HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BOWLING CONGRESS/USBC
The American Bowling Congress (ABC) was established on September 9, 1895, in New York City. It emerged as a significant organization by standardizing scoring, with Louis Stein's proposal of 300 for a perfect game gaining approval. Samuel Karpf was appointed the first Secretary.
Initially comprising representatives from New York City, Brooklyn, and Buffalo, ABC quickly expanded to include members from eight other cities. Over the years, it instituted programs and rules that are fundamental to today's game, including lane certification, award programs, and financial statements for convention delegates.
ABC moved its headquarters to Milwaukee in 1907, starting the ABC Tournament in Chicago in 1901. Elmer Baumgarten became Secretary in 1932, initiating the publication of The ABC Bulletin, later renamed Bowling Magazine. The ABC Hall of Fame was formed in 1941, and the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum opened in St. Louis in 1984.
Frank Baker's election as Executive Secretary in 1951 marked significant growth, with membership reaching 3 million by 1960. Technological advancements like automatic pin setters and plastic-coated pins were approved. Membership grew to approximately 4.5 million bowlers by the late 1980s. Darold Dobbs held the position in 1989, and ABC remains the world's largest sports organization.
In 1994, ABC allowed female bowlers to join. Several services offered include uniform playing rules, awards programs, supplies, bonding for league officers, charity help, uniform equipment, tournaments, and rule enforcement.
During 1995-98, ABC and WIBC made changes, combining materials and forming a single delivery system. Despite initial resistance, the organizations merged into the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) in 2005, unifying membership organizations with a significant majority vote.
Jim Bevins from Knoxville, Tennessee was installed as the 89th President of ABC on June 8, 2002, serving many years on the Board. In March 2003, the merger proposal with WIBC and YABA failed, but it passed in March 2004, leading to the formation of USBC. On May 5, 2005, ABC, WIBC, and YABA approved the unification.
The TSBA and TWBA decided not to merge at this time.
PAST PRESIDENTS & SECRETARIES
THE GNBA WAS FOUNDED
APRIL 13, 1937
1937-38 - PRES: JOHN SEABOLT
(ACTING PRESIDENT)
SEC: NEWTON MOORE
(ACTING SECRETARY)
1938-39 - PRES: LEON LANGFORD
SEC: RUSSELL HOLDERR
1939-43 - PRES: RUSSELL HOLDER
SEC: ROBERT THOMPSON
1943-47 - PRES: ROY NOWLIN
SEC: R W HARTMAN
1947-48 - PRES: KARL STALLINGS
SEC: DH (BUD) OLIVER
1948-49 - PRES: CK MEYER
SEC: DH (BUD) OLIVER
1949-50 - PRES: FLETCHER GRIGG
SEC: DH (BUD) OLIVER
1950-51 - PRES: BILL HUND
SEC: DH (BUD) OLIVER
& JACK WHITE
1951-52 - PRES: DALE BROCKMAN
SEC: JACK WHITE
1952-54 - PRES: TJ VAN PATTEN
SEC: BILL HUND
1954-55 - PRES: ALLEN BURNETT
SEC: BILL HUND
1955-56 - PRES: ARNOLD POSTON
SEC: BILL HUND
1956-58 - PRES: JOHN KAISER
SEC: BILL HUND
1958-59 - PRES: GEORGE BREAULT
SEC: BILL HUND
1959-61 - PRES: EULA PITTS
SEC: MIKE BOBBY
1961-62 - PRES: EULA PITTS
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1962-63 - PRES: CHARLES BROWN
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1963-64 - PRES: EDDIE RANDOLPH
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1964-69 - PRES: BROOKS BEARDEN
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1969-74 - PRES: JIM ROLLINS
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1974-77 - PRES: JOHN JANUARY
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1977-78 - PRES: PAUL LAWSON
SEC: CG MONTGOMERY
1978-79 - PRES: PAUL LAWSON
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1979-81 - PRES: ET RAWLS
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1981-83 - PRES: A C ARMSTRONG
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1983-85 - PRES: MILTON JOLLEY
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1985-87 - PRES: BOB ERVIN
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1987-89 - PRES: MIKE MILLSPAUGH
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1989-91 - PRES: JACKIE HATCHER
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1991-93 - PRES: JERRY ARMSTRONG
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1993-95 - PRES: KEN R BURD
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1995-97 - PRES: ED CAPPS
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1997-99 - PRES: BILL GANN
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
1999-01 - PRES: FRED TROUPE, JR
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
2001-03 - PRES: CHUCK REED
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
2003-05 - PRES: CLAUDE COLLIER
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
PAST PRESIDENTS AND SECRETARIES OF NASHVILLE USBC BA
2005-06 - PRES: PAUL M. SCHELL
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
2006-09 - PRES: TONY FAWBUSH
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
PAST PRESIDENTS, SECRETARIES/ASSOCIATION MANAGERS OF NASHVILLE AREA USBC BA
2009-12 - PRES: CHIP CONNOR
SEC: JIM ROLLINS
2012-15 - PRES: GENE SANDERS
& CHIP CONNOR
SEC: SUSAN CAMPBELL
2015-16 - PRES: CHIP CONNOR
SEC: SUSAN CAMPBELL
2016-18 - PRES: JOHN DANIEL
SEC: SUSAN CAMPBELL
HISTORY OF THE GREATER NASHVILLE BOWLING ASSOCIATION (GNBA)
The Greater Nashville Bowling Association (GNBA) was established on April 13, 1937. John Seabolt was elected chairman and Newt Moore as temporary secretary. The initial officers included a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer with dues set at $3.00 per team.
In 1938, ten leagues were represented at the annual meeting, and new officers were elected. By 1940, there were nine sanctioned leagues and 74 teams. The first city bowling tournament was held from February 5th to 13th, 1944.
In 1944, the Old Hickory Bowling Association consolidated with the GNBA. Annual tournaments continued at various locations with different fee structures. Memberships grew, and by 1947, the association had 1368 sanctioned bowlers.
Key milestones include the election of officers, adjustments in tournament fees, and notable members' contributions. In 1961, the association incorporated and became known as the GNBA.
In the 1990s, the ABC/WIBC began combining associations and introduced rules and materials for joint use. The GNBA adopted the WINLABS computer program in 1998.
Significant events include Ben Krise serving until his death in 2000, Berry Thomas setting a world record in 2001, and several member passings. In 2005, the ABC and WIBC approved a proposal to unify membership organizations. The GNBA decided not to merge, and its new name became the Nashville Area USBC BA, effective August 1, 2005.
Middle Tennessee Area Bowling Association