DUBUQUE BOWLING ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME

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DUBUQUE BOWLING ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME. Initiated in 1965, the hall of fame was to honor those who achieved honors in the sport and made dedicated service to it. Selection, after nomination by at least three persons, of as many as three members was permitted each year. A Hall of Fame case with the pictures of each member was displayed during the year at the establishment hosting the team event of the annual city tournament. An identical picture was given to the recipient of the honor. Charter members, all elected posthumously, of the Hall of Fame in 1965 were John ARMSTRONG, Martin UNMACHT, Henry RIEDER, Al Murphy, and Harry Walsh.

1966--William Hessel, Colford N. "Nick" Pauly, Kenneth Roeth

     Pauly served the Dubuque Bowling Association as president from 1956-57 and 1965-66 and
     three terms as a director. In 1966 he was elected a director of the Iowa State Bowling
     Association and served as president from 1973-74. He served the junior bowling level in
     all offices including president and served as an officer of the Iowa State Senior Bowling
     Association. A charter member of the Dubuque 700 Club, he served as "King Pin" (president)
     and other offices. For over fifteen years, Pauly was secretary-treasurer of the Merchants
     League and also held the office of president.

     As a bowler, Nick had a 700 series in 1954-55. He bowled on two different teams that won
     the Dubuque City Bowling Tournament. In the 1960 Iowa State Tournament, he placed 15th in
     team, 15th in doubles, 25th in singles, and 24th in all-events. His career high was a
     709 series, a 196 average and four-279 games. He was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame 
     in 1977.

     Hessel was elected an officer of the DBA in 1946 and served as president in 1951-52. He
     was elected a director of the Iowa State Bowling Association in 1955 and served as
     president in 1962-63. He was a charter member of the Dubuque Chapter #5 of the 700 Club
     and served the organization as an officer. He was also a charter member of the Iowa State
     700 Club and served that organization as secretary-treasurer. He was inducted into the
     USBC Hall of Fame in 1975.

     His accomplishments in bowling include 4 sanctioned 700 series, 1952 Dubuque all-events
     champion, 1957-58 doubles champion, 1960 singles champion, 1962 member of the Iowa State
     700 Club championship team, and 1972 singles champion in the Iowa State 700 Club
     tournament.

     In his first appearance at an ABC tournament, Roeth put together games of 224-257-219 for 
     the first 700 count of his career. He was the only one of an estimated 10,000 bowlers to
     hit the "700" mark by May in the 1965 regular division.

1967--Joe Helling

1968--Merle Tanner/Telegraph-Herald, March 10, 1968, p. 6

Merle Tanner

     In 1968 Tanner was in his 16th year as secretary-treasurer of the DBA. 
     He began bowling in 1942 and was secretary of three 14-team leagues by 
     1948. He was elected president of the DBA in 1948-49 and first elected 
     secretary-treasurer at the start of the 1953-54 season. Tanner was
     instrumental in starting the Awards Program of the DBA and began the 
     DBA officers' tournament in 1964 and directed the Oakland Dairy Holiday 
     bowling tournament over fourteen years.

     As a competitor, he scored 700 counts twice and carried a composite 
     average of 184 for the 1966-67 season. He competed in seven ABC tournaments 
     and every state tournament since his election as secretary-treasurer. He was 
     also known to aid bowlers in times of need. Tanner was inducted into the USBC 
     Hall of Fame in 1968.
		

1969--Charlie Kutsch/Telegraph Herald, March 2, 1969, p. 21

Charlie kutsch

     Largely responsible for bringing the 1969 Iowa State Bowling Association 
     tournament to Dubuque, Kutsch was a past president of the DBA, charter member 
     and president of the Dubuque Chapter of the 700 Club of America, member of the 
     DBA board of directors, and state delegate for ten years. He was president of 
     the Dubuque Classic League for two terms and secretary of the Major League 
     for several years. Kutsch was inducted into the USBA Hall of Fame in 1988.

