Robert G. Hennessy was born on July 14, 1921, in Union City, New Jersey. His bowling career began there while attending Rutgers University, where he received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. He presently resides in Temple Hills, Maryland, with his wife, Lillian. He has two daughters that are both married. Marilyn lives in Virginia while Diane lives in College Park, Maryland.Robert G. Hennessy started bowling in this area in 1956 at the Naval Research Recreation Club Lanes. He was elected to his first league office in 1957 and thus launched his career with the Washington City Ten Pin Association. He eventually became the first President of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association.
Robert G. Hennessy introduced the proposal to change the membership sanctioning of the Association from team sanctioning to the individual membership sanctioning as we know it today. He was instrumental in the reorganizing of the Lane Director Program to assign directors to specific lanes and to assist league officers in the administration and promotion of the game of bowling. He initiated the action to provide our local bowlers with special NCABA awards from our Association for 298, 299, and 300 games in addition to the national awards that are given. He received the local association award for being the most outstanding league secretary of the year. In 1976, he took over the newly created position of Assistant City Secretary, giving of himself and many more hours than had been asked. He enabled the association to retain full control of Bowl Magazine, and it was through his efforts as editor, that the magazine maintained and achieved a higher quality in reporting association activities to the bowler, at a lesser cost. He was recently awarded a bonus by the board of directors for a job well done.
Some of Robert G. Hennessy's highlights with bowling include:
- Past President of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association
- Assistant Secretary to Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association
- Editor of BOWL Magazine
- Put Bowl Magazine in the black for the first time
- Held all league offices and was responsible for all committees at one time or another.
Robert G. Hennessy's contributions to the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association, to the bowler and to the game itself are far too numerous to try to enumerate on one page. His administrative ability and service to the bowler have made him recognized as one of the area's most dedicated men in the game of bowling. The devotion to the betterment of the sport has long distinguished this man as most worthy to be a member of the most elite group of the Hall of Fame.