Back to Hall of FameNell L. Manning joined tenpin bowling in 1959 at Marion, Virginia. She moved to this area in 1961 and first bowled tenpins at Bowl America Silver Hill until becoming a singles/all events champion in the 1967 WDCAWBA City Tournament at River Bowl.
This victory was actually the beginning of her association with the WDCAWBA Board of Directors, and it was also the cause of her entering her first WIBC Tournament in Rochester, New York. The following year she assisted the association performing in the skit ”Shady Ladies” at the San Antonio, Texas WIBC convention when the WDCAWBA was bidding for a national event.
In May, 1968 she was nominated from the floor, elected, and served six months. She was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms by President Mary Jo Whidden and served in that capacity for eight years, during which time she received the President's Award for ”Outstanding Promotion and Services Rendered" to the WDCAWBA. She was then appointed 3rd Vice President and held that position for three three-year terms. Nell was elevated to the presidency of the WDCAWBA on August 1, 1985 after Betty Allen resigned the position to become secretary following the death of Dee Carl.
During her terms of office on the local level, she started several bowlers in ”Leam to Bowl” programs, worked with bowling centers in securing new leagues, some of which are still in existence (including the Luther G. Davis Memorial at Wheaton Triangle, where all proceeds go to charity), and worked with NCABA Hall of Famer Jack LaBonte at Silver Hill in the BVL campaign for many years. The first “History and Scrapbook” was completed in 1972, and since that time she has revised and remodeled the existing 10 scrapbooks. Nell also wrote a column for BOWL Magazine and Down the Lanes. She served the association for eight years as Publicity Chairman, and she still holds the Public Relations chairmanship. Under her office of Vice President, she was instrumental in hosting the first joint Hall of Fame with the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association in 1984.
Nell has attended 15 state meetings as a delegate, and 20 national conventions, 19 as a delegate. She has attended 27 local, 8 state, and 5 national workshops. She has held the following league offices: President (5 years), Secretary (9 years), and Treasurer (6 years). She has held the following positions: Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms and Head Teller (WIBC), 1986 Nominating Committee Chairman, Head Teller, and Site Inspection (State), and Ex-officio of all local committees. She has served as Editor for the National Women’s Bowling Writers Association, and as Chairman of their Arts & Crafts Committee.
In addition, she has worked as Tournament Coordinator at the Fair Lanes PBA Open for 10 years, and at the Bowl America WPBA Open for one year. She also was a Director with the Vir-Mar District YBA for a year.
Nell has a high average of 173, a 671 high series, and high game of 275. She has converted the 7-10 split and received the ”Big 4” (4-6-7-10) WIBC award. Always striving to improve, Nell has received the WIBC “Most Improved Bowler” award on three different occasions. She also has three high finishes to her credit in Virginia State Tournament competition. It should be noted that all of these bowling achievements were rolled on the “wrong” foot!
Because of her outstanding efforts to further the sport of bowling, Nell Manning will certainly be a most worthy addition to the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.