1971--Merlyn "Spike" Weber

1972--Al "Bud" Gatena

     In 1972 Gatena was the only Dubuque bowler to compete on the Professional 
     Bowlers Association tour and one of two to have represented Dubuque in 
     international competition, Gatena achieved 33 sanctioned counts of 700 or 
     better capped with a 788. He bowled five perfect games, although his 
     highest sanctioned effort was 298 in 1960. He held the city's highest 
     composite average for several seasons, won the city all events title 
     in 1961 and won four titles in the annual Big Ten Singles championships 
     at Creslanes. In addition to his year on the PBA tour, Gatena won five
     Mississippi Valley tournaments and in 1968 bowled a 1942 total for fourth 
     place in the American Bowling Congress national tournament. That resulted 
     in him becoming a member of the United States team which met the Canadian 
     champions. In 1973 he initiated a new bowling tournament called "Future 
     Stars of Dubuque" at Creslanes.

1973--Clem Welsh/Telegraph Herald, March 4, 1973, p. 13

     The owner of Oakland Dairy, Welsh sponsored and supported between 8-10 bowling 
     teams in Dubuque for nearly three decades. In addition he sponsored the Oakland 
     Dairy holiday tournament for eighteen years, a competition which drew between 
     450-500 bowlers. For sixteen years he offered an annual cash prize for the high 
     game and series for both men and women at Fischer Lanes.

     As a competitor, Welsh was a member of the Knights of Columbus state championship 
     team in 1969, member of the Elks state championship team in 1953, and one season 
     had high series at Fischer Lanes with 691.

1975--Russ Bennett/Telegraph-Herald, February 23, 1975, p. 23

     Bennett joined his first league in 134 and competed in his first American 
     Bowling Congress tournament four years later. He rolled an 1,879 all events 
     count scoring 679 in doubles, 632 in singles and 569 in the team events. He 
     achieved his first 700 count (703) on December 12, 1939 and took first place 
     in the Pla-Mor Sweepstakes at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He finished 15th in the
     Petersen Classic in Chicago and was a member of the King of Clubs team that 
     bowled a 3,240 team series in 1941. In the 1948 Iowa State Bowling Tournament 
     he rolled a 705 singles count. Despite a serious injury in an industrial accident, 
     Bennett with Dale Rogers won the doubles title in the 1955 Dubuque city tournament.

1978--A. Bud Oakley/Telegraph Herald, June 24 1992, p. 7

     A survivor of the Battle of the Bulge in WORLD WAR II, Oakley earned three 
     Bronze Stars. Returning to Dubuque, he was active in bowling and was a past 
     president of the Dubuque Bowling Association and a member of the 700 Club.

1979--Ronald "Sammy" Howard/Telegraph Herald, March 30, 1979, p. 5

Ronald Howard

     Howard achieved his first (but unsanctioned) 300 game in 1938 during 
     a practice session. Six years later he rolled his second.  He led his 
     King of Clubs team for a Classic League season-high 3,240 series, bowled 
     a 718 in the same league, placed high in a number of local, state and area
     tournaments and won the Old Style League Classic at La Crosse, Wisconsin 
     in 1948. As a member of the Dubuque Star Beer team, he won the 1955 city 
     championship. He was known as a person willing and able to help others.

1981--Jim Vogt

Jim Vogt

      Vogt was well known around RIVERSIDE BOWL working as the head
      mechanic and co-Manager. He installed the bowling lanes in three 
      different bowling alleys and was a charter Member of the 700 Club.

1984--Mike Erickson, Dick Rice/Telegraph Herald, January 29, 1984, p. 25

Harold Koppes

     The highlight of Mike's career was the 857 series he bowled in 1981. This was 
     the third highest series ever by a left-handed bowler in the United States. 
     It earned him the Ferd Lipovetz Memorial Award presented annually to the member 
     of the National 700 Clubs of America who bowled the highest sanctioned series 
     during the year. He scored 4-300 games, 4-299 games, 2-298 games, and bowled 
     182 series of 700 or more and 3-800 totals. Competing in the Greater Iowa 
     bowling tournaments, he won eight, more than anyone else, and was the top 
     money winner. Bowling in several P.B.A. national and regional tournaments, 
     his best effort was 26th place with a 299 game in Milwaukee. He won several 
     city titles and set a scratch all-events record of 2094 in 1984.

     Erickson served twelve years on the Dubuque Bowling Association's board of 
     directors including president in 1987. He was also a vice president of the 
     Dubuque Junior Board where he served for eight years. In 1989 he was 
     inducted into the Iowa Bowling Hall of Fame and the USBC Hall of Fame in 1989.

