Lou Gilless was a late bloomer to bowling, not starting til he was in his 20’s at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, but he loved it and has served the bowling community for over 40 years! Lou worked as a civil servant for the Department of Defense before retiring in 2001! Lou has been involved for many years in his local association and was also a Director on the State USBC for several years!
On August 19, 1930, Phyllis Joan, was the first and only child born to parents, Henry and Amie Battey, both since deceased. We spent most of my toddler years in El Monte, California. I had a pet, a huge white rabbit named Wiggles (named after his wiggly nose). My favorite toy, given me on my First Birthday, was a huge Gold German Teddy Bear that had jointed arms and legs and real glass eyes. He Continue reading 2017 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENT – KNOLL
The Meritorious Service recipient is Roy Stuart who hails from Los Angeles and has been active in bowling since the early 1970’s. He has bowled in 33 State Championships and has coordinated teams to bowl in the State Championships for many years. He was instrumental in establishing participants for the Southern California Men’s Bowling Club and Open Men’s State Championships. Due to declining health Mr. Stuart doesn’t bowl any more but his vision and ability to provide direction for bowlers continues.
The recipient for Meritorious Service is Donna Morales who lives in San Jose. She has been an active State Tournament team coordinator for over 30 years. She has been involved with leagues, clubs, and associations and has been the catalyst that made them work and grow. She is a respected Certified Bowling instructor and says helping a new or struggling bowler is very rewarding. She feels that there are a lot of bowlers who would like to bowl tournaments but can’t get together a full team or get someone to fill out the needed paperwork. She feels she is providing a valuable service to those bowlers who want to bowl State tournaments and at the same time helping to support and promote local, state and national organizations.
February 4, 1946 – November 16, 2012
There isn’t one youth bowler, parent or coach in the San Fernando Valley, or at the State Scratch Tournament, who didn’t know who Diddy was. Diddy’s name and reputation, like many others before her, became synonymous with the term “youth bowling.”
Let’s go back to the beginning. It was the mid 70’s and a newly-married Jewish girl shows up to bowl at Starlite Lanes on Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA. “What, no FREE bowling?” she yells at the desk person. Just kidding, Diddy would Continue reading 2014 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENT – WATTS
California USBC inducted three women into their Hall of Fame who were ardent supporters of bowling in California. NANCY ARVANITIS was inducted for Meritorious Service but having been exposed to bowling at a young age and tutored by her mother she has also made her mark as a bowler. She became a WIBC member at the age of eleven and later on while living on Long island in New York she had the thrill of having the famous Andy Veripapa offer to give her some pointers. She said it really helped her game. Nancy’s higher education came from the State University of New York where Continue reading 2012 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENT – ARVANITIS
Butch was born in 1940 and was raised in Como Park, Minnesota. His father was in the bowling business of building lanes and pro shops. Butch assisted his father by repairing pin setting machines, building bowling lanes and working in his pro shop drilling balls and waiting on customers. He set pins all through high school at 3 different centers and eventually graduated from Washington High School. He received his AA degree from Community College of the Air Force with further study in the public relations discipline at Continue reading 2011 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENTS – WITTMAN, JR
Al Hoffmann enlisted in the Air Force in July 1956 and was discharged in 1960. He entered the service in Philadelphia, PA and rode the Air Force cattle car to Lackland AFB in Texas for basic training. He was then posted to Kesseler AFB in Biloxi, MS for tech school to learn Air Traffic Control. He graduated top three and his Squadron and was able to go on civilian duty for 6 months. He was then sent to Oakland Air route Traffic Control Center and Hamilton AFB where he spent the remainder of his service. While at Hamilton AFB, Al was working on the radar approach scope and noticed an aircraft in trouble. The pilot had no radio or gauges in his Continue reading 2011 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENTS – HOFFMANN
Award accepted on behalf of Vern’s family (posthumously)
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Vernon K. Reilly Biography
Continue reading 2010 HoF MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECIPIENTS – REILLY
