Men's Meritorious Service

Allen was active in tenpins both on and off the lanes. Allen became the youngest bowler to win an ABC championship when at the age of 18 he combined with his brother, Ray, for the doubles title in 1915. The age record stood for 48 years. In 1950 he served as president of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America which he helped found and also was active in Detroit B.A. and proprietor projects.

JOHN ARCHIBALD
St. Louis
Born: Feb. 17, 1925
Inducted 1996

As a respected bowling columnist and reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Archibald traveled the country covering such tournaments as the All-Star, World's Invitational, ABC Masters and Firestone Tournament of Champions. He served as Bowling Writers Association of America President in 1970. When he retired in 1989, he had completed 39 years as a bowling writer. The PBA Hall of Famer has won 50 Bowling Magazine writing awards and six in the Professional Bowlers Association writing competition. For 25 years he wrote the yearly bowling summary for the Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year.

FRANK BAKER
Milwaukee
Born: June 14, 1907
Died: July 28, 1995
Inducted 1975

During Bakers 1951-72 tenure as only ABCs fourth top leader, the Congress enjoyed a massive growth in membership, jumping from 1.3 million to more than four million. His media background, calling for careful attention to detail, plus his foresight in keeping ABC in pace with fast-moving technological advances, kept the organization in tune with the times. He also gave unselfishly of his time and talent to the National Bowling Council and became active in the international world of tenpins serving as Federation Internationale des Quilleurs President from 1977-83.

ELMER BAUMGARTEN
Milwaukee
Born: April 26, 1881
Died: March 26, 1961
Inducted 1951

Baumgarten served as ABC secretary from 1933 to 1951, directing the Congress through turbulent times and on into the beginning of the boom. While serving as secretary, he was known as a tower of strength for the game through the Depression years and World War II. He was a rugged individualist who believed in action and complete authority. His rigid demands for honesty, fair play and strict adherence to rules and regulations stamped him Mr. ABC in the eyes of Congress members.

LOU BELLISIMO
Eugene, Ore.
Born: Aug. 8, 1906
Died: Oct. 3, 1987
Inducted 1986

A pioneer bowling teacher, Bellisimo was senior instructor at the University of Oregon from 1949 to 1972 where he established one of the nation's most popular bowling programs. Lou earned the nickname Mr. Scientific because of constant analyzing and discussions of bowling form, action of the ball, etc. He wrote one of the most popular bowling instruction books in history (The Bowlers Manual) that sold more than 200,000 copies its first three editions.

ROBERT BENSINGER
Chicago
Born: Feb. 10, 1898
Died: March 5, 1988
Inducted 1969

Bensinger served as chairman of the board of the Brunswick Corp. from 1950 until his retirement in 1963. His support of bowling went far beyond the role of manufacturing firm executive. Under his guidance, the company built a large staff of star players for exhibition work and personal appearances which helped popularize the sport.

FRED BORDEN
Akron, Ohio
Born: June 20, 1941
Inducted 2002

Borden was noted early for his outstanding ability to teach, particularly to the high average players. After a long career as a center operator, he began to help touring professionals and budding hopefuls to fine-tune their games to compete on the pro tour. His growing reputation led to his being named coach of TEAM USA, which developed and honed the skills of top amateur players for international competition. He was the first teaching coach for the U.S. players, a position he held twice. He also spent time overseas at the request of other federations who sought his technical knowledge. Borden wrote numerous books and produced a number of instructional video. His expertise was the springboard for development of the USBC Bowling Coaches Certification Program, which led to hundreds of qualified coaches providing instruction to bowlers in many cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

LEROY CHASE
Peoria, Ill.
Born: July 31, 1908
Died: Nov. 20, 1971
Inducted 1972

Chase devoted his life to bowling, writing about the game for 40 years as a member of the Peoria Journal-Star sports staff and serving in such executive capacities as president of the Illinois B.A. and the Bowling Writers Association of America. He was ABC's third vice president at the time of his death. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1959 and became a vice president in 1965.