     In 1984 Rice competed in his 29th ABC tournament, but said his biggest thrill 
     came in the 1973 ABC at Syracuse when he rolled a 700 series and received the 
     Ferd Lipovitz Trophy. Although he participated in a number of pro-am tournaments 
     in Wisconsin, he never entered professional bowling.

1985--Gerry WIEDERHOLT

1986--Dave Feltes/Telegraph Herald, January 19, 1986, p. 17

     By 1985, Feltes had been a member of 35 league championship teams and rolled 
     forty-nine 700  games. His high game was 299, high series of 763 and a high league 
     average of 212 in 1975. In the sixteen years he entered the Big Ten, he finished 
     fourth or better eleven times, including four first place finishes and two seconds. 
     He had one "Great Dubuque Bowl Off" to his credit.

1987--Frank Hessel/Telegraph Herald, March 8, 1987, p. 12

     The younger brother of William Hessel, a charter member of the Hall of Fame, 
     Frank began his career setting pins at the Casino Lanes. He began bowling in 
     three leagues a week for over forty years and twice a week since 1977. In 1950 
     he rolled a 715 series and received an ABC gold belt from mayor 
     Clarence P. WELU for the accomplishment. In March, 1987 
     he bowled in his 28th ABC tournament in Niagara Falls; he had not missed a state 
     tournament in 45 years.

1988--Dr. Robert McCloskey

1990--C.J. Arthofer

1991--John Wiest

1993--Jerry McGrath

1994--Jim Koob

1995--Mel Hocking

1996--Gene Skinner/Telegraph Herald, May 11, 1996, p. 9

     In 1958 Skinner organized the UAW Local 94 Bowling League at [[RIVERSIDE
     BOWL]] then served as its secretary for ten years. He served as the
     secretary of the Country Club League for eleven years, organized the John
     Deere Early Bird League at IMPERIAL LANES AND LOUNGE in 1973, served as
     secretary of the John Deere #1 League for two years, secretary of the
     Schlitzer League for six years, secretary of the Budweiser League for 
     four years, and president of a summer mixed league'
     
     Skinner was a charter member of the Dubuque Bowling Association Hall of
     Fame board. He was elected a director in 1964 and served as vice-
     president from 1965-1970. From 1980 to 1983 he served the organization as
     assistant secretary-treasurer and 1983-1991 as secretary-treasurer.	

     Skinner was a delegate to the ABC convention four times and a delegate to
     the Iowa State Bowling Association for twenty-nine years. He was a certified
     lane inspector and conducted training schools for local inspectors. He
     was responsible for computerizing the ABC membership and tournament programs,
     running the first computerized city tournament, and encouraging the
     association to do self-processing which saved money. In 1983 he started the
     first local Senior's Tournament. In 1983 he was the Senior Class D singles 
     champion. He won the 1986 Senior Class C singles competition and in 1987
     won the Senior Doubles competition with his wife as his partner.	

1997--Ron Fuerst/Telegraph Herald, March 22, 1997, p. 10

      As a junior bowler at RIVERSIDE BOWL, Fuerst rolled four 700 series and 
      his 757 at age sixteen tied the city record as a junior. In 1979 he helped 
      STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL become the first local high school to win 
      a state team bowling title. In 1984 and 1990 he won the Greater Iowa titles, 
      a 1985 state team title, and first place in the 1990 Budweiser Big 10.
      In 1997 he had been a member of 22 league-championship teams. In 1985, Fuerst 
      won the Iowa Open tournament in Waterloo and earned a place in the United 
      States Open in Venice, Florida. With Louie Wemett, he won the city doubles 
      title in 1993 and twice won the Hank Reider Award for high scratch series in 
      the tournament. In 1995 he set the city tournament record for all-events scratch 
      series with a 2,155. He also won the scratch and handicap titles that year. In 
      1997 Fuerst held more than 250 national honor courts, nine 300 games, four 299s 
      and one 298. In 1995 his high series was 833.  He was named local bowler of the 
      year in 1996.

     Fuerst worked with the local youth sports association beginning in 1979 and 
     headed the program at Riverside beginning in 1994. He certified other coaches 
     for several years and was involved in various state and national programs for 
     juniors.  In 1997 Fuerst was a nine-year member of the Dubuque Bowling Council, 
     had served as a past president of the DBA, and was a current director for the DBA

1998--Jerry Pregler, Gary Fagan/Telegraph Herald, May 13, 1998

Jerry Pregler

Gary Fagan

     Pregler began his career in bowling fifty-one years before his induction 
     into the Hall of Fame and in 1998 had the longest active tenure of bowling
     proprietors in Iowa. As a youth he set pins at the Sacred Heart bowling 
     alley. He took over the HOLY TRINITY LANES in 1950 and began the first
     junior program, first mixed doubles league and the first Sunday league in 
     Dubuque. He helped in the development of Riverside where in 1998 he still 
     handled the books and worked 40-hour weeks during the season. A member of 
     the Iowa Bowling Proprietors Board of Directors and a director for four of 
     those years, he held a charter membership in the Dubuque 700 Club. He played 
     on the team in 1949 which won the city championship.

     Fagan ranked among the best bowlers in Dubuque during the 1960s and 1970s. 
     He won a city team title in 1985 and was the Big Ten high qualifier in 1971. 
     He won tournament titles in the John Deere Mixed Doubles, Ten Pin Mixed 
     Doubles and Shake-Up Singles. He carried a composite average of 191 from 
     1969-1986, scored 1-300, 2-299s, and 44 national honor counts.

1999--Marty Lampe, Gene Kamentz/Telegraph Herald, May 11, 1999, p. 15

     Lampe scored at least one 700 series for seventeen consecutive years beginning in
     1978-79. His 141 national honor counts include 4-800 series, 24-700 series. His high
     series(846) in 1994 set a best count in state tournament history. He won 12 local
     tournament titles, four regional titles, 20 league championships, and 16 league high
     averages.

     Kamentz was well-known as the manager and a partner in Imperial Lanes from 1973 until
     1992. He served several years on the Dubuque Bowling Congress and the State Bowling
     Proprietors Association and was instrumental in developing junior bowling. He competed 
     in many local, state, regional and national tournaments.

2000--Steve Oneyear

     By 2016, Oneyear had competed the twelve national bowling tournaments and 31 Iowa State
     Bowling tournaments where he had 8 top 5 finishes. He was a regular bowler in the 
     Greater Iowa tournaments winning on four different occasions and won four Southwest       
     Wisconsin match game championships. He placed second in the 1980 Buck Rogers
     Tournament. He was a member of the Professional Bowling Association for four years with
     his best finish an 18th place at the Great Lakes tournament. Oneyear was back-to-back
     champion in Dubuque's Big Ten Scratch tournament in 1992 and 1993. His record shows five
     300 games, two 299 games, and one 298 game.

     Oneyear served on the board of the Dubuque Bowling Association, Dubuque 700 Club, and
     the Dubuque Junior Bowling Association board. 

2001--Jack Hancock, Bob Connolly, Jim Gatena

2002--John Wright

2003--Bob Hochrein

Bob Hochrein

     Hochrein's bowling accomplishments include scoring 12st Place 
     in ABC Tournament (1990), 2nd Place All Events in ABC Tournament 
     (1990), 1st Place Singles Events Iowa State Tournament (2001 2003), 
     2nd Place in Iowa Open (1991, 1992, 1993), 1987 Iowa High Qualified, 
     1999-700 Club Jamboree Team Champion, 1996-700 Club Doubles Champion,
     1995-700 Club Jamboree Team Champion, 1989-700 Club Doubles Champion, 
     1987-Rockford, IL Match Game Champion, and 1985-700 Club Doubles 
     Champion. 

     His service to the organization included league secretary (five years), 
     Dubuque Junior Bowling board (10 years), board of directors for the Great 
     Iowa Bowling Association, secretary of the Dubuque 700 Club (12 years), and 
     board of directors of the Dubuque Bowling Association (11 years)

2004--Harold Koppes, Jim Rauscher/Telegraph Herald, May 11 2004, p. 1

Jim Rauscher

Harold Koppes

     In 2004 Rauscher had been a member of the DWA for forty-six years. In addition
     to serving on the board of directors, he coached youth bowling for fifteen years
     and in 2004 was on his third term as the youth association president.

     As a competitor, he rolled 41 national honor counts, carried a 200 plus average 
     for nineteen of the last twenty seasons and scored a 783 series and a 216 average.

     Koppes won the singles title in 1963-1964 with a 709 scratch, set the tournament
     record for high handicap series (769) that lasted fifteen years and won the first
     ever Hank Rieder Award.  

     He helped form the Dubuque Bowling Council in 1976 and served on the local and state
     levels of junior bowling.

2005--Jim Wolf, Floyd M. TOMTER/Telegraph Herald, May 10, 2005, p. 1

     After service in the Navy, Wolf bowled as many as four night weekly for over forty 
     years. He participated in over 30 city tournaments, 18 state tournaments and 16
     ABC national tournaments. He bowled 31 national honors, won several individual and
     team championships at the local and levels.

2006--Dick Koob, Steve Kamentz/Telegraph Herald, May 9, 2006, p. 18

     The induction of Steve Kamentz, son on Gene Kamantz, into the Hall of Fame marked 
     the first time a father-son had been honored. All four of Steve's 300 games were
     bowled with a family member present. He bowled more than 150 national honor counts
     and a pair of 800 series. He won nine league championships, two Dickeyville Team 
     Tournament titles and a first-place trophy from the Iowa Officers Jamboree in 1969.

     Over more than 35 years, he held various league offices, directed the Budweiser Big
     10 for six years and played an important role in the learn-to-bowl programs at
     Imperial Lanes and Creslanes. He rose through the DBA board from director to president.

2007--Paul Rupp/Telegraph Herald, May 8, 2007, p. 9

     Two of Rupp's brightest moments in bowling came during the Budweiser Big 10. In 1984
     he rolled a high qualifying score and national honor count of 1,436. He repeated as
     high qualifier in 1985. He won the consolation bracket of the Big 10 in 1987. In his
     career he accumulated more than 30 national honor counts including a career-high 748.
     He was part of team championships in the 1971 city tournament and three in John Deere
     Interplant tournaments. He also won the 700 Club Classic.

     In service to the association, Rupp was a past president and the 700 Club. He also
     served as the president of the Dubuque Bowling Council, Edwards and Mississippi leagues.

2008--Ron Dohrer/Telegraph Herald, May 12, 2008, p. 9

     Dohrer scored his first 300 game in April, 1997 and added 17 more along with nine 
     800 series. He won the Budweiser Big 10 in 1999 and finished third in 20006 and 2007.
     He accumulated four city championships and a 2002 induction into the Dickeyville
     Bowling Hall of Fame. 

     Dohrer served on the board of the DWA and held various positions in the weekly 
     leagues.    		

2009--Bob Willman/Telegraph Herald, May 12, 2009, p. 9

      In 1991 Willman replaced the retiring Gene Skinner as secretary and served in the
      position through 2009. He began league bowling in 1971 and volunteered to be the
      secretary in the leagues he joined. When his daughters joined the local youth bowling
      program, he volunteered to be the coach.

      On the lanes, he won the 1990 Iowa State 700 Club Jamboree in singles, captured
      several league titles and bowled on the 2005 team that finished second in the city
      tournament.  His high series was 769 and a high game of 279.
		

2010--Larry Portzen, Kurt Schmidt/Telegraph Herald, May 11, 2010, p. 9

2011--Jeff Kamentz, Tom Kramer/Telegraph Herald, May 10, 2011, p. 11

      Kamentz bowled his first 700 at age 16 and scored fifty more before graduating 
      from high school. In 2011 he had more than 400 series of 700 or more including 
      an 819 and another 800. He scored seven perfect (300) games and missed ten others 
      in the 10th frame. He competed briefly on the PBA Regional circuit finishing fifth 
      in Madison, Wisconsin. 

      Kramer's wins include singles and all-events at the Iowa state tournament, 2004 
      Budweiser Big 10 championship, and made the Big 10 finals two other times. He 
      achieved eight perfect games and four series of 800 or better. Like Kamentz, he
      had held several administrative positions in the DBA.
      
      In 2009 and 2010, Kramer coached the WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL boys' and 
      girls' teams to state high school championships.

2012--Jim Leach, Glenn Canfield

2013--Brian White/Telegraph Herald, May 14, 2013, p. 9

Brian White

     By 2013, White had scored 2o series of 800 or more, 600 series of 700 
     or better, 30-300 games and 15 games of 299. He owned 17 league 
     championships as well as Iowa state championships in singles (2000), 
     team (203), and all-events (2007). He won for the Budweiser  Big 10 
     and the Kahuna tournaments in 2007.

     In service to the sport and association, he served as first vice-president 
     for seven years and president of the Bud Light Fleetwood and Timberline 
     Classic leagues.