Tributes honor the late Dick Weber
Tributes continue to honor the memory of the late Dick Weber, a long-time member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and bowling's most widely-recognized ambassador.

From left, BPAA member Ted Hoffman, BPAA President Jeff Boje, Juanita Weber, IBM/HF Executive Director Jerry Baltz and long-time Budweisers' teammate Ray Bluth were on hand to celebrate the unveiling of the honorary Dick Weber Lane street sign which has been installed on the corner of Walnut and 7th Streets in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved the posting of an honorary "Dick Weber Lane" street sign at the corner of Walnut and 7th Street in front of the International Bowling Museum. St. Louis proprietor Gary Voss initiated the project and the bill was successfully shepherded through the Board of Aldermen by Alderwoman Phyllis Young.

The unveiling ceremony was the highlight of a reception for the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Board of Directors following its meeting in St. Louis. Guests included Dick and Juanita Weber's children Rich, John, Paula and Pete and their spouses, Museum Trustee John Sommer and BPAA President Jeff Boje. PBA and ABC Hall of Famer Ray Bluth, Weber's long-time Budweiser teammate and doubles partner, made heartwarming and humorous comments to the gathering.

"Dick Weber was the Museum's best friend", said Museum Executive Director Gerald W. Baltz, "and I am honored that the friendship continues through Juanita and the children."

A special exhibit honoring Weber has been on display on the Museum's upper level since shortly after his death in February.

BWAA Executive Director Steve James also confirmed the Weber family has approved the use of Weber's name in conjunction with its Bowler of the Year award. The award, which has recognized the world's premier bowler each calendar year since 1942, will be re-named the BWAA Dick Weber Male Bowler of the Year.

In addition, AMF Bowling Centers Inc. has announced a Dick Weber Scholarship League program will honor the company's 48-year relationship with the legendary bowling star. Youth league bowlers in AMF-owned bowling centers nationally will share in $350,000 in scholarships annually through the new scholarship program.

Joliet's Mary Jane Sporar retires
Mary Jane Sporar, who covered bowling for the Joliet Herald News for 54 of her 56 years of activity as a bowling writer, has retired. The Joliet and Illinois WBA Hall of Famer also was a long-time WIBC Board member who was granted WIBC Member Emeritae status when she left that position.

The Bowling News' Joe Gennaro celebrates 49th year
At age 79, The Bowling News founder, editor and publisher Joe Gennaro is celebrating his 49th year of providing weekly bowling news to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Over the years, Gennaro has published more than 2,400 editions (50 a year for 48+ years), missing only three issues when his son fell severely ill.

Despite personally undergoing surgery to treat cancer and an eight-week hospital stay in 2004 after sustaining serious head injuries in a fall, the Brooklyn-born Gennaro, his wife and featured columnist Jim Woodruff have kept the publication alive and vibrant. And Gennaro still personally delivers copies to all of the Metroplex area bowling centers he serves on a weekly basis.

Effects of hurricanes on Gulf Coast bowling centers vary
Special Report from Baton Rouge Advocate writer and BWAA member Kent Lowe

(In August), we hinted that there were some serious implications to the bowling industry in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
The news in Louisiana certainly has to be taken on a case-by-case, center-by-center basis and Marc Pater of the Louisiana Bowling Proprietors Association has provided the following information that he has been able to gather from owners and proprietors of various centers in South Louisiana:

• AMF ALL-STAR LANES IN KENNER: There was water and roof damage and repairs are labeled extensive. The center hopes to be up and running by year's end.
• BOWLING USA SLIDELL: The back wall destroyed, extensive water damage, including under the lanes. Repairs are to begin soon to hopefully get the house up and running January or February.
• CIRCLE BOWL BATON ROUGE: Lost power for five days with extensive damage to the air-conditioning unit. The loss of power was the most extensive for any local bowling venue.
• COLONIAL LANES: The center is up and running after losing power for three weeks. The restaurant continues to serve as a site to feed troops, police and the Red Cross.
• EXPRESSWAY LANES IN GRETNA: The roof collapsed over some of the lanes. The plans are to repair in hopes for an early 2006 opening.
• MID-CITY LANES (THE HOME OF THE FAMOUS ROCK AND BOWL IN NEW ORLEANS): The city's oldest lanes had water on the first floor, but the lanes are on the second floor. There is no timetable to re-open.
• IMPERIAL LANES IN ARABI: The hardest-hit center in the state with 13 feet of water in the center. The lanes are a total loss and rebuilding is dependent on many factors, but if it does, it will be two to three years down the road.
• RIVER BEND LANES IN LAPLACE: Some water in the center, but not too much damage and the center is back in operation already.
• SPORTS CENTERS USA IN LAKE CHARLES: No damage to building, waiting on reopening of the city in the week ahead to start back after Rita.
• TIFFANY SPORTS CENTER IN MANDEVILLE: Had a large tree fall through roof and the house had much water damage. Plans to repair and reopen in February or March.
• MAGIC CITY BOWL IN BOGALUSA: Extensive damage. Reopen status to be determined.
• PETRO BOWL IN LAKE CHARLES: Unable to contact center officials on status.
• SUGAR/ORBIT LANES IN NEW ORLEANS: Extensive water damage. The center is closed with reopening status in doubt.
  

BWAA'S James enters ABC Hall

BWAA Executive Director Steve James (left), a long-time American Bowling Congress communications executive, was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Baton Rouge, La., in March 2005 along with Minnesota's Todd Savoy (center), Detroit's Bob Chamberlain (right) and Walter Ray Williams Jr. (not pictured).
(back to top)