JOHN COKER
San Diego
Born: Feb. 24, 1892
Died: Aug. 31, 1967
Inducted 1980

An electronics whiz from his early working days, J.B. turned his talents to bowling inventions such as the Tel-E-Score overhead projector and the electronic foul detector. Coker invented the foul detector in 1937, not only because a human judge was needed for every league session, but because bowlers were sliding past the foul line and ruining the lane finish. During the same period, a proprietor suggested Coker develop something to project scores so bowlers and fans could see what was taking place. Coker drafted basic plans, then sought out scientists at Cal Tech who helped him design what was to become the Tel-E-Score.

CHARLES COLLIER
Chicago
Born: Dec. 31, 1877
Died: Oct. 11, 1957
Inducted 1963

Collier was a familiar and colorful personality at ABC Tournament installations from 1912 to 1951 when he supervised the construction and maintenance of the Tournament lanes for Brunswick. One of the top stars of his day, Collier rolled in 39 ABC Tournaments and compiled a 186 lifetime average. For more than three decades, he captained the famous Brunswick Mineralite team which included fellow Hall of Famer Harry Steers.

STEVE CRUCHON
Detroit
Born: June 13, 1914
Died: Nov. 22, 1986
Inducted 1983

Cruchon was one of bowling's most honored writers. His journalistic ability earned him 21 awards in Bowling Magazine's writing competition. From 1945-76 he served as editor of the Modern Bowler. He then started his own publication, Bowlers Digest, and continued as its editor-publisher until his death.

ROGER DALKIN
Greendale, Wis.
Born: Feb. 3, 1950
Inducted 2008

Dalkin was a Miami, Fla., prep star and Georgia Tech collegiate champion who rose to the sport’s highest administration position as Chief Executive Officer of the United States Bowling Congress. From his starting role as manager of the ABC/WIBC Collegiate Division, he became ABC Group Executive-Technical, and ABC Assistant Executive Director under Darold Dobs. When Dobs died, Dalkin succeeded him as ABC Executive Director and played a key role in the merger of ABC, WIBC and YABA to unite the sport under the USBC banner.

WALT DITZEN
Phoenix
Born: June 18, 1914
Died: March 4, 1973
Inducted 1973

Ditzen created the popular Fan Fare cartoon which appeared in more than 200 newspapers in the United States and foreign countries. The three panel strip covered all sports, and two of his best known characters were Gutter Gus and Gutter Gussie, whose humorous and sometimes irreverent remarks about bowling gave Ditzen a wide following. He created a series of posters in 1957 for the National Bowling Council to fight a plague of slow bowling. The posters still are seen occasionally in bowling establishments.

DAROLD DOBS
Milwaukee, Wis.
Born: Jan. 18, 1943
Died: Feb. 10, 1997
Inducted 1999

As ABC's Executive Director from 1989 until his death, Dobs was a guiding force in restructuring the modern bowling industry. Voted the "most powerful person in bowling" three years in a row (1994-96) by Bowlers Journal International, he was among the pioneers that made Bowling, Inc. a reality. Among his accomplishments were: creation of the Brunswick World Team Challenge and ABC Senior Masters, increasing television exposure for bowling and eliminating ABC's "gender" rule.

WILLIAM DOEHRMAN
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Born: Feb. 7, 1888
Died: Sept. 11, 1984
Inducted 1968

Doehrman compiled one of sport's most impressive longevity records, competing in an unprecedented 71 consecutive ABC Tournaments. He competed in every Tournament from 1908 to 1981. He is one of a handful ever to participate in at least 60 ABC's and knock down more than 100,000 pins.

EDDIE ELIAS
Akron, Ohio
Born: Dec. 12, 1928
Died: Nov. 15, 1998
Inducted 1985

Elias gathered 33 top bowlers for a meeting in 1958 at the ABC Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y., convinced them to put up $50 each and the Professional Bowlers Association was formed. The tour began in 1959 with a total prize fund of less than $50,000. By the early 1980s, the prize fund for national and regional events exceeded $7 million. He was also instrumental in helping bowling gain national exposure by convincing ABC-TV to telecast the winter tour. The Firestone Tournament of Champions, which Elias created, was teh first commercially-sponsored sports event ever on television.

