his neighborhood and holds a 32 degree in the Masonic organization.
Gene currently resides in Northwest Washington with his family.
SCOTT GIELDA, the nominee for second vice president, started bowling in the Washington, D.C. area at Andrews AFB in 1976, competing in the AJBC Bantam II’s with a 125 average under the instruction of Leo and Jan Hendershot. He continued to bowl at Andrews through his first year of community college. When he moved away to attend Johnson & Wales University in 1983, he enjoyed all intramural sports offered, including bowling.
Upon graduation, Scott returned to the area and was out of bowling for about two years before joining the Wednesday Men’s 900 league at Rinaldi’s Riverdale in 1989. Since then, he’s bowled in at least two leagues every winter season and one every summer. He has held every league officer position and is the current president of the Monday Fellowship league at Crofton Bowling Centre.
Scott was assigned to the NCABA board as an associate director in 1996 by Vice President George R. Sook, and in 1997, Scott became a lane director, servicing AMF Laurel, Ft. Meade, and Crofton.
Scott served as chairman of the Technology Committee from 1997-2002. Under his tenure, the committee established the association’s award-winning Web site, www.ncaba.org. Some of the features he designed include the online searchable yearbooks, and a most popular feature for league secretaries, the “Online Awards Submissions” program. Working alongside then-Webmaster Vince Jozwiak, Scott helped grow “ncaba.org” into one of the most widely recognized bowling association sites on the Internet and the first to publish squad-to-squad updates of its tournaments.
Speaking of which, the committee also was responsible for the rebirth of an annual association mixed tournament: Again this year, Scott will coordinate the 6th annual NCABA.ORG Mixed Tournament at Crofton (June 4-5 & 11-12).
His most recent achievement was to redesign our association’s local awards program to include two new “limited average” awards and to consolidate several other awards. He also has worked on the Program Evaluation, YABA, CLIW, Awards, Calendar of Events, and Public Relations committees.
Scott resides in Columbia, Md. His highest average has been a 201, with a high game of 280 and a top series of 727.
MICHAEL COLEMAN, the nominee for third vice president, was introduced to the sport by his mom, and since that time he has participated in many types of leagues. He bowled in a college league and a church league during the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Due to travel and other responsibilities, he took a break from bowling but returned in 1992.
In 1993, he was vice president for the Midweek Mixed league at Bowl America Bull Run. He then took over as president for two years and later worked as secretary for about three years.
In 1998, he became an associate director with NCABA, serving Bowl America Bull Run. The following year, he was appointed a director to fill a vacancy on the board and has been a director ever since. He has been a delegate for the NCABA to the ABC Convention since 2001.
Michael has been a certified youth coach since 1995. Since 1997, he has been a USA-certified coach. He has coached youth leagues at Bowl America Bull Run since 1995 and has taught “Have-A-Ball” classes since 1996. Michael has been tournament director for the Youth No-Tap Tournament that is held on January 1. He also began a youth scholarship tournament that is held on July 4.
He has served on various NCABA committees, including the Vir-Mar-District YABA Committee, which he has chaired the last three years. For the past four years, he has served as chairman of the 700 Club and as tournament manager of the 600/700 Scratch Doubles Tournament.
Since 1999, he has served as Team USA state coordinator for Virginia and West Virginia. In 2000, he was named Team USA state coordinator of the year by USA Bowling.
Michael lives in Reston.
BOB ASHLEY, the nominee for fourth vice president, became an NCABA member in 1989 when he started bowling in his company’s mixed league. The following season, he was elected secretary and has since held that position in at least one winter and summer league. Since the fall of 1995, his league members have enjoyed the added benefit of statistics available through his Web sites that are accessible through the NCABA Web site. He has also served as president and vice president in leagues.
Bob is the secretary of three leagues, all at Bowl America Chantilly. He has run his winter league, the Thursday Mixed Signals, since the center opened in 1992. Both summer leagues have special meaning for him: a non-smoking mixed league that has averaged 16 to 18 teams on Monday nights since its inception in 1998, and the Tuesday night Scratch Trios has filled the center since he was elected secretary in 1999.
Bob is a Level II Junior Olympic Gold certified coach, during which time he was involved with the youth program at Chantilly. His responsibilities included serving as an assistant coordinator, supporting the program for sanctioning, awards, and tournament participation.
In 2000, he became an associate director with NCABA and was elected to its board of directors the following year by the Council of Delegates. Since being elected, he serves primary at Bowl America Chantilly and has helped design the league secretary’s workbook that is distributed at the center’s annual workshop. He currently chairs two committees, Program Evaluation and Suspension, and serves on several others, including: Virginia State, which was responsible for the planning and operations of the 2002 State Tournament hosted by NCABA, and Vir-Mar-District YABA, which provides support to our local youth association.
Bob’s bowling achievements include two 300 games, a high series of 751, and a high book average of 209. He will participate in his ninth consecutive ABC Tournament in April.
Bob lives in the Sully Station community of Centreville.
NOEL DYSART, a nominee for fifth vice president, spent his high school and college years in Minnesota where he spent many hours bowling with his father. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and spent 30 years in the Navy as a physician and administrator, retiring in 2002.
He first joined NCABA in 1982 when he was transferred to the area with the Navy. He was active in leagues, holding every league position, and an avid participant in the Amateur Bowling Tour. Always interested in improving his skills, he attended several bowling camps with his son. Noel is an active bowling coach, holding credentials from USA Bowling as well as being certified as a Dick Ritger coach.
Noel began volunteering in the NCABA office in 2000. He was assigned to the NCABA board as an associate director that year, and in 2002 he became a lane director, servicing AMF Annandale. He has served as a member of the Technology Committee and in 2004 was appointed chairman of the Awards Committee.
Noel and his wife Karen reside in Silver Spring. He bowls in several leagues. His highest average has been a 198, with a high game of 298 and a top series of 767.
LEE JOHNSON, a nominee for fifth vice president, was born in Ft. Riley, Kansas. He has lived in the Washington, D.C. area for most of his life, with the exception of three years in Detroit and six years in San Antonio.
He received an AS degree with high honors in electronics from Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in 1990.
Lee first bowled in 1968 when his father introduced the sport to him. At age 18, he joined his first sanctioned league, and since that time, he has been secretary/treasurer twice, won five league championships, and has a high game of 299, a high series of 743, and a high average of 207. He became an associate director in 2000 and was elected a director in 2001. He currently is chairman of Ways and Means (the “Shirt Guy”), the 700 Club, and he serves on several other committees. Lee assists the association in any way he can, and he enjoys being a part of bowling at this capacity.
Offices he has held outside of bowling include IBM Club president (Manassas, 1990) and (San Antonio, 1993) and treasurer of the local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (Honors Society) at NVCC in 1989.
Lee and Becky, his wife of 18 years, live in Midland, Virginia.
GLENN A. CALLAWAY is a native Washingtonian who was educated in the D.C. Public School System. He started bowling at age 15 in 1968 under the guidance of future WDCAWBA Hall of Famer Martha Burton, who was a leader of the junior league at Bowl America Glassmanor. As his bowling skills increased, he broadened his base and bowled in a variety of leagues in many centers across Maryland and Virginia. He also participated in the TNBA Travel League, visiting many houses up and down the east coast.
His bowling career has introduced him to many close friends and long-lasting relationships, including that of his wife Linda of 21 years.Some of his bowling achievements include:
Glenn A. Callaway’s sterling credentials merit him an honored place in the NCABA Hall of Fame.
ANTHONY CHAPMAN started bowling at age 12, but he began to concentrate more on his bowling skills following a football injury to his left arm that ended his career as the quarterback for DeMatha High School. Since that time, he has accomplished a great deal as a bowler:
Anthony, a member of the Greater Washington Bowling Senate Hall of Fame, won the Nation’s Capital Area Masters scratch event five times, has rolled 22 perfect games and 14 800 series (with a high of 836), and he carried the highest individual average for regular team members in the NCABA the past two seasons, averaging 238 in the RTR league at Rinaldi’s Riverdale Bowl for 69 games in 2002-2003 and 238 for 67 games in 2003-2004.
Anthony Chapman has demonstrated excellence on the lanes locally, nationally, and around the world. He is an outstanding addition to the NCABA Hall of Fame.
KENDRA GAINES started bowling at the age of four and did all of her youth, collegiate, and adult league bowling in the D.C. area before turning pro in 1998. She bowled in leagues at Andrews Air Force Base, AMF Annandale, Crofton, Fort Meade, and Bowl America Shirley, and she ran the pro shops at Andrews and Fort Meade. Her 217 league average at Annandale topped all Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association members in 1994-1995, when she also averaged 211 at Shirley and, as a member of NCABA, 209 at Crofton (and 222 in 1995-1996). She was the first area woman to bowl two 300 games in one season.
Until turning pro, Kendra was best known for her accomplishments as a four-time Team USA member, representing and winning gold medals for the United States all over the world, including Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, South Africa, and South Korea.While a member of Team USA in 1995, she was quoted in a BOWL Magazine cover story: “There’s nothing better than bowling for your country—nothing better.”
After resigning from Team USA in 1998 to pursue a pro career, Kendra was a rising star on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour until it folded last year. She quickly earned respect on the tour, winning the Greater Sebring (Fla.) Open in only her fourth pro event. She was fourth in earnings ($67,800) and average (213.57) in the final full season of the PWBA in 2002—a year in which she made eight television appearances and won her second career title when she teamed with Morehead State University sophomore Melissa Brownie at the PWBA Women’s Collegiate/Pro Doubles Challenge in Rockford, Ill. Kendra also owns four PWBA regional titles.
She has excelled in WIBC Tournament competition, recording a then-record all-events score of 2,039 (226.56 average) in the Classic Division of the 1997 event in Reno, Nev., and rolling the tournament’s first-ever 800 series (812) in 2000, also in Reno. She won the 1998 Classic Doubles with Lynda Norry (Quad Cities, Illinois-Iowa) and has second- and third-place finishes in the Queens.
Other notable accomplishments/honors/credentials include:
Kendra Gaines has a proven record of accomplishment on the lanes wherever she has bowled. She is a superb addition to the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.
STEVE GRAVES was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland and started bowling over 40 years ago, joining his first youth league at the old Fair Lanes Wheaton Plaza at age 10. With the support of his parents, he continued advancing in the sport.
