JIM ROBINETTE

JIM ROBINETTE, out of Beckley, West Virginia, won his first tournament at the age of 14 and it became a way of life for the most dynamic kegler in this area. Now living in Alexandria, he has dominated the Top Ten ranking for eight of the nine years.

Robinette came to the Nation's Capital area in 1958 and began his local bowling career in the classic and traveling leagues. During the 1960's his average remained consistently in the high 190's and into the low 200's.

The Association began its ranking policy in 1966 and Jim Robinette became the first to win the Number one position. He is also the only local bowler to be named Number One in the Virginia State Association.

Among his major victories on the lanes are: Fair Lanes Singles Classic Champion; twice Association Singles Champion; twice Association All-Events Champion; Nation's Capital Singles Classic Champion; 3rd place national ABC Singles; four Virginia All-Stars selections; several Association Team Championships; Regional PBA Personna Open Champion; two 3rd-place finishes in the national PBA tour; twice Metro BPA Singles Invitational Champion (only male to claim the title twice); four times runner-up Metro BPA Singles Invitational; his highest average: 207, his highest series: 738 locally and 780 nationally; his highest games: two 290's, one 298, one 299: and four 11 -in-a-row games.

Jim devotes many hours to the improvement of youth bowling and can be found many times giving instructions to the young bowlers in the area as well as adults who come to him for help.

Once won, a, title cannot be taken away. The simple fact is that it will take anybody at least eight years to catch up to Jim Robinette, a truly deserving selection for the area's Bowling Hall of Fame.