FRANK ESPOSITO
Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Born: April 28, 1920
Died: July 12, 2006
Inducted 1997

Esposito, the longtime owner of the famed Paramus Bowl in New Jersey, contributed to the sport in many ways during his career. His contributions to the sport are far-reaching, being regarded as a pioneer for ideas and innovations over 50 years of involvement in the sport. Many of the bowling TV show formats were Esposito brainchilds. While he became best known for his role as TV coordinator for PBA Tour events on ABC-TV, he also hosted PBA events and was the first to award merchandise to pro-am entrants.

DICK EVANS
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Born: Sept. 20, 1931
Inducted 1992

Evan's contributions to the sport have come as a bowling columnist for the Miami Herald and through his affiliation with the Bowling Writers Association of America. He joined the Miami Herald in 1949 and began his bowling coverage in 1957. Since then he has covered nearly every major national event along with the Miami bowling scene and has earned more awards for his work than anyone else.

BILL FRANKLIN
Lake San Marcos, Calif.
Born: July 1, 1913
Died: July 3, 1999
Inducted 1992

Franklin has been a bowling writer, editor, researcher, innovator, speaker, publicist, historian, tournament official, promoter, member of the ABC Board of Directors and Hall of Fame worker. He helped research the records and oddities section for the original ABC Yearbook. He came up with the idea for on-site awards at the ABC Tournament, a program adopted in 1950 that has been copied in other competitions and continues at the annual ABC Tournament.

JACK HAGERTY
Toledo, Ohio
Born: Sept. 8, 1876
Died: July 31, 1955
Inducted 1963

Hagerty spent nearly 60 years as a Toledo bowling proprietor and played a prominent role in obtaining and helping stage five ABC Tournaments in that city between 1913 and 1926. He was a charter member and president of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, and also presided over the Ohio BPA. He was a prime organizer of the Central States tournament, once the most important of all regional events.

DR. HILDING HATTSTROM
Evanston, Ill.
Born: Feb. 6, 1896
Died: Jan. 3, 1980
Inducted 1980

Dr. Hattstrom was the champion of bowling promotion for men and women 55 and older, and today's US ABC National Seniors Tournament is a result of his dedication. In his heyday, he was a good bowler who hovered around the 200 average mark and he won a national seniors title in 1961 in actual singles. Besides writing technical articles for the National Bowlers Journal, Hattstrom was a top instructor.

MIKE HENNESSY
Bluffton, S.C.
Born: Sept. 13, 1929
Died: Aug. 10, 2008

Inducted 2008 Hennessy, the ultimate “jack of all bowling trades,” spent most of his life in Dayton, Ohio, where he covered bowling as a reporter with the Dayton Daily News, opened an advertising agency specializing in bowling, and worked for a local television station. He served as executive director of the Greater Dayton and Ohio bowling proprietors associations where his “Bowlers First” program attracted more than 100,000 new bowlers to the sport. He did tours of duty as media and tournament director for the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour, made dozens of appearances as a motivational speaker at bowling events and helped organize the first ABC/WIBC Senior Championships. He was the 1994 recipient of Bowling Writers Association of America’s Mort Luby Sr. Hall of Fame award.

CONE HERMANN
St. Louis
Born: April 9, 1903
Died: April 26, 1957
Inducted 1968

Hermann's name was synonymous with the great Hermann Undertakers teams (named after the family funeral business) of the late 1930s and early 40s. Hermann was one of the most dynamic influences of his time on the formation of all-star teams of national repute. He began organizing such teams in 1931 and later his teams included Hall of Famers Don Carter and Chuck O'Donnell.

PETER HOWLEY
Chicago
Born: May 30, 1881
Died: Jan. 31, 1958
Inducted 1941

Howley was the only man to bowl in the first 46 ABC Tournaments (1901-49), averaging 178, finally retiring because of illness. He was a charter member of the ABC Hall of Fame in 1941 and was moved into the Meritorious Service section in 1963. He was general manager of several bowling and billiard establishments in Chicago.