As a teenager, he helped form a high school league at Wheaton Plaza. Steve later helped coach a number of youth leagues there and at Bowl America Twinbrook.
He introduced the sport to his younger brother, Gary, and enjoyed league bowling with him. When Steve first met his future wife, Tina, several of their dates took placed in a bowling center, and in later years, their three children were regular visitors to the bowling lanes.
Steve continued to bowl in numerous leagues and in various houses, and he has bowled in the association’s championship tournament every year since 1970.
In 1984, he became interested in joining the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association board, and the following year he was elected as a director for the following houses: Wheaton Triangle, Congressional Plaza, and Bowl America Twinbrook. He currently serves at AMF Shady Grove.
In 1987, Steve began attending the annual American Bowling Congress Convention as a delegate, and he has missed only one convention in the last 17 years. He has worked on or chaired almost every NCABA committee, and he currently serves as chairman of the BVL and Nominating committees. He was involved in starting the Ways and Means Committee and has worked at every association tournament since 1985.
Steve was elected NCABA fifth vice president in 1998 and became association president for the 2002-2003 season.
His high average is 198, with a high game of 279 and a top series of 739.
Steve has earned numerous trophies and awards over the years and has been extremely proud to share these victories with his family. In addition, he has made lifelong friends through bowling and has enjoyed sharing his love for the game with his family and friends. With his encouragement, two of his children and their spouses are regular league bowlers, and he has begun introducing the game to his nine grandchildren.
Steve Graves’s service and contributions to area bowling have merited him a special spot in the NCABA Hall of Fame.
VINCE JOZWIAK was elected to the NCABA board of directors in 1992, and from the beginning, he was a most active member. He led the way in converting the association’s computer operating system from Xenix to Microsoft Windows, securing new machines and software, then installing the necessary software and providing training to the office staff and any interested board member. He provided support for the system for years. Vince often would respond to a problem at the office after a long business trip and even late at night.
From the mid-1990s until 2002, Vince spent countless evening hours each summer “putting to bed” the NCABA/WDCAWBA Annual Average Book. Some nights, it was well after midnight before he left the association offices.
He was the driving force behind NCABA obtaining its own Web site—ncaba.org—and he spent several months preparing for its official launch in 1997 and then served the first five years as its Webmaster.
In 1998, Vince was responsible for the reinstitution of the NCABA Top 10 Ranking, and he prepared the official ranking for several years while serving as chairman of the Ranking Committee.
The association attained the number one ranking for funds collected for the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) largely in part to Vince’s hard work and persuasive manner. In addition, he started the “Bowl-a-Thon” at the BVL Kickoff each year.
Vince fostered a good relationship with the WDCAWBA through his work on that organization’s computer system and his ability to get along with everyone.
On the lanes, he once finished 11th in the NCABA ranking, and he contributed a 777 series to lead his team to the 1994 BOWL Magazine Tournament title. His high game, series, and average in the NCABA were 290, 790, and 218, respectively (right-handed) and 289, 735, and 193 (left-handed).
Vince Jozwiak was an exemplary member of the association’s board, and he is a most worthy addition to the NCABA Hall of Fame.
March 1, 2004 — Bill Grover (left) of Burke, Va., was elected president of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association for the 2004-2005 season by delegates attending Sunday's 60th annual NCABA Council of Delegates Meeting at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center in Alexandria, Va.
Other officers advancing via delegate vote included Kirk Williams of District Heights, Md., who will become NCABA's first vice president on August 1, 2004; Gene O. Mays of the District, second vice president; Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md., third vice president; and Larry “Bud” Smith of Dunkirk, Md., fourth vice president.
Michael Coleman (right) of Reston defeated Bob Ashley of Chantilly in a contest among current Virginia directors for fifth vice president.
Delegates extended the terms of the following directors for two years through July 31, 2006: Mark Bennett of Germantown, Md.; Thomas Daniel of LaPlata, Md.; Ted Gruszkowski Jr. of Woodbridge, Va.; Ronald Holton of Fort Washington, Md.; Lee Johnson of Midland, Va.; Donald Kramer of Waldorf, Md.; Ray Marquardt and Kenneth Mutzabaugh of Alexandria; Edward Morgan of Oxon Hill, Md.; Harry Mundrick Jr. of Burke; Alex Padua Jr. of Wheaton, Md.; and Julius Prince of Upper Marlboro, Md.
Newly elected directors included George Blackwell of Suitland, Md., Anthony Johnson of Herndon, Va., and Thomas Weetman of Fredericksburg, Va.
Following a lengthy but coherent explanation by American Bowling Congress executive director Roger Dalkin of the pending merger legislation involving ABC, the Women's International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling that would form a single membership organization entitled the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), delegates yesterday overwhelmingly supported the USBC proposal by a vote of 668-61. Thus, the NCABA delegation at the ABC Convention in Reno, Nev., on March 19 will vote for the merger to create USBC.
The delegates voted life memberships for Harrold Capps (left) of Wheaton and Ronald McGregor of Temple Hills, Md., for their dedicated service to NCABA and its members.
The 60th annual Council of Delegates Meeting of the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association will be held Sunday, February 29, 2004 at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center in Alexandria. Delegate registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, at which time lunch will be served. The meeting will begin at approximately 1 p.m.
All leagues are urged to send their representatives to this important meeting. This is the time when the bowlers can express their views on important facets of the bowling operation of leagues and the association, its programs, and any phase of the sport.
If the originally designated bowler cannot attend, league secretaries can authorize a league member to attend as the league’s representative by filling out this form [(PDF file / Adobe Reader required)] and bringing it to the delegate registration table.
Officers and directors of the NCABA for the 2004-2005 season will be elected at this meeting. The Nominating Committee has presented a report to the board of directors, and it has the board’s approval.
For president: Bill Grover of Burke; first vice president: Kirk Williams of District Heights; second vice president: Gene O. Mays of the District; third vice president: Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md.; fourth vice president: Larry “Bud” Smith; and fifth vice president: Bob Ashley of Chantilly and Michael Coleman of Reston.
For life membership: Harrold Capps of Wheaton and Ronald McGregor of Temple Hills, Md.
Directors nominated for a two-year term ending July 31, 2006 include incumbents Mark Bennett of Germantown, Md.; Thomas Daniel of LaPlata, Md.; Reinardo Garcia of Hollywood, Md.; Ted Gruszkowski Jr. of Woodbridge; Ronald Holton of Fort Washington; Lee Johnson of Midland, Va.; Donald Kramer of Waldorf; Ray Marquardt and Kenneth Mutzabaugh of Alexandria; Edward Morgan of Oxon Hill; Harry Mundrick Jr. of Burke; Alex Padua Jr. of Wheaton; and Julius Prince of Upper Marlboro.
Other candidates for directorships include Anthony Johnson of Herndon and Thomas Weetman of Fredericksburg.
BILL GROVER, the nominee for president, was born in Alexandria. He received a BA in history from Loyola University in New Orleans and an MA in American history from George Mason University in Fairfax. He is a member of the Special Access/Freedom of Information Act staff of the Textual Archives Services Division of the National Archives.
Bill, an NCABA member since 1979, was appointed to the association’s board of directors in August 1994. He has served as house director for Bowl America Burke and Bowl America Fairfax. Bill has been chairman of the 700 Club and 3 C’s committees and served on the following committees: Hall of Fame, Ways and Means, Annual Meeting, Tournament Site Selection, Virginia State, and Vision 2000. Bill has worked at the singles and doubles house of the NCABA Championship Tournament since 1995. He takes pride in resurrecting the 700 Club tournaments.
Bill lives with his wife, Karen, in Burke.
KIRK S. WILLIAMS, the nominee for first vice president, is a native of the District and represents his family’s fifth generation. He has served on the NCABA board for 18 years and has been on the Awards, Program Evaluation, Hall of Fame, and other committees.
He has attended the American Bowling Congress and Virginia State Bowling Association conventions as a delegate for 17 years. He is the lane director at AMF Alexandria and has assisted at workshops at this center.
Kirk believes that as a vice president he has an opportunity to better serve bowlers in promoting the sport and helping others in the sport. If again elected, he pledges to fulfill his duties and responsibilities with the best of his ability, and he is willing to face the challenge.
He retired from the Department of Treasury in 2000 after 30 years of service.
Kirk and his wife, Maxye, have been married 19 years. They have a daughter, two sons, and eight grandchildren.
Kirk, who began bowling in 1968, has a high average of 195, with a high game of 290 and top series of 740.
The past years sometimes have been a struggle, but they also have been very fruitful. Again, thank you for taking time to be involved.
GENE O. MAYS, the nominee for second vice president, was born and educated in Alberta, Virginia. He retired from the D.C. Government after 31 years of service and also retired from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service.
Gene has been bowling since 1969 and has assisted bowlers in various capacities. He has accompanied adult and youth bowlers on numerous trips to compete in tournaments in the greater northeastern part of the country. He is past chairman of the Suspension Committee and the 3 C’s Tournament and has formerly served as a lane director for AMF University. His bowling average consistently has been over 200 for the past few years.He is a former ROTC instructor and is currently a part-time travel consultant. Since retiring, Gene has become a master tour guide with expertise in American and Black history and the Civil War. Additionally, he is very active in community affairs in his neighborhood and holds a 32 degree in the Masionic organization.
Gene currently resides in Northwest Washington with his family.
SCOTT GIELDA, the nominee for third vice president, started bowling in the Washington, D.C. area at Andrews AFB in 1976, competing in the AJBC Bantam II’s with a 125 average under the instruction of Leo and Jan Hendershot. He continued to bowl at Andrews through his first year of community college. When he moved away to attend Johnson & Wales University in 1983, he enjoyed all intramural sports offered, including bowling.
Upon graduation, Scott returned to the area and was out of bowling for about two years before joining the Wednesday Men’s 900 league at Rinaldi’s Riverdale in 1989. Since then, he’s bowled in at least two leagues every winter season and one every summer. He has held every league officer position and is the current president of the Monday Fellowship league at Crofton Bowling Centre.Scott was assigned to the NCABA board as an associate director in 1996 by Vice President George R. Sook, and in 1997, Scott became a lane director, servicing AMF Laurel, Ft. Meade, and Crofton.
