The Hall of Fame: the ultimate reward and recognition for bowlers and athletes in all sports.
Being elected to the Hall of Fame usually means you have reached the pinnacle of your sport in either the performance or meritorious service category—but not always.
Some Halls of Fame are extremely difficult to get into, and some are way too easy. Others, because of unfair or unnecessary policies, are impossible for some worthy candidates to achieve.
The Ladies Professional Golfers Association is one that is extremely tough to make. If memory serves me, unless changes have been made, a player must win 30 LPGA titles to be eligible for this one—too tough in most people's opinion. On the other side of the coin, I know of at least one bowling Hall of Fame that has no minimum age requirement, and it has installed a few bowlers under the age of 30. Can you imagine?!
Character also seems to be a controversial issue in some Halls of Fame. The most publicized is the Major League Baseball Hall. Do you think Pete Rose should or should not be in it? Personally, I don't think a character flaw should prevent an athlete from being honored. Many great athletes, and the rest of us, have character flaws. That doesn't change athletic statistics. If the NFL Hall had a crystal ball, do you think O.J. would have been elected?
Some argue that Hall of Fame status makes the athlete a role model for kids. That may be true, but athletes don't have to be in the Hall of Fame to be role models. They are role models. The price of success in any sport or other career is responsibility. Anyone who has ever achieved anything is in some way a role model for younger people. All moms and dads are role models—some good, some not so good.
The aspect of Hall of Fame selection I really don't understand is when people are declared ineligible for the wrong reasons. For example, the Texas Women's Bowling Association (TWBA) Hall of Fame won't allow any member of its board of directors to be elected. That, in my opinion, is a policy that should be changed.
The TWBA Hall of Fame has some great people in it—people like Susie Reichley, Millie Wood, last year's inductee Donna Conners, and this year's honoree Mary Betke. However, the TWBA Hall is a little tarnished because people who deserve to be in it are not eligible.
Regina Loveall is a very good example. Regina has an incredible performance record on the lanes. She is a former Team USA member, a WIBC Star of Tomorrow, two-time TWBA Bowler of the Year, five-time Texas State champion, and three-time Texas Queens champion. She also has two PWBA regional titles and was the 2000 runner-up Player of the Year for the PWBA Southwest Region. With those credentials, you don't even need to mention her dozen or so Amarillo City titles.
How do you keep someone with credentials like Loveall's out of the TWBA Hall of Fame? Simply because she also volunteers her valuable time to serve on the TWBA board of directors should not keep her from an honor that no one questions she deserves.
And Loveall is not the only one. TWBA President Beverly McLendon of Houston should be in the TWBA Hall. Beverly is another candidate who qualifies both in the performance and meritorious categories. Another is Sylvia Broyles. No one in the history of Texas bowling has done more meritoriously than Mrs. Broyles. She has also served WIBC on the national level for many years and is currently the WIBC second vice president.
TWBA members should take steps to change this unnecessary policy. I would guess that it was started to make sure the TWBA Hall didn't seem self-serving. Trust me on this one ladies: The integrity of your Hall of Fame would be enhanced by changing this policy. As it now stands, your Hall is incomplete, and the real worry is that something could happen to someone who deserves this great honor before they are given what they truly deserve. I'm so glad Luci Bonneau was elected while she was still healthy and able to share this experience with her family and friends.
* * * *
My personal congratulations to my friends John Jowdy, Mike Aulby, and Carol Norman for their election to the American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress Halls of Fame. John is one of the icons of our industry, and Mike is one of the greatest players of all time. Carol will be honored by the WIBC in April. She is a great bowler and wonderful person.
Congratulations to all three, and we are looking forward to being at the induction ceremonies in Reno and Fort Lauderdale to share the moment with them.
Jim Goodwin, a BWAA director and LPBT's regional program director, is the award-winning editor/publisher of Stars & Strikes, in which the preceding originally appeared. Subscription rates are $20 per year (Pin Point Publishing, 2850 Red Valley Run, Rockwall, Texas 75087 ... voice/fax: 972/771-0069).