STEVE JAMES
Fox Point, Wisconsin
Born: Jan. 13, 1939
Inducted 2005

James devoted his career to promoting the sport and those who competed in it. He joined ABC in 1970 as Bowling Magazine editor and moved up through the ranks to eventually becoming the organization's public relations manager where he supervised all aspects of ABC communications. James served as the ABC Hall of Fame Executive Director from 1977-2002, playing a key role in developing the non-professional and pioneer divisions to honor those who elected not to compete as professionals and/or played historic roles in the formation of ABC. His expertise with the ABC Hall of Fame proved valuable to other bowling organizations. Serving on the PBA and PWBA Halls of Fame boards he was asked to re-write their constitutions and consult on their nomination and election procedures. In the international arena, James also served as Deputy Secretary General of FIQ, bowling's world governing organization.

JOHN JOWDY
El Cajon, Calif.
Born: April 21, 1920
Inducted 2001

Long-time bowling instructor, author and speaker, Jowdy has been associated with the sport since 1940 including a long stint as PBA Tour consultant for bowling ball manufacturer Columbia 300. While with Columbia he worked in sales and public relations for 23 years. He began his coaching career in the mid-1950s working with youth but later would become one of the most respected coaches for top professionals. He has received many honors, which include the BWAA Mort Luby Hall of Fame Award, BWAA Flowers for the Living Award, DBA Humanitarian Award and he is a member of the PBA Hall of Fame.

ROBERT KENNEDY
Detroit
Born: Sept. 6, 1895
Died: Dec. 26, 1955
Inducted 1981

Kennedy was the driving force in the development of the automatic pinsetter which freed bowling from the bondage of the pinboy and lifted the sport to its present eminence. As vice president of the Brunswick Corp. in the 1930s, Kennedy saw the need for modernization of the bowling game and made recommendations embodied in a report which led to the introduction of Brunswicks 20th Century line of bowling equipment. Lanes were streamlined, colorful semi-circle leatherette seats were created, and the introduction of the forerunner to the masking unit to hide the pinboy from view were just a few improvements he instituted that led to the revitalization of the sport.

ABRAHAM LANGTRY
Milwaukee
Born: Aug. 1, 1873
Died: July 30, 1942
Inducted 1963

Langtry served for 25 years as ABC secretary. Upon taking office in 1907 as the Congress second administrative leader, he moved ABC headquarters from Dayton, Ohio to Milwaukee. He administered Congress business through the first stages of growth and widespread public respect. It was his vision and determination during a period when ABC needed an uncompromising leader that helped build the sturdy foundation upon which the game rests.

SAM LEVINE
Cleveland
Born: April 20, 1913
Died: July 22, 1982
Inducted 1971

Levine wore many hats. He founded the Cleveland Kegler bowling newspaper in 1937 and was its editor and publisher until his death. He helped raise thousands of dollars for charity with innovations that included a bowlers picnic and sending children to summer camp through bowlers rolling 300 games. He broadcasted bowling for two decades, handled many live television programs and announced syndicated match game shows.

DAVID LUBY
Chicago
Born: April 7, 1870
Died: Nov. 27, 1925
Inducted 1969

Luby founded the Bowlers Journal in 1913. He was a traveling shoe salesman who scurried back to Chicago each week to bowl in the famed Randolph league. Out of this interest grew plans for the weekly newspaper, which later became a national monthly publication under the leadership of his son, Mort Sr., who also is in the Hall. His grandson, Mort Jr., another Hall member, became a third-generation publisher before he sold the business.

MORT LUBY SR.
Chicago
Born: June 6, 1897
Died: Oct. 1, 1956
Inducted 1974

Luby first suggested the formation of a bowling Hall of Fame in 1937, an idea that was realized in 1941. He also was a founding father of the Bowling Writers Association of America. He served as publisher of the Bowlers Journal from 1925 until his death after taking over the publication upon the death of his father, Hall of Famer David Luby. The Lubys are the only grandfather-father-son Hall combination.