Scott served as chairman of the Technology Committee from 1997-2002. Under his tenure, the committee established the association’s award-winning Web site, www.ncaba.org. Some of the features he designed include the online searchable yearbooks, and a most popular feature for league secretaries, the “Online Awards Submissions” program. Working alongside then-Webmaster Vince Jozwiak, Scott helped grow “ncaba.org” into one of the most widely recognized bowling association sites on the Internet and the first to publish squad-to-squad updates of its tournaments.
Speaking of which, the committee also was responsible for the rebirth of an annual association mixed tournament: Again this year, Scott will coordinate the 5th annual NCABA.ORG Mixed Tournament at AMF Alexandria (June 5-6 & 12-13).
His most recent achievement was to redesign our association’s local awards program to include two new “limited average” awards and to consolidate several other awards. He also has worked on the Program Evaluation, YABA, CLIW, Awards, Calendar of Events, and Public Relations committees.
Scott resides in Columbia, Md. His highest average has been a 201, with a high game of 280 and a top series of 727.
LARRY “BUD” SMITH, the nominee for fourth vice president, was born in Punxsutawney, Pa. He served in the United States Navy right out of high school, and he retired from the J.C. Penney Company in 1990.
He became an NCABA director in 1992 and served as assistant executive director from 1995 to 2001, when he was voted an association life membership.
Bud has been a Virginia State delegate for 11 years and an American Bowling Congress delegate for 10 years. He currently serves on the following committees: Virginia State, Tournament Site, Rules, CLIW, Golf, and NCABA Championship Tournament. He additionally serves as lane director for Lord Calvert.
A member of NCABA since 1972, Bud has a high game of 289 and a top series of 772.
Bud and Carol, his wife of 43 years, currently reside in Dunkirk, Md. They have a son, a daughter, and two grandsons.
BOB ASHLEY, a nominee for fifth vice president, became an NCABA member in 1989 when he started bowling in his company’s mixed league. The following season, he was elected secretary and has since held that position in at least one winter and summer league. Since the fall of 1995, his league members have enjoyed the added benefit of statistics available through his Web sites that are accessible through the NCABA Web site. He has also served as president and vice president in leagues.
Bob is the secretary of three leagues, all at Bowl America Chantilly. He has run his winter league, the Thursday Mixed Signals, since the center opened in 1992. Both summer leagues have special meaning for him: a non-smoking mixed league that has averaged 16 to 18 teams on Monday nights since its inception in 1998, and the Tuesday night Scratch Trios has filled the center since he was elected secretary in 1999.
Bob has been involved with the youth program at Bowl America Chantilly since 1996 where he serves as a coach and assistant coordinator. As a Level II Junior Olympic Gold certified coach, he currently supports the youth program with sanctioning, YABA awards, and tournament participation.
In 2000, he became an associate director with NCABA and was elected to its board of directors the following year by the Council of Delegates. Since being elected, he serves primary at Bowl America Chantilly and has helped design the league secretary’s workbook that is distributed at the center’s annual workshop. He currently chairs two committees, Program Evaluation and Suspension, and serves on several others including: Virginia State, which was responsible for the planning and operations of the 2002 ABC State Tournament hosted by NCABA, and Vir-Mar District YABA, which provides support to our local youth association. In March, he will represent NCABA as a delegate at the ABC National Convention for the second consecutive year.
Bob’s bowling achievements include two 300 games, a high series of 751, and a high book average of 209. He will participate in his eighth consecutive ABC Tournament in April.
Bob lives in the Sully Station community of Centreville.
MICHAEL COLEMAN, a nominee for fifth vice president, was introduced to the sport by his mom, and since that time he has participated in many types of leagues. He bowled in a college league and a church league during the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Due to travel and other responsibilities, he took a break from bowling but returned in 1992.
In 1993, he was vice president for the Midweek Mixed league at Bowl America Bull Run. He then took over as president for two years and later worked as secretary for about three years.
In 1998, he became an associate director with NCABA. The following year, he was appointed a director to fill a vacancy on the board and has been a director ever since. He has been a delegate for the NCABA to the ABC Convention since 2001.
Michael has been a certified youth coach since 1995. Since 1997, he has been a USA-certified coach. He has coached youth leagues at Bowl America Bull Run since 1995 and has taught “Have-A-Ball” classes since 1996.
Michael has been tournament director for the Youth No-Tap Tournament that is held on January 1. He also began a youth scholarship tournament that is held on July 4.
He has served on various NCABA committees, including the Vir-Mar District YABA Committee, which he has chaired the last three years. For the past four years, he has served as chairman of the 700 Club and as tournament manager of the 600/700 Scratch Doubles Tournament.
Since 1999, he has served as Team USA state coordinator for Virginia and West Virginia. In 2000, he was named Team USA state coordinator of the year by USA Bowling.
Michael lives in Reston.
On Saturday, October 18, 2003, the NCABA Hall of Fame welcomed Lee Brosius to its ranks, while the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame inducted two individuals, Dawn M. Fay and Sharon Weber. Below are brief biographies on the area's newest Hall of Famers.
LEE BROSIUS, son of American Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Ed Brosius, has been active in all aspects of bowling since he was introduced to the sport. His enthusiasm for the game is non-stop. At age 5, Lee started bowling in Peoria, Ill., in a center his family owned. He used a duckpin ball practicing tenpins, and at age 6 he graduated to using boccie balls. The following year, Lee used a 10-pound bowling ball and averaged 150. He and his father won a father/son tournament in which Lee scored 480 for three games. At age 8, Lee’s family sold their center and moved to Aurora, Ill., where Lee started bowling in youth leagues.
Two years later, Lee’s family moved back to Chicago, and he continued to lead his youth leagues in average, even while participating in the senior division. At age 13, while bowling in a high school league, Lee averaged 200 for the first time.
When Lee was transferred to the Pentagon in March 1971, he bowled in three leagues, averaging 202 at both Annandale and Ten Pin Coliseum in the Virginia Masters. He made the association’s Top 10 ranking that season, but due to work schedules, he was unable to compete in the required number of leagues to meet the ranking requirements in later years.
Lee was transferred from the area in 1974 but returned in 1987, bowling one league at Fort Meade. He also bowled in many tournaments, a great deal of them being doubles events with the late Wilson Rowe.
While winning many tournaments around the United States, he brought recognition to the Washington, D.C. area. Lee joined the PBA in 1982 and was an active member until 1990.
A few of Lee’s accomplishments include:
Since 1989, he has had 13 perfect games, five 299s, more than a dozen 800 series, and a top NCABA average of 212.
Lee Brosius has long been one of this area’s greatest “players.” He is a most worthy addition to the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
DAWN M. FAY grew up in a bowling family. Wanting to follow in her parents’ footsteps, she joined the Warrenton (Va.) youth leagues at age 12; however, bowling was third on her list of priorities behind softball and basketball. Six years later, Dawn joined the adult leagues—bowling on two teams and subbing every chance she could. With her dedication and love of the sport, she steadily improved her average every year.
At 22, Dawn bowled in her first scratch event—the Virginia Bowling Queens (VBQ) tournament in Alexandria. It took her three years to finally cash in a VBQ tournament, but since then she has cashed in 30 of 33 events and holds the record for highest tournament pinfall—3,900 for 16 games for a 242 average. Dawn currently has eight VBQ titles (1996, 1999 [2], 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 [2]).
Dawn has appeared in the Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association Top 10 ranking each year since 1994. In 1995-1996, she started her string of six straight seasons as the No. 1-ranked bowler, falling to No. 2 in 2001-2002 by less than 1/10 of a pin.
Among some of Dawn’s other accomplishments:
Over the past decade, Dawn M. Fay’s bowling accomplishments among members of the Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association have been unsurpassed. She is a most deserving addition to the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.
SHARON WEBER, the daughter of Matthew and Bernice Bennie, has been actively involved in bowling for more than 45 years—first as a “mascot” for her mother’s team, then as a member of the first American Junior Bowling Congress (now Young American Bowling Alliance) league in the area at Bowl America Silver Hill, and later in various adult leagues in the Washington area, where she served as a president for four years, a secretary for 10 years, and a treasurer for two years.
In 1980, Sharon was appointed to the Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association board of directors, where she served as a director for 18 years and held the post of treasurer for two years. During her tenure as director, she served on numerous committees, both as chairman and member. She worked tirelessly at many City Tournaments as well as the Virginia State Tournament when it was held in Manassas. She is currently involved in the 3 C’s Tournament that was founded by her father. She is very proud of her recent election as a WDCAWBA Member Emeritus and Life Member.
She currently is a Washington, D.C. Area and Women’s International Bowling Congress 600 Club member and a member of the Virginia Bowling Queens. She attends both the annual and semiannual meetings of WDCAWBA and has missed only one in the last 20 years. She has attended two Virginia State annual meetings as a delegate and six as a non-delegate. In addition, she’s been to WIBC annual conventions as a delegate and two as a non-delegate.
On the lanes, her highest average is 187, with a 277 high game and a top series of 667. Earlier this year in Reno, Nev., she participated in her 28th WIBC Championship Tournament.
Sharon Weber’s longtime service and commitment to the bowling community in the Washington, D.C. area merit her an honored position in the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.
Ronald McGregor (left) of Temple Hills was elected president of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling for the 2003-2004 season by delegates at the 59th annual NCABA Council of Delegates Meeting Feb. 23 at The Willow Tree Inn in Montgomery Village, Md.
Other current vice presidents advancing via delegate vote included Bill Grover of Burke, who will become first vice president Aug. 1, 2003; Kirk Williams of District Heights, second vice president; Gene O. Mays of the District, third vice president; and Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md., fourth vice president.
In the race for fifth vice president, Larry “Bud” Smith (right) of Dunkirk, Md., defeated Michael Coleman of Manassas.
The delegates, who represented 68 leagues and 638 votes, also elected directors for two-year terms ending July 31, 2005.
Fred Bevenour of Silver Spring, who earlier served as a director, and Willmundo Marchanyvalentin of Bethesda were elected directors, as were incumbents Richard Anderson of Waldorf, Robert Ashley of Centreville, Timothy Bailey Sr. of Reston, Harrold Capps of Wheaton, Noel Dysart of Silver Spring, David Gregg of Gaithersburg, Terry Holloway of Fredericksburg, Carl Kilby Sr. of Chantilly, Harry Kline of Centreville, Robert Lemon Jr. of Hagerstown, Md., Robert Lewis of Bethesda, Darron Mayes of Fort Washington, and Kenneth Scott of Crofton.
The proposed Single Membership Organization (SMO), which would combine the American Bowling Congress, the Women's International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance, and U.S. Bowling into one organization—the United States Bowling Congress—was the major issue at the meeting.
Past President Tom Dale Jr., who attended as a delegate, removed his NCABA red jacket, donned his ABC director-at-large nameplate, and presented the case for SMO from ABC's perspective. He noted that the overall streamlining—"You'll have one set of decision makers for the sport of bowling rather than four sets"—will result in cost savings of approximately $1.5 million in salaries "just at the top." Travel costs, as well as those related to the reduction of duplication of efforts and redundancy in meetings, also will drop precipitously, Dale said.
Ronald McGregor then listed the "most troubling items, not in any order of priority" that ultimately resulted in the NCABA board voting to reject SMO at its morning meeting:
Grady Culpepper, delegate for the DNA/Mixed Keglers league at Alexandria, thought SMO a "great idea," but he questioned the method of its development.
"A good builder builds his house on a firm foundation," Culpepper told the delegation. "As is said, A wise man builds his house upon a rock, and a foolish man builds his house upon the sand. Now what is the rock? The rock is the local associations who have been fighting things, who have been making improvements, who know what is needed at the top to make the system work. So I think the idea of starting at the top and pushing things down was not the way to do it. I think [SMO] is needed, and what I suggest if we vote 'no' is don't vote 'no' without saying what we think is the right way to do it."
A majority of delegates loudly applauded Culpepper's comments and later confirmed their position with a 432-202 vote against SMO.
In other news from the meeting:
Director Mike Sinek (standing)
observes the ballot counting
by (from left)
Delegate Nick Ruiz,
Director Lee Johnson,
and Past President Ron Dailey.
Directors-elect
Willmundo Marchanyvalentin (left)
and Fred Bevenour
Director Harrold Capps (left) of Wheaton and cartoonist/illustrator Walt Steinsiek (right), a former Laurel resident who now lives in Micco, Fla., were elected to the NCABA Hall of Fame during a July 7 association board of directors meeting at the NCABA office in Camp Springs, Md.
The pair will be inducted along with the three electees of the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame—current directors Hazel Beatty of the District and Cheryl McGraw Sponaugle of Alexandria and former treasurer Patty Guyer, also of Alexandria—in ceremonies October 5 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md.
In other news from the board meeting:
By Ray Brothers, Tournament Director
The Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association recently declared the winners of its 57th annual Championship Tournament held in April at Bowl America Burke (team event) and Bowl America Falls Church (singles and doubles events).
This year’s handicap team champion was “Odd Balls I,” a fivesome from Sterling. Bruce Chrisner (654 series), Lisa Allison (559), Gregory Allison (362), Robert Corkhill (679), and Benny Myers (663) tallied 3,597 and shared $3,400 for their efforts.
The scratch division winner was the “Bowie (Md.) Bowlers,” which consisted of Michael Hayes Sr. (666), Robert Farrar (641), Sam Bridges (685), Leroy Hosgood (624), and Kenneth Scott (652). They split $700 after recording 3,268.
Ronald Collins (793) and James King (633) of Temple Hills totaled 1,598 to win the handicap doubles and $2,000. They also won the scratch division with 1,426 to earn an additional $450.
Jim Colley (791) of Alexandria had the top handicap singles score of 861 and received $1,200. He also won the scratch division, which was worth $325.
Leon Scales of Woodbridge received $750 for winning the handicap all events with a total of 2,411.
Landover’s Bobby Hall II won the scratch all events with a record score of 2,283 (679-826-778). He was awarded $1,200 and an entry into the 2003 American Bowling Congress Masters next January at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
Each winner will receive a championship jacket denoting his/her achievement.
Again next year, bowlers will be permitted to enter the team event three times, as long as at least three members change. Bowlers may enter doubles and singles twice, as long as they change doubles partners. A bowler may only cash once in the singles event. As always, the first score in each event will count toward the all events total.
The tournament committee is open to any idea that will make our tournament better. If you have any suggestions, please drop a line to the NCABA office or give us a call. We want to thank all for participating in the tournament and hope to see you again next year.
* * * *
Scoring – There were 293 games of 250 or better, including perfect games by Philip Jones, Jim Colley, Robert Ashley, William Wood, Dennis Maultsby, Kilinia Rhone, and Dennis Sullivan. Ronald Collins and Ira Darden had 299 games, and Jerome Williams tossed a 298. There were 82 sets of 700 or better (including Bobby Hall II’s 826 and Jim Colley’s 805); 37 team sets of 3,000 or more; 11 team games of 1,100 or more; and five doubles games of 500 or better. A total of 13 bowlers earned Century awards (watches), while 26 received ABC patches for sets of 150 over average.
Squad Sponsors – A total of 17 energetic squad sponsors received either a bowling ball of choice (for 12 teams) or a free team entry (eight teams). Ken Larkin put together 16 teams for the tournament.
Two teams make 7-8-9-10 – At the opening squad, the 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-pins were set on each lane. The teams had to make the pins one at a time as directed. If a team made it through the original setup, the third bowler in its lineup had to strike. Six teams made it to this final shot, but only two—“Solars” and “Horny Roosters” (below)—won the $250 prize.
“Solars” (from left, David S. Larsen, John Soho,
Ronald Boswell, Kevin Ribblett, and David J. Larsen)
“Horny Roosters” (from left, Sven Carlson Jr., Randall Spires,
Mark Spires, Sven Carlson, and Carl Pedersen)
Steve Graves (left) of Silver Spring, Md., was elected president of the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association for the 2002-2003 season by delegates at the 58th annual NCABA Council of Delegates Meeting February 24 at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center in Alexandria, Va.
Other current vice presidents advancing via delegate vote included Ronald McGregor of Temple Hills, Md., who will become first vice president on Aug. 1, 2002; Bill Grover of Burke, Va., second vice president; and Kirk Williams of District Heights, Md., third vice president; and Gene O. Mays of the District, fourth vice president.
In the contest between NCABA directors for fifth vice president, Scott Gielda (right) of Columbia, Md., defeated Ronald Holton of Fort Washington, Md.
The delegates, who represented 90 leagues and 1,038 votes, also elected directors for two-year terms ending July 31, 2004.
Newly elected directors included Lee Johnson of Midland, Va.; Julius Prince of Fort Washington, Md.; Michael Sinek of Odenton, Md., and Donald Kramer of Waldorf—all of whom currently serve as associate directors.
Incumbent directors elected were Mark Bennett of Germantown, Md.; James Butcher of Annandale, Va.; Thomas Daniel of LaPlata, Md.; Ted Gruszkowski Jr. of Woodbridge, Va.; Edward Hillyard and Alex Padua Jr. of Wheaton, Md.; Ray Marquardt and Kenneth Mutzabaugh of Alexandria, Va.; Edward Morgan of Oxon Hill, Md.; and Paul Zerbian Jr. of Lexington Park, Md.
President Thomas Allen of Great Falls, Va., was voted a life membership for his dedicated service to the association and its members.
In other happenings at the meeting:
From left, Director Bob Ashley, Past President Tom Dale Jr., Delegate Vic Farkas, and Directors Darron Mayes and Ray Marquardt carefully count the ballots.
Michael Sinek, Donald Kramer, Julius Prince, and Lee Johnson will become association directors on August 1.
Scott Gielda (left), who won the contest for fifth vice president, is congratulated by President Thomas Allen, as Scott's wife, Deanna, proudly looks on.
The 58th annual Council of Delegates Meeting of the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association will be held Sunday, February 24, 2002 at the Holiday Inn Metro Center in Alexandria. Delegate registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, at which time lunch will be served. The meeting will begin at approximately 1 p.m.
All leagues are urged to send their representatives to this important meeting. This is the time when the bowlers can express their views on important facets of the bowling operation of leagues and the association, its programs, and any phase of the sport.
Officers and directors of the NCABA for the 2002-2003 season will be elected at this meeting. The Nominating Committee has presented a report to the board of directors, and it has the board’s approval.
For president: Steve Graves of Wheaton; first vice president: Ronald McGregor of Temple Hills; second vice president: Bill Grover of Burke; third vice president: Kirk Williams of District Heights; fourth vice president: Gene O. Mays of the District; and fifth vice president: Scott Gielda of Columbia, Md., and Ronald Holton of Fort Washington.
Directors nominated for a two-year term ending July 31, 2004 include incumbents Mark Bennett of Germantown, Md.; James Butcher of Annandale; Thomas Daniel of LaPlata, Md.; Ted Gruszkowski Jr. of Woodbridge; Edward Hillyard and Alex Padua Jr. of Wheaton; Ray Marquardt and Kenneth Mutzabaugh of Alexandria; Edward Morgan of Oxon Hill; and Paul Zerbian Jr. of Lexington Park, Md.
Other candidates for directorships include Lee Johnson of Midland, Va.; Donald Kramer of Waldorf; Julius Prince of Fort Washington; Michael Sinek of Odenton, Md.—all current associate directors.
For life membership: Thomas Allen of Great Falls, Va.
Steve Graves, the nominee for president, was born and raised in Wheaton. He is employed by the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control. An NCABA board member since 1986, he serves AMF Shady Grove.
In 1991, Steve was involved in starting the Ways and Means Committee, and he helped change the association’s award program. He previously chaired and served many other committees.
A 15-time NCABA delegate to the American Bowling Congress Convention, Steve has held all league officer positions. He also has coached youth bowlers and started a high school league at the old Fair Lanes Wheaton Plaza.
An avid bowler for over 35 years, he has participated in numerous NCABA, Virginia State, and ABC Tournaments. For the past 15 years, he has assisted at the NCABA Tournament.
Steve and his wife, Tina, reside in Wheaton. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Ronald McGregor, the nominee for first vice president, was introduced to the sport of bowling at the age of 14 while growing up in New York City. A lady professional bowler conducted a league for the neighborhood kids where the most important lesson learned was to have fun while knocking down the pins.
In 1977, he moved to Maryland to continue his studies at the University of the District of Columbia, where he later graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1978, Ron joined the Tuesday Men’s Commercial league at Fair Lanes University, and except for a two-year period spent working as a tunnel engineer in Chicago, has held a membership in the American Bowling Congress. He has bowled in many area leagues and is a two-time BOWL Magazine Tournament champion.
Ron joined the NCABA board as a director in 1994 and serves as a lane director at Rinaldi’s Riverdale Bowl and Andrews Air Force Base Lanes. He also has been a member of several committees, including Nominating, 700 Club, NCABA Tournament Site Selection, and Program Evaluation. As a vice president, Ron has been responsible for other committees, including: Suspension, BVL, Technology, Virginia State Tournament, Lane Directors, Public Relations, Workshop, Budget, Program Evaluation, Legislative, Ways and Means, Audit, and Yearbook, which he previously chaired for three years.
He has attended both the Young American Bowling Alliance Coaches/Instructors School and ABC’s Local Association Officers Training Conferences held in the Maryland area.
Ron has been a league secretary for many years, and he currently is secretary of the Thursday Trios at AMF Clinton.
In 1980, he went to work for the U.S. Geological Survey as a hydrologist. Over the years, Ron served as the Maryland Delaware District safety officer, training officer, and equal employment opportunity counselor. He currently is a computer specialist for the Baltimore District office.
Ron resides in Temple Hills.
Bill Grover, the nominee for second vice president, was born in Alexandria. He received a BA in history from Loyola University in New Orleans and an MA in American history from George Mason University in Fairfax. He is a member of the Special Access/Freedom of Information Act staff of the Textual Archives Services Division of the National Archives.
Bill has been an NCABA member since 1979 and was appointed to the association’s board of directors in August 1994. He has served as house director for Bowl America Burke and Bowl America Fairfax. Bill has been chairman of the 700 Club and 3 C’s committees and served on the following committees: Hall of Fame, Ways and Means, Annual Meeting, Tournament Site Selection, Virginia State, and Vision 2000.
Bill has worked at the singles and doubles house of the NCABA Championship Tournament since 1995. He takes pride in resurrecting the 700 Club tournaments.
Bill lives with his wife, Karen, in Burke.
Kirk Williams, the nominee for third vice president, is a native of the District and represents his family’s fifth generation. He has served on the NCABA board for 17 years and has been on the Awards Committee and currently is with the Program Evaluation Committee. He has attended the American Bowling Congress and Virginia State Bowling Association conventions as a delegate for 12 years. He is the lane director at AMF Alexandria and has assisted at workshops at this center.
Kirk believes that as a vice president he has an opportunity to better serve bowlers in promoting the sport and helping others in the sport. If again elected, he pledges to fulfill his duties and responsibilities with the best of his ability, and he is willing to face the challenge.
He retired from the Department of Treasury in 2000 after 30 years of service.
Kirk, who began bowling in 1968, has a high average of 195, with a high game of 290 and top series of 740.
Kirk and his wife, Maxye, have been married 17 years. They have a daughter, son, stepson, and seven grandchildren.
Gene O. Mays, the nominee for fourth vice president, was born in Alberta, Va. He retired from the D.C. Government after 31 years of service and also from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service. He is currently a tour Master Guide/Historian for various tour/limousine companies.
Gene has been bowling since 1969 and has assisted bowlers in various capacities. He has accompanied adult and youth bowlers on numerous trips to compete in tournaments in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.
He is the past chairman of the Suspension Committee and the 3 C’s Tournament, and he formerly served as the lane director for AMF University. His bowling average consistently has been over 200 for the past few years.
Gene currently resides in Northwest Washington with his family.
Scott Gielda, a nominee for fifth vice president, starting bowling in the Washington, D.C. area at Andrews AFB in 1976, competing in the AJBC Bantam II’s with a 125 average under the instruction of Leo and Jan Hendershot. He continued to bowl at Andrews through his first year of community college. When he moved away to attend Johnson & Wales University in 1983, he enjoyed all intramural sports offered, including bowling.
Upon graduation, Scott returned to the area and was out of bowling for about two years before joining the Wednesday Men’s 900 league at Rinaldi’s Riverdale in 1989. Since then, he’s bowled in at least two leagues every winter season and one every summer. He has held every league officer position and is the current president of the Monday Fellowship league at Crofton Bowling Centre.
Scott was assigned to the NCABA board as an associate director in 1996 by Vice President George R. Sook, and in 1997, Scott became a lane director, servicing AMF Laurel, Ft. Meade, and Crofton.
Scott has served as chairman of the Technology Committee since 1997. Under his tenure, the committee established the association’s award-winning web site, www.ncaba.org. Some of the features he designed include the online searchable yearbooks, the bulletin board, the chat room, and the most popular feature for league secretaries, the “Online Awards Submissions” program. Working alongside then-Webmaster Vince Jozwiak, Scott helped grow ncaba.org into one of the most widely recognized bowling association sites on the Internet—the first to publish squad-to-squad updates of its tournaments.
Speaking of which, the committee also was responsible for the rebirth of an annual association mixed tournament: Again this year, Scott will coordinate the WWW.NCABA.ORG “Guys & Dolls Mixed Tournament” at Crofton.
His most recent achievement was to redesign our association’s local awards program to include two new “limited average” awards and to consolidate several other awards. He also has worked on the Program Evaluation, YABA, CLIW, Awards, Calendar of Events, and Public Relations committees.
Scott and Deanna, his wife of six years, reside in Columbia, Md., and they bowl three nights a week. His highest average has been a 201, with a high game of 280, and a top series of 713.
Ronald Holton, a nominee for fifth vice president, was born in Washington, D.C. and is a civilian employee at the Pentagon with the Department of the Army as a Supply Systems Specialist. He started bowling at an early age, walking to either Bowl America Silver Hill or Bowl America Glassmanor to bowl for fun.
He was elected an NCABA director in 1997 and currently serves the bowlers at AMF Clinton. He has been a league bowler since 1977, with a high average of 217, one 300 game, and a series best of 776.
Ron has served on numerous association committees, including Ways and Means and Technology. He also has provided assistance with the NCABA Championship Tournament, the NCABA/WDCAWBA Senior Tournament, and the Virginia State Senior Tournament.
If elected fifth vice president, Ron believes he’ll have an opportunity to better serve the bowling community in promoting the game of bowling and helping the youth bowlers preserve the game. He pledges to fulfill his duties and responsibilities to the bowling fans and competitors to the best of his ability. His main focus will be to find a means to strengthen leagues and tournament opportunities for all bowlers in the area.
Ron and Wanda, his wife of three years, live in Fort Washington.
Pallie Berry joined the WDCAWBA board in 1985. Since that time, she has served on nearly all of the association’s committees and has received the Director of the Month Award several times. She also has earned the WDCAWBA President’s Award.
Pallie was responsible for the association receiving its own flag, and she assisted in obtaining a trademark for “Suzy Bowler.” Always willing to help leagues and individual bowlers with their questions, she even helped a duckpin league while it converted to tenpins.
On the state association level, Pallie served as a delegate for two years prior to joining the state board in 1991. She assisted the state in receiving its own flag, founded the Virginia State Women’s 500 Club and has served as president since its inception.
On the national level, Pallie has served as a delegate to the WIBC Annual Meeting for 12 years and has been responsible for VSWBA and WDCAWBA luncheons during this convention.
On the lanes, she has a high game of 263 and had perfect attendance for 25 years in the Ladies Classic league during its existence.
For many years, Pallie Berry has provided dedicated service to her association and its members—in public and often behind the scenes. For her efforts, she is being justly rewarded with a position in the Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
Quintenna Boone was introduced to tenpin bowling in 1971 by her uncle, and she has been an avid bowler since that time. She has bowled in such leagues as the Pindroppers Mixed and Cincinnati Mixed at Bowl America Glassmanor; the Silver Hill Ladies Classic, Shades of Soul, and Saturday Twilighters at Bowl America Silver Hill; and the Eastern Majors Travel League. Tena has held the offices of president and treasurer at the league level.
Tena was elected to the WDCAWBA board in 1981 as a director. In that position, she served on numerous committees, including Budget & Finance, Ranking, and Vision.
She served in that capacity until she was appointed secretary by then-President Sue Allen in December 1997. Tena was formally elected secretary in April 1998 and is the first black to hold the position.
During her tenure as association secretary, the local tournament went from five-women teams to four, and three divisions to one, with all of the events held in one center.
Tena is a director of the WDCA 600 Club, and she has been a director of the Virginia Bowling Queens organization. As a member of the Greater Washington Bowling Senate, she finds time to help with its annual doubles tournament and participates in other GWBS activities.
Tena has had many bowling accomplishments: She won an all-expenses-paid trip to Reno, Nev., in February 1981 via Bowl America, Inc., by qualifying as a Virginia representative (with Benita Pyndell) in the finals of the Miller Doubles Tournament.
In fact, the year of 1981 was Tena’s coming out: She won first place in the Virginia Bowling Queens, qualified sixth in the field of 64 at the WIBC Queens Tournament in Baltimore, and her team finished third in the WIBC Tournament.
In 1979, her team won first place scratch and handicap in the WDCAWBA City Tournament (C Division). In 1987, her team won first place scratch in the Virginia State Tournament and the Ladies Division of the Lebanon (Pa.) Dutchman. Her team also won first place scratch in the 1998 Women’s Southeastern Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., and Division 2 of the 2000 City Tournament.
Tena’s highest average is 181, with a high game of 279 and a top series of 680.
Quintenna Boone’s unselfish dedication and service to area bowlers, plus her own excellent perfomances as a bowler, merit her a special spot in the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.
Carolyn Jozwiak was appointed to the WDCAWBA board in 1990 as a director. She served in that position until 1997 when she was elected second vice president. She has served as a delegate to the WIBC National Convention and the Virginia State Convention for eight years.
As a director on the local board, Carolyn served on many committees. One of her major accomplishments was leading the WDCAWBA to the number one position in local BVL contributions on the national level. Carolyn gave her heart, soul, and time to the BVL, going to bowling centers each evening to collect for the disabled veterans. She also was one of the top fund- raisers in pledges. She was asked by Helene Phillips, BVL chairman, to serve as a representative on a nationwide task force to help establish guidelines for other local associations to help them raise funds. She has represented the local association at BVL seminars in Harrisburg, Pa., spreading the good word of what WDCAWBA has done in conjunction with NCABA and telling how other associations can be successful in raising funds for BVL. WDCAWBA continues to remain number one in the nation, largely due to Carolyn’s efforts.
She served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for three years, and through her guidance put together a profitable ways and means for the local association. Her efforts have helped the local association defray some of its operating costs. Carolyn worked tirelessly at the City Tournament, the Senior Tournament, and at just going to local centers throughout the year to deplete the stock and get ready for the next event.
As vice president, Carolyn is responsible for special projects as designated by the president and/or board of directors, the Senior Tournament, Women and Girls in Sports, and the Hall of Fame. She has continued to strive to make this last affair self-supporting, always looking for different ways to make it a special occasion while having to operate within the constraints of a budget. She has worked this committee and every committee she was involved in with enthusiasm, drive, and persistence. She gives 150 percent to any assignment she is given.
In addition to her local association involvement, Carolyn also served as secretary of the local 600 Club for six years and continues to serve it as a director. As club secretary, she was instrumental in the local club winning the National 600 Club Award for the most new members in a local association.
On the lanes, she has achieved a high game of 288, a high series of 705 (which gave her the Virginia State singles title in 2000), and a high average of 193.
Carolyn Jozwiak always puts the bowlers’ needs in the forefront of whatever she sets out to do and has dedicated herself unselfishly to WDCAWBA. She is a superb addition to its Hall of Fame.
Berlin Myers has been active in all aspects of bowling since she was introduced to the sport. Her enthusiasm for the game is nonstop. She moved from Seattle, Washington to the Washington, D.C. area in 1961. At age 24, she joined her first league at Fair Lanes University.
Berlin joined the Women’s Professional Bowlers Association in 1977 and toured for the next nine years before retiring from the pro ranks in 1989. She made the WDCAWBA Top 10 ranking several times and was the association’s top bowler in the 1978-79 season.
Berlin was a league coordinator and certified instructor for 15 years. She also coordinated and instructed numerous Learn to Bowl adult/youth programs, and she organized many senior programs.
For the past 23 years, Berlin has been a bowling center manager. She also was the owner of Myers Pro Shop I at Fair Lanes University and Myers Pro Shop II at Fair Lanes Capital Plaza.
Some of Berlin’s accomplishments include:
Her high game of 300 was recorded at an LPBT event in St. Louis. Her 748 high series included a 299 game.
Berlin always has looked out for and promoted bowling to our youth—the future of this sport—and she always is anxious to share her knowledge. When she walks into many centers, her former students always are pleased to see her, share experiences, and catch up on each other’s lives. If a youth or anyone else needed something in their sporting or personal life, she definitely would do everything in her power to make it happen.
Berlin Myers’ positive attitude, achievements, and successes in the sport that she loves have earned her an honored place in the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.
Roger Tarr was born and raised in the Washington metropolitan area, and he’s been involved with bowling for 42 of his 61 years as a league bowler, bowling center employee, pro shop owner, youth bowling coach, youth bowling program director, youth tournament director, and adult tournament director. He also has held numerous other bowling-related positions in both a professional capacity and as a volunteer.
For many years, he served as president of various leagues at Bowl America Falls Church and worked diligently to expand these leagues. In the 1970s, he was the director of a youth travel league that helped develop many of today’s adult stars.
Roger currently bowls in several area leagues and has achieved two 300 games and a 797 series—all since joining the “senior” bowler ranks. He is a member of the Sports Plus/Carmen Don Pro Shop professional staff and is the director of the Youth-Adult Tournament and the Friday Night No Tap Tournament at Bowl America Falls Church. He also serves as co-director of the Bowl America 40-and-Over Tournament.
Over the past several years, Roger has been actively involved in filling several voids in this area’s youth tournament schedule. Starting in 1996 with the Youth Singles Tournament and continuing with events such as the Youth Travel Tournament and a monthly Youth-Adult Tournament that exists to this day, he has helped develop and direct numerous youth-oriented events, all while sacrificing significant amounts of his personal time. Thanks to his labors, many of this area’s young bowlers, including Jay Gaskill, Nathan Bolden, Sven Carlson Jr., David Eisenberg, CJ Batten, Joy Esterson, Michael Price, and Mark Spires, have earned financial assistance with their college educations.
Roger Tarr’s untiring efforts to promote bowling in this area—and in particular his special dedication to youth bowling that ultimately helps secure a strong future for the sport he dearly loves—make him an outstanding addition to the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
By Ray Brothers, Tournament Director
The champions of the 56th annual Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association’s Championship Tournament, which was held at AMF Laurel (team event) and Crofton Bowling Centre (singles and doubles events), were honored at a luncheon held at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria on June 10.
This year’s handicap team champion, “Sidekicks,” was an entry from the White House Lanes. William “Ham” Hamilton (553 series), Anthony Perry (497), James Gatling (504), Houston Bigleow Jr. (602), and Darryl Grogan (509) had a total score of 3,626, and it marked the first time a team has won the tournament two years in a row. They were presented with $4,000.
The scratch division winner was “R & R Delivery III” from Clinton. Teammates Tim Colley (791), Donald Reed (657), Kenneth Fuller (720), Jim Colley (632), and David Reed (627) scored 3,427 and received $800.
Handicap doubles champions Alex Stewart (at far left, 708) of Upper Marlboro and Michael Coles (680) of Largo totaled 1,533 and earned $2,100.
Clinton’s David Reed (722) repeated as a scratch doubles champion, this year teaming with John Morgan (709) of Manassas to record a 1,431 total. The pair shared $470.
Alexandria's Eric Burden (at far right, with President Vince Jozwiak) won the handicap singles category with 865, and he collected $1,400.
Meanwhile, David Hsu (left) of Oak Dale, Va., was the scratch singles winner with 762, which was good for $350.
Chad Serino of Gaithersburg won the handicap all events with a 2,328 total (1,743 scratch on series of 585-545-613), and he received $645.
Douglas B. Knoth Jr. (right) of Alexandria won the scratch all events with a 2,190 total on sets of 689, 775, and 726. He won $1,600 and an entry into next year’s ABC Masters in Billings, Mont.
Each winner received a championship jacket denoting his achievement.
Again next year, bowlers will be able to enter the team event three times as long as at least three members change, and bowlers may enter doubles and singles twice as long as they change doubles partners. A bowler may only cash once in the singles event. The first of each event will count toward the all events score.
The Tournament Committee is open to any idea that will make our tournament better. If you have any suggestions, please drop a line to the NCABA office or give us a call. We want to thank all for participating in the tournament and hope to see you again next year at Bowl America Burke and Bowl America Falls Church.
The Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association's board of directors annually meets to honor those individuals worthy of special recognition for outstanding contributions, achievements, and services rendered to the sport of tenpin bowling in the Washington, D.C. area by election to the NCABA Hall of Fame.
All members of the NCABA have the privilege of submitting nominations for election to the Hall of Fame.
Nominations must be submitted in a one-page letter and contain the full name of the nominee, his background, and the reasons for his nomination. The letter must be signed and received no later than May 1 to be considered in the current year.
The category (Meritorious Service or Bowling Achievement) for which the candidate is nominated must be indicated.
Nominations to the NCABA Hall of Fame are open to all bowlers and non-bowlers who, by their efforts, have furthered the interests of the game of bowling in the Nation's Capital Area. Any person (league officer, proprietor, sponsor, association officer, director, press/radio/TV personality, etc.) who has demonstrated long-term or significant contributions is considered suitable for nomination/election in either of the following two categories:
Send all nominations to: NCABA Hall of Fame Committee, 4710 Auth Place, Suite 465, Camp Springs, Maryland 20746-4202.
February 25, 2001 — Thomas Allen of Great Falls, Va., today was elected president of the Nation’s Capital Area Bowling Association for the 2001-2002 season by delegates at the 57th annual NCABA Council of Delegates Meeting at the Sosa Recreation Center at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
"It's a great honor and a great responsibility, especially at this juncture of the ABC/WIBC relationship when they're looking to become a single organization," Allen (at left, with current President Vince Jozwiak) said. "It's a difficult time; we don't know where we're going to be in the future, but I look forward to the challenge."
Other current vice presidents advancing via delegate vote included Steve Graves of Silver Spring, who will become first vice president Aug. 1, 2001; Ronald McGregor of Hillcrest Heights, second vice president; Bill Grover of Burke, third vice president; and Kirk Williams of District Heights, fourth vice president.
In the contest between NCABA directors for fifth vice president, Gene Mays (at right, with delegate Cheryl McGraw) of the District defeated Mark Bennett of Gaithersburg and Alton Webb of Silver Spring.
The delegates, who represented exactly 100 leagues and 1,100 votes, also elected directors for two-year terms ending July 31, 2003.
Newly-elected directors included Robert Ashley (left) and Harry Kline of Centreville (who previously served in this position), and Darron Mayes (right) of Fort Washington. All three men currently serve as assistant directors.
Incumbent directors elected were Richard Anderson of Waldorf, Timothy Bailey Sr. of Reston, Rodger Bourne of Germantown, Bart Cannon Jr. of Clifton, Va., Harrold Capps of Wheaton, Timothy Carte of Harwood, Md., Michael Coleman of Warrenton, Va., David Gregg of Gaithersburg, Terry Holloway of Fredericksburg, Richard Lamrouex of Bowie, Robert Lewis of Bethesda, and Dean Russell of Wheaton.
Delegate Greg Mumma (right), president of the Kno Booze league at Falls Church, expresses his views on an amendment dealing with absentee and vacancy scores.
President Vince Jozwiak of Springfield and Assistant Executive Director Larry "Bud" Smith (left) of Dunkirk, Md., who will retire later this year, each were voted a life membership for their dedicated service to the association and its members. Jozwiak also received a 10-year NCABA Service Award plaque.
In other news from the meeting:
George Yarborough (at far right in left photo) oversees ballot counting by (from left) Scott Gielda, James Stewart, Cupcake Bell (also at right), and Al Zeh.
The 57th annual Council of Delegates Meeting of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association will be held Sunday, February 25, 2001 at the Sosa Community Center at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Delegate registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, at which time lunch will be served.
All leagues are urged to send their representatives to this important meeting. This is the time when the bowlers can express their views on important facets of the bowling operation of leagues and the association, its programs, and any phase of the sport.
If the originally designated bowler cannot attend, league secretaries can authorize a league member to attend as the league's representative by filling out the form on page 7 in the February/March 2001 issue of BOWL Magazine.
Officers and directors of the NCABA for the 2001-2002 season will be elected at this meeting. The Nominating Committee has presented a report to the board of directors, and it has the board's approval.
For president: Thomas Allen of Great Falls, Va.; first vice president: Steve Graves of Wheaton; second vice president: Ronald McGregor of Hillcrest Heights; third vice president: Bill Grover of Fairfax; fourth vice president: Kirk Williams of District Heights; and fifth vice president: Mark Bennett of Germantown, Gene O. Mays of the District, and Alton Webb of Silver Spring.
For life membership: Vince Jozwiak of Springfield and Larry "Bud" Smith of Dunkirk, Md.
Directors nominated for a two-year term ending July 31, 2003 include incumbents Richard Anderson of Waldorf; Timothy Bailey Sr. of Reston; Rodger Bourne of Germantown; Bart Cannon Jr. of Clifton, Va.; Harrold Capps of Wheaton; Timothy Carte of Harwood, Md.; Michael Coleman of Warrenton, Va.; David Gregg of Gaithersburg; Terry Holloway of Fredericksburg; Richard Lamrouex of Bowie; Robert Lewis of Bethesda; and Dean Russell of Wheaton.
Other candidates for directorships include Aaron Hall of Arlington and Harry Kline of Centreville.
Thomas Allen, the nominee for president, was born in Northern Virginia. He is employed at the Telos Corporation in Ashburn, Va., as a senior wireless technician.
Tom comes from a very active bowling family, beginning his bowling at a young age in the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT AJBC, which was instituted by his mother, Betty Allen, and late father, Eddie Allen, in the early 1960s. Tom participated in numerous youth bowling activities throughout Virginia and was one of the first youth certified coaches.
Tom was elected an NCABA director in 1993. As a director, he has served on the following NCABA committees: Tournament Site Selection, Ways and Means, Suspension (chairman), Lane Directors (chairman), Technology, 50th Anniversary, BVL, and the Hall of Fame (joint chairman).
While lane director chairman, Tom designed a survey that was sent to all league secretaries to evaluate the services provided by the NCABA lane directors. As a result of this survey, changes have been implemented in an effort to improve services to the bowlers.
Tom was also instrumental in organizing the NCABA 600/700 Doubles Tournament in partnership with the WDCAWBA 600 Club, and he currently serves as treasurer.
Tom has achieved personal highs of a 290 game, 727 series, and a top average of 201. He lives in Great Falls, Va., with his wife, Sue, who is the immediate past president of WDCAWBA.
Steve Graves, the nominee for first vice president, was born and raised in Wheaton. He is employed by the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control. An NCABA board member since 1986, he serves AMF Shady Grove.
In 1991, Steve was involved in starting the Ways and Means Committee, and he helped change the association's award program. He previously chaired and served many other committees.
A 13-time NCABA delegate to the American Bowling Congress Convention, Steve has held all league officer positions. He also has coached youth bowlers and started a high school league at the old Fair Lanes Wheaton Plaza.
An avid bowler for over 35 years, he has participated in numerous NCABA, Virginia State, and ABC Tournaments. For the past 14 years, he has assisted at the NCABA Tournament.
Steve and his wife, Tina, reside in Wheaton. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
Ronald McGregor, the nominee for second vice president, was introduced to the sport of bowling at the age of 14 while growing up in New York City.
A lady professional bowler conducted a league for the neighborhood kids where the most important lesson learned was to have fun while knocking down the pins.
In 1977, he moved to Maryland to continue his studies at the University of the District of Columbia, where he later graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1978, Ron joined the Tuesday Mens Commercial league at Fair Lanes University, and except for a two-year period spent working as a tunnel engineer in Chicago, has held a membership in the American Bowling Congress. He has bowled in many area leagues and is a two-time BOWL Magazine Tournament champion.
Ron joined the NCABA board as a director in 1994 and serves as a lane director at Rinaldis Riverdale Bowl and Andrews Air Force Base Lanes. He also has been a member of several committees, including Nominating, 700 Club, NCABA Tournament Site Selection, and Program Evaluation. As a vice president, Ron has been responsible for other committees, including: Lane Directors, Public Relations, Workshop, Budget, Program Evaluation, Legislative, Ways and Means, Audit, and Yearbook, which he previously chaired for three years.
He has attended both the Young American Bowling Alliance Coaches/Instructors School and ABC's Local Association Officers Training Conferences held in the Maryland area.
Ron has been a league secretary for many years, and he currently is secretary of the Thursday Trios at Andrews Air Force Base Lanes.
In 1980, he went to work for the U.S. Geological Survey as a hydrologist. Over the years, Ron served as the Maryland Delaware District safety officer, training officer, and equal employment opportunity counselor. He currently is a computer specialist for the Baltimore District office.
Ron resides in Hillcrest Heights.
Bill Grover, the nominee for third vice president, was born in Alexandria. He received a BA in history from Loyola University in New Orleans and an MA in American history from George Mason University in Fairfax. He is a member of the Special Access/Freedom of Information Act staff of the Textual Archives Services Division of the National Archives.
Bill has been an NCABA member since 1979 and was appointed to the association's board of directors in August 1994. He has served as house director for Bowl America Burke and Bowl America Fairfax. Bill has been chairman of the 700 Club and 3 C's committees and served on the following committees: Hall of Fame, Ways and Means, Annual Meeting, Tournament Site Selection, Virginia State, and Vision 2000.
Bill has worked at the singles and doubles house of the NCABA Championship Tournament since 1995. He takes pride in resurrecting the 700 Club tournaments.
Bill lives in Fairfax.
Kirk Williams, the nominee for fourth vice president, is a native of the District and represents his family's fifth generation. He has served on the NCABA board for 15 years and has been on the Awards Committee and currently is with the Program Evaluation Committee. He has attended the American Bowling Congress and Virginia State Bowling Association conventions as a delegate for 11 years. He is the lane director at AMF Alexandria and has assisted at workshops at this center.
Kirk believes that as a vice president he will have an opportunity to better serve bowlers in promoting the sport and helping others in the sport. If elected, he pledges to fulfill his duties and responsibilities with the best of his ability, and he is willing to face the challenge.
He recently retired from the Department of Treasury after 30 years of service.
Kirk, who began bowling in 1968, has a high average of 195 with a high game of 290 and top series of 740.
Kirk and his wife, Maxye, have been married 16 years. They have a daughter, son, stepson, and seven grandchildren.
Mark Bennett, a nominee for fifth vice president, is a native of Montgomery County, Maryland. He has served on the NCABA board for seven years and attended the past four ABC Conventions as a delegate.
He has been chairman of the YABA Committee for the past two years and also served on Annual Meeting and 700 Club Committees. He currently is the director at Bowl America Gaithersburg, where he also is secretary of two leagues—the Wednesday Mixed 5s and, for over 10 years, TGIF.
Bowling is Mark's life. He works for Bowl America in addition to being an officer for various leagues and serving on the NCABA board. He just wants to take serving the bowlers to the next step by serving as the association's next fifth vice president.
Mark resides in Germantown.
Gene O. Mays, a nominee for fifth vice president, was born in Alberta, Va. He retired from the D.C. Government after 31 years of service and also from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service. He is currently a tour Master Guide/Historian for various tour/limousine companies.
Gene has been bowling since 1969 and has assisted bowlers in various capacities. He has accompanied adult and youth bowlers on numerous trips to compete in tournaments in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Gene is the past chairman of the Suspension Committee, the 3 C's Tournament, and he currently is a lane director at AMF University. His bowling average consistently has been over 200 for the past few years.
He currently resides in Northwest Washington with his family.
Alton Webb, a nominee for fifth vice president, was born in Tarboro, North Carolina. He moved to the Maryland area in 1985. Since 1988, he has owned and operated his own locksmith business. Alton has been an NCABA director since 1995. He serves Bowl America Silver Spring and Walter Reed and assists the other lane directors with the houses in Maryland and Virginia on as-needed basis. He presently chairs the Lane Directors Committee and has served on the Suspension and YABA committees. Alton is currently serving on the Tournament Site Selection and the Hall of Fame committees.
Alton is a four-time NCABA delegate to the American Bowling Congress Convention. For the past six years, he has assisted at the NCABA Championship Tournament, checking in bowlers at the team event house, working the Ways and Means table, and assisting at the doubles and singles house when needed.
An avid bowler for over 21 years, Alton has held all league officer positions. He has also participated in numerous NCABA, Virginia State, Williamsburg (Va.), and Lebanon (Pa.) tournaments. His personal highs include a high game of 268 and a high set of 686. Currently, he bowls in two leagues, the Maryland Classics and Go-Getters at AMF Shady Grove, and carries a high average of 171.
Alton and Karen, his wife of 13 years, reside in Silver Spring.
Over $6,500 in pledges was raised for the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) at the 2000-2001 BVL Kickoff Tournament held Nov. 4 at the Fort Meade Bowling Center.
In this event, individuals from the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and the Soldiers' Home competed alongside a group of area bowlers that included officials from the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association and the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association.
Dean Ryan, manager of Fort Meade, and Garrison Commander Col. Michael Stewart opened the event by welcoming the participants, after which there was a presentation of colors and the singing of the National Anthem by WDCAWBA Vice President Rosilyn King. NCABA President Vince Jozwiak and his counterpart from WDCAWBA, Judy Edwards, greeted the bowlers, thanked the tournament hosts, and then the two association leaders each tossed the official "first balls," with Jozwiak striking and Edwards leaving a 10-pin.
The friendly competition began with association officials hoping to maintain the area's status (for the seventh consecutive year) as the nation's top contributor of funds for BVL, which annually contributes nearly $1 million to provide sports equipment, reading materials, and other supplies not available from government-supplied funds for hospitalized veterans.
Gary Ratliff led the veterans with a 575 series on games of 222-172-181. Braxton Porter placed second with 488, and Spencer Battle was third with 449. All of the veterans left Fort Meade a winner, as each left with a trophy of their choosing.
NCABA Vice President Bill Grover recorded the highest "pledge" series with a 592 (179-189-224), while Cheryl McGraw's 570 was high for the women.
"I was disappointed with the turnout," said Edwards. "We had hoped to have both more veterans and officers and directors. Otherwise, it was an absolutely wonderful event."
The total pledges of $6,518.09 included a generous post-tournament donation of $100 by the host center. Again this year, WDCAWBA Vice President Carolyn Jozwiak accumulated the highest pledge amount with $1,329.40. For each pin knocked down during the competition, $7 was raised for BVL.
One veteran watches his attempt at a spare conversion (left), while other proudly displays his trophy (photos by Dean Ryan)
It's not what, it's who: Bowlers throughout America have collected funds and given their time for the nation's wounded and disabled veterans for more than 57 years. Indeed, the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) plays a vital role in the VA Medical Center community, comprised of 173 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers throughout the country.
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• BVL expands programs to Vet Centers and State Veterans Homes • ABC Tournament bowlers contribute record amount to BVL programs |
The BVL, founded as the Bowlers Victory Legion, was formed on September 26, 1942 in the midst of World War II when the men and women bowlers of America sought to make life more bearable for the service personnel overseas.
The first BVL effort was made by the members of the American Bowling Congress and the Women's International Bowling Congress who raised almost $700,000 through individual contributions. These funds were used to purchase recreational equipment, including 400,000 decks of playing cards, 352,000 pocket-size books, 75,000 deep sea fishing kits, and a variety of sports equipment for veterans recovering overseas or in the medical centers throughout the country. In addition, three C47 medical evacuation planes and several ambulances for the military were purchased with BVL funds under the WIBC's "Wings of Mercy" project.
BVL raised monies through individual contributions and special tournaments, benefit parties, celebrity tournaments, and raffles.
However, the purposes for such funds changed as hostilities drew to a close in 1945. Part of the money raised by bowlers went toward the rehabilitation of hospitalized veterans, and the amount gradually increased until the entire effort was directed to this cause. In 1946, the BVL officially began its new mission to care for those wounded and disabled soldiers coming home to a new way of life.
Although the change in focus came shortly after World War II, the name of the organization stayed the same until 1972 when the Bowlers Victory Legion became simply, The BVL Fund.
BVL holds the distinction of being the only national sports organization specifically devoted to providing therapeutic and recreational therapy for our veterans. These "extras" are essential to the social and psychological rehabilitation of these men and women.
In 1997, BVL again changed its name to the Bowlers to Veterans Link, which more appropriately describes our bowlers' close association with veterans across the country. Today, BVL's contributions not only serve our hospitalized veterans, but out-patient veterans and other veterans in need.
Since BVL's inception, more than $28 million has been raised by the thousands of participating bowling associations to provide such things as sports publications, televisions, arts and crafts materials, and recreation equipment for veterans. Assistance also is provided in the form of direct grants for activities not fully anticipated by federal budgets.
Naturally, BVL supports VAMC bowling programs nationwide and helps maintain bowling lanes and equipment at 40 VAMCs across the nation. Also, BVL sponsors the nationally recognized entertainment troupe "Re-Creation" that visits hundreds of hospitals every year, and celebrity bowler Helen Duval who provides bowling clinics to introduce new methods of bowling for the physically challenged.BVL also supports such national events as The Golden Age Games for hospitalized veterans over 55, The Wheelchair Games, The Winter Sports Clinic, and the Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
Not portrayed in financial statistics, however, are the countless hours individuals contribute toward various programs at local VAMCs. One example of this is the annual BVL Mail-In Bowling Tournament held every spring. Leaders of many local WIBC and ABC associations assist hospital personnel with this event for which BVL provides coordination and both team and individual awards.
As the BVL moves through its 58th year of serving America's veterans, no lull can be detected in the energy, time, and money provided by thousands of men and women bowlers. In fact, judging by the past 57 years, BVL will only grow stronger in its commitment to brighten the lives of our hospitalized veterans.
The year 2000 marks the 58th year of bowlers uniting to provide recreational and therapeutic therapy for America's hospitalized veterans.
Since its formation in 1942, BVL volunteers have raised more than $28 million to support the rehabilitation of veterans.
Since 1972, BVL has purchased more than 6,500 television sets for the patients at VA Medical centers. BVL also supports national veterans events, including: the Annual VA/BVL Bowling Tournament, the Golden Age Games, Wheelchair Games, Winter Sports Clinic, and the Creative Arts Festival.
October 14, 2000 — Four men tonight were inducted into the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association Hall of Fame in ceremonies at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md. They were Tom Dale, the late Russell Dodge, Bruce Merriman, and George R. Sook, and their resumés follow.
Thomas E. Dale Jr. has been involved with the sport of bowling for over 30 years. Prior to moving to the Washington, D.C. area, Tom served the Gastineau Channel (Juneau) Bowling Association and the Alaska State Bowling Association in such positions as state president, state YABA vice president, and association president and vice president. In addition, he was a youth coach and a league secretary of at least one league for 13 years in both Anchorage and Juneau.
Tom, a program manager for a major accounting system with the United States Postal Service, moved to this area in 1984 with his wife, Andrea, and son, Tom, on a promotion. He immediately became secretary of the Anchor Mixed Tenpin League at Bowl America Duke in Alexandria. Under Tom's guidance, this league has grown from 12 to 28 teams. In addition, Tom became secretary of the Potomac Area Men's League the following season, and he has grown that league from 10 to 24 teams. He has remained secretary for both of these leagues even after moving 35 miles from Alexandria to Stafford in 1988.
Tom took over the youth program at Fair Lanes Seminary and held that position for four years. He has held many leadership positions with the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT YABA, serving as president from 1993-95, and he remains extremely active in youth activities. He has run the VIR-MAR DISTRICT 600 Club for nine years, expanding it from three to five tournaments annually. He also has served as assistant director for the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT Scratch Invitational Tournament for the past seven years. In addition, Tom has been a director of the Virginia State YABA Junior Olympic Gold Qualifying Tournament for the past three years.
Tom has held many leadership positions in the NCABA, serving as president during the 1995-96 season. When he chaired the Legislative Committee, he led an effort to update and revise the Policy and Procedures Manual in 1989. He currently is chairman of the Virginia State Committee and also serves on the Program Evaluation Committee. In 1994, he chaired the Hall of Fame Committee.
Tom has represented the NCABA for three of the past five years at the annual Veterans Day ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1995, he was the first ABC bowler to represent the Bowlers to Veterans Link as part of the presidential color guard.
He has served as the lane director for Bowl America Duke since 1987 and for The Sports Garden since 1997. In addition, he has served as the lane director at both Bowl America Shirley and Fair Lanes Dale City for two years and at Fort Belvoir for three years.
Tom has worked at the NCABA Championship Tournament for the past seven years. He also has represented NCABA as an ABC delegate for 13 years and a delegate to the Virginia State Bowling Association for 10 years. After being a delegate to the Southeastern Bowling Association (SBA) for two years, Tom became a Virginia State director for SBA in 1996.
In addition to his many years as a volunteer in the sport, Tom has bowled two 299 games and many 700 series, with a high of 758. He has carried a high average of 211 during three different seasons.
Thomas E. Dale Jr.'s continued commitment to the sport of bowling has earned him an honored place in the NCABA Hall of Fame.
Russell Dodge joined the NCABA board as a director in 1985. At the time, he also served the local YABA board and helped run the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT Invitational Tournament.
As an NCABA director, he served Bowl America Woodbridge (both the old and new centers) and Fort Belvoir, appearing at the appropriate house usually two or three times week to represent the association by presenting pins, plaques, various game and series rings, and watches. He chaired the Lane Directors Committee and also served on the following committees: Hall of Fame (twice), Yearbook, Tournament Site Selection, and YABA Council.
Russell contributed more than one man's share for the growth of the NCABA Championship Tournament. He took it upon himself to get all the paperwork ready at the singles and doubles center to make it easy for the bowlers to check-in. He also helped train other directors to learn the system that's still in use. At one tournament, he and fellow Hall of Famer Ron Dailey stayed overnight in a mobile home a few weekends because the center had mechanical problems and their workload wasnt ending until midnight.
He participated in 10 American Bowling Congress Tournaments, eight Virginia State Tournaments, and five Southeastern Tournaments. He also served as a delegate to each of the associated conventions.
Russell voluntarily helped Ron Dailey deliver copies of BOWL Magazine to all bowling centers in Northern Virginia. All the way to the end of his life, Russell always thought bowling, and he never complained.
Russell Dodge's efforts will long be remembered by those who were close to him in bowling activities and also by the hundreds of people who benefited in many ways from having known him. He is a worthy addition to the NCABA Hall of Fame.
Bruce Merriman has been actively involved in the bowling community for over 25 years.
In 1986, he purchased a majority interest in the Sports Plus Pro Shop in Springfield. He later acquired the Carmen Don Pro Shop and merged the two operations. From the moment Bruce took the helm at Sports Plus, he began a management style that few businessmen would share. First, he intentionally remained in the background, allowing credit for accomplishments to be shared by Sports Plus staff members. Second, he put all profits from the business back in to promoting the sport of bowling.
Bruce quickly expanded the Sports Plus staff to include locally respected bowlers whose games had potential. He had them trained as instructors and made arrangements with a few local centers that would allow the staff members to obtain quality practice in exchange for providing free lessons to any bowlers seeking to improve their game. Many casual and serious bowlers enhanced their skills and knowledge as a result of this campaign.
When a bowler showed the right attitude and real potential, Bruce went even further. He generously provided financial sponsorship to local aspiring professional bowlers, including Jim Lewis, Larry O'Neill, Lisa Rand, Jim Robinette, and Richard Wolfe. In addition, Bruce sponsored national stars, including Eric Forkel and Danny Wiseman.
Bruce continues to provide support and assistance to those willing to learn. He has planned and sponsored many skill enhancement workshops, from beginner to advanced levels. He often has offered employment at Sports Plus to individuals displaying that strong desire to learn.
In addition to his support for skill enhancement, Bruce has worked hard to provide opportunity for bowlers to compete and polish their skills. He established and managed many tournaments and offered sponsorship to many already in existence. Behind the scenes, he was the catalyst for the promotion, scheduling, and design improvements to the tournaments and events his pro shop staff operated.
A list of some of the events he has managed and sponsored includes: the Adopt-A-Bowler Program for Youth Bowlers, the Syd Jones Tournaments, 40 and Over Tournaments, Youth Classic Tournaments, Adult/Youth Tournaments, Pro-Am Tournaments, Ladies Choice Tournaments, and the Virginia Queens Tournaments.
Many local bowling center managers can tell stories of how Bruce would take money from his pocket during a tournament and add it to the prize fund.
Always searching for and welcoming opportunities, Bruce constantly has pursued new ideas and innovations aimed at improving and enhancing the sport of bowling. He worked diligently behind the scenes with General Bowling Corporation management to develop the innovative Thursday Mixed Classic League at Alexandria (currently, the Duke Mixed Classic League) and the Spotlight Video League
