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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
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
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. He 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
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
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
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 March, 1989 he was inducted into the Iowa
Bowling Hall of Fame. He was inducted into 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
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
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
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 Tomter
2006--Dick Koob, Steve Kamentz
2007--Paul Rupp
2008--Ron Dohrer
2009--Bob Willman
2010--Larry Portzen, Kurt Schmidt
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
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.