MORT LUBY JR.
Chicago
Born: July 14, 1931
Inducted 1988

As former publisher of the Bowlers Journal, Luby followed in the footsteps of father Mort Sr. and grandfather Dave Luby in the Bowlers Journal. The Lubys are believed to be the only family with three generations in a sports hall of fame. One of Luby's proudest achievements was the founding of the World Bowling Writers, a fraternity of writers, promoters and other bowling enthusiasts from 50 nations. He published a monthly Worldletter which provides bowling news on the world scene.

CONNIE MARCHIONE
Panorama City, Calif.
Born: Sept. 6, 1923
Inducted: 2007

Marchione served in leadership positions in the National Deaf and Pacific Coast Deaf Bowling Associations. Among his numerous innovations were: creation of the Pacific Coast Deaf Masters, Pacific Coast Deaf Senior Masters, National Deaf Masters, national team/doubles/singles handicap tournament for deaf bowlers, and the National and Pacific Coast Deaf Bowling Halls of Fame.

AL MATZELLE
Milwaukee
Born: April 11, 1917
Inducted 1995

Matzelle devoted most of his adult life to the administrative side of bowling. Besides his efforts on behalf of ABC, he was instrumental in the early years of the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. He joined ABC in 1938 as official typist of rule book envelopes. After later serving as assistant to Hall of Famer Frank K. Baker for 19 years, he eventually was elected to the ABC Executive post in 1972. In 1980, he moved to St. Louis to plan and organize the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum and was the person in charge of the shrine when it opened in 1984. He returned to Milwaukee the next year and has spent part of his time since volunteering his services at Bowling Headquarters.

HOWARD MC CULLOUGH
Chicago
Born: July 25, 1899
Died: Feb. 15, 1974
Inducted 1971

McCullough was credited with creating the captain-sponsor dinner in 1941, still a popular activity for associations in many cities. He was instrumental in founding the Detroit Bowling Council, one of the first citywide bowling councils of its kind. He also was noted for his work with charity promotions, notably as chairman of the March of Dimes sports committee in the 1950s.

NICK MORMANDO
Levittown, New York
Born: May 26, 1928
Inducted 2003

Mormando's more than 50 years of dedication to the sport began when he borrowed $10,000 from his parents to purchase his first bowling center in 1948. Mormando earned election to the ABC Hall of Fame for his more than 20 years of service to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Mormando was a major player in landing financial support from the bowling's commercial interests into the construction of the IBM/HF. During the formation stages of the St. Louis-based Museum and Hall of Fame, served on the site-selection, design and construction committees. He later served as IBM/HF President and Trustee, and he was instrumental in creating the Hall of Fames most important annual fund-raising event, the Salute to Champions. The IBM/HF expressed its gratitude to Mormando by selecting him as its Salute to Champions honoree in 1994.

MOREHEAD PATTERSON
New York
Born: Oct. 9, 1897
Died: Aug. 5, 1962
Inducted 1985

Patterson was one of the prime forces behind development of the AMF pinspotter, a project which encountered a number of detours in the late 1940s. His hiring of fellow Hall member Robert Kennedy and insistence on continuing with the development despite rising costs and pessimism allowed AMF to become the first company to gain ABC approval of a pinsetting machine in 1951. Patterson also was instrumental creating the Association of College Unions International tournament in 1959.

LOUIS PETERSEN
Chicago
Born: Sept. 23, 1883
Died: June 20, 1958
Inducted 1963

A scoring system and a bowling tournament have etched Petersens name indelibly in the upper strata of bowling contributors. He started his famous Petersen Classic in 1921 and that event's popularity has grown each year. Petersen also originated the point system bearing his name. He also was a founder of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America in 1932 and a prime mover of high school bowling.

CHUCK PEZZANO
Clifton, N.J.
Born: Jan. 14, 1929
Inducted 1982

One of the sport's foremost authorities, Pezzano is considered bowling's most prolific author. He has been active as a television, film and video bowling consultant, advisor, color man and coordinator. Pezzano also is closely involved with the Professional Bowlers Association. A charter member as a top bowler and a PBA Hall of Famer, he was its secretary from 1971-90. Pezzano bowled the first 800 series by a full-time collegian.

