The Madison USBC Bowling Association will celebrate its 46th Annual Hall of Fame and Bowler Recognition Dinner on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Wyndham Garden Hotel, 2969 Cahill Main, Fitchburg. This year, three area bowlers will be inducted – growing the Hall membership to 138. Bob Richardson will be inducted in the Veterans category, Bill Pounders for Meritorious Service, and Gail Myers Jr. for Distinguished Performance.
Other local bowlers who will be recognized include Jim Grady Bowler of the Year Chris Gibbons, Dan Mack Senior Bowler of the Year Jim Fosdick, and Fred G. Engelke Memorial Scholarship recipient Hannah Yelk.
Other top awards will be presented to the local high average bowler (Fosdick, 245), high composite average bowler (Matt Krueger, 237.45), high series bowler (Krueger, 868), and the association’s most improved bowler Nic Higgins (+28).
ROBERT C. RICHARDSON
Bob Richardson credits his father, Forrest “Rich” Richardson, for introducing him to the lanes, Dave Iverson of Burr Oaks Bowl for coaching and support as a youth bowler, and Stan Stampfli and Jeff Barsness for encouraging his return to the lanes after a 13 year hiatus.
Since that return, he has amassed numerous honor counts over his prolific 27 year career. He has thrown 48 perfect games, including one in the 2013 Association Championship tournament. He rolled the Middleton Sport Bowl high series record of 856, one of his 28 supernational 800 series’. He is regularly on the association high average leaderboard, and had a personal high individual league average of 241 in the 2010-11 season. In 2008-09, he earned the Madison Bowling Association High Composite Average award with 235.
That same year, he won the inaugural MBA Masters Tournament. He owns a Senior Association Championship Team title from 2015-16, and has several top five finishes in regular and senior city tournaments. His other tournament successes include a MAST doubles title, a Lake Ripley 3-Man title, and a second place in State Senior Scratch Doubles.
WILLIAM E. POUNDERS JR.
Bill Pounders’ bowling career began in youth leagues at Northgate Lanes in 1967. A top youth bowler, he won three junior singles titles before graduating to adult leagues. He has maintained his ties to youth bowling as a coach since 1975. As an adult bowler, he won an association Singles title in the 1986-87 season.
That bowling thrives, though, is not only because of high scoring, high average, tournament champions.
This Hall of Fame honors the catalyst behind successful bowling operations for over 40 years. His career started as a pinchaser and then mechanic at Northgate lanes in the early 70’s. He rose to manager at Northgate before moving to manage the old, and then the new, Bowl-A-Vard Lanes. He ultimately became the proprietor of Ten Pin Alley.
Bowling is enjoyed by children at birthday parties, adults at company outings, and association members in leagues and tournaments. The every day, every hour effort put forth by Bill Pounders to ensure that all bowlers love their bowling experience is the hallmark of his extraordinary service career.
GAIL R. MYERS JR.
Gail Myers Jr.’s performance statistics rank among the top amateur bowlers in the nation. Over 24 years, the Monroe native has consistently dominated the top of leaderboards in Madison Bowling Association events, local scratch tournaments, Wisconsin State tournaments, and the USBC Open Championships.
The consummate team player, he has seven Doubles and 10 Team events among his five Madison Bowling Association titles and 14 top