REMO PICCHIETTI
Bannockburn, Ill.
Born: Jan. 23, 1930
Inducted 1993

Formerly chairman of the board and president of DBA Products Inc., Picchietti long has been one of the most involved and visible personalities in bowling. He has been considered among the sport's leading authorities on lane maintenance and procedures, conducting hundreds of seminars on the subjects worldwide. Picchietti has been recognized by his peers for the presidencies of the National Bowling Council, the Billiard & Bowling Institute of America and the National Association of Independent Resurfacers.

BRUCE PLUCKHAHN
St. Louis
Born: Oct. 10, 1924
Inducted 1989

Because of his knowledge of many areas of the sport, from the international aspect to such projects as the National Bowling League, Pluckhahn is regarded by many as one of the world's top experts on the sport. He also was in on the ground floor of the planning of the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. Pluckhahn has been a vital force in various areas of bowling for nearly four decades, first as a newspaperman in Milwaukee, Wausau, Wis. and Dayton, Ohio, but more prominently with the ABC Public Relations Department for 23 years and the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum for 12 years. His dedication and research was instrumental in the establishment of the ABC Hall of Fame Pioneer section.

MILTON RAYMER
Chicago
Born: Aug. 3, 1906
Died: Oct. 26, 1991
Inducted 1972

Raymer, founder of the American Junior Bowling Congress, spent almost endless days traveling to all corners of the country espousing junior bowling, teaching youngsters to bowl and training adults for teaching bowling and organizing leagues. In 1946, the AJBC was founded in Chicago with Raymer as its executive secretary. He held the post for 15 years. From a membership of 8,767 in 1946, he led the growth to 410,000 boys and girls of high school age and under. The program, became the Young American Bowling Alliance, which peaked at 600,000 members before it became a part of the USBC..

J. ELMER REED
Cleveland
Born: May 6, 1903
Died: Dec. 27, 1983
Inducted 1978

Reed was the first black member of the ABC Hall of Fame. Perhaps that's fitting because in the 1940s he was instrumental in the fight against ABCs Caucasian-Only membership rule which was rescinded at the 1950 ABC Convention. After learning blacks virtually were excluded from bowling because of race, Reed traveled to many cities at his own expense in the 1930s to organize black bowling leagues, usually in old, rundown centers. In 1941, he and two partners built the first black bowling center in the U.S. (United Recreation in Cleveland).

JACK REICHERT
Chicago
Born: Sept. 27, 1930
Died: May 9, 2004
Inducted 1998

Reichert retired as Brunswick's chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer in 1995. Tireless in his commitment to promote bowling as a medal sport in the Olympics, he led his companys efforts in the Olympic quest. He provided the leadership to guide Brunswick's growth into a leader in the bowling and recreation industry. He served as a member of the Strike Ten Entertainment, Inc. and Professional Bowlers Association boards of directors. Reichert his start in bowling as a pinsetter for Hall of Famer Ned Day in his hometown of Milwaukee.

MILT RUDO
Chicago
Born: Jan. 17, 1919
Inducted 1984

Rudo earned his niche in bowling's history by always endeavoring to better the sport, a dedication that reached far beyond four decades of business commitment to the Brunswick Corp. He was a creative executive who developed ideas that benefitted the industry. He fought for product improvement, including replacement of the hand towel and unsightly chalk (without which old-timers insisted they couldnt bowl) with hand dryers.. Such innovations helped attract the family to bowling.

CHRIS SCHENKEL
Leesburg, Ind.
Born: Aug. 21, 1923
Died Sept. 11, 2005
Inducted 1988

One of the most popular and widely honored sports announcers in the United States, Schenkel became known as the voice of the Professional Bowlers Association tour as host of ABC-TV's PBA telecasts from 1962 to 1997. Schenkel covered virtually every major sporting event in his more than 45 years as a broadcaster. But he was best known and most respected for his commentary on bowling. He also donated much of his time as honorary chairman of the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. He earned the 1999 Flowers for the Living Award.

MAX D. SKELTON
Stonewall, Oklahoma
Born: October 24, 1932
Inducted 2002

Skelton's versatility as a bowling giant led him to all parts of the United States and international communities, spreading his knowledge and leadership abilities. He began his lifetime service as a local association volunteer in Oklahoma City in 1958. He was one of the first to help foster integration after elimination of ABC's Caucasion only membership clause in his home state tournament by volunteering his team to bowl with a team of black bowlers when other teams refused. Skelton rose through the ranks to serve as ABC president in 1990. But it was his extraordinary leadership as USA Bowling president that led to the creation of the United States Tenpin Bowling Federation (later USA Bowling) and in representing the best interests of American tenpins in the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs arena.

JOHN SOMMER JR.
Rockford, Illinois
Born: May 29, 1942
Inducted 2006

Sommer dedicated his career to the advancement of youth and women's bowling. He was a partner in the creation of the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour (later the Professional Women's Bowling Association) in 1980. As a champion for high school bowling, he led the effort to successfully establish bowling as a letter sport in northern Illinois high schools. His efforts and concepts for high school bowling were important factors leading to the creation of High School Bowling USA (now USBC High School).

DENNIS SWEENEY
St. Louis
Born: Oct. 3, 1873
Died: July 23, 1965
Inducted 1974

Sweeney founded the Women's International Bowling Congress and was one of the first to campion the cause of women in bowling. In 1907, he received permission to hold a national women's tournament on the ABC Tournament lanes and encouraged women's bowling at every turn. Finally in 1916, a group of representatives met in St. Louis and organized the WIBC.

ROGER TESSMAN
Plymouth, Wis.
Born: April 5, 1927
Inducted 1994

As Federation Internationale des Quilleurs President from 1984 to 1995, Tessman worked tirelessly to gain bowling Olympic recognition for the sport. He led the movement to have bowling gain membership in the United States Olympic Committee in 1984 and two years later he was instrumental in gaining recognition for the sport in the Pan American Games. But his original legacy began with ABC from association official all the way to the post of Executive Secretary-Treasurer for seven years.

JOSEPH THUM
New York
Born: Jan. 24, 1858
Died: Jan. 9, 1937
Inducted 1980

Heralded as the father of international bowling, "Uncle Joe" also was a driving force in the organization of ABC. His creative ventures took many of the best U.S. bowlers to Stockholm, Sweden, in 1923, two other European trips in 1926 and 1929 to Berlin in 1936, where the bowlers competed in a special event held in conjunction before the Olympic Games. He was elected president of the International Bowling Association when it was founded in Stockholm in 1926.

SAM WEINSTEIN
Chicago
Born: Aug. 7, 1914
Died: June 4, 2003
Inducted 1970

Weinstein's love affair with bowling began in 1931 when, at age 17, he became a secretary-writer for Bowlers Journal. In 1935, he originated the Tenpin Tattler radio program, the longest-running readio show in history. Weinstein's radio show on WGN in Chicago ended in 1995, after 60 consecutive yeras. For years, he helped other cities start bowling broadcasts. He also was a driving force behind Chicagos famous Sun-Times charity tournament Beat the Champs television series and has helped hundreds of humanitarian causes with contributions of bowling promotions and private donations.

ELI WHITNEY
Milwaukee
Born: Sept. 16, 1893
Died: Dec. 11, 1957
Inducted 1975

Whitney founded the ABC Hall of Fame in 1941, a year after he had joined the Congress staff as its first public relations manager. Whitney was an idea man. Among his innovations were the ABC Newsletter, which for a time included a special report to the hundreds of radio stations that carried bowling news in those days; the bowling writing competition sponsored by Bowling Magazine, the official publication for which he served as executive editor; and the Rip Van Winkle Award of the Bowling Writers Association of America, which he had helped organize in 1934.

FRED WOLF
Detroit
Born: May 26, 1911
Died: Aug. 6, 2000
Inducted 1976

Wolf was an outstanding bowler and a member of the powerful Strohs Beer team for seven years. But his greatest mark was made in radio and television as a bowling commentator in Detroit. He covered the 1948 ABC Tournament from a booth behind the scoremarkers for 80 consecutive nights. He moved into television the next year and had a succession of popular local shows which led to a network opportunity with the Championship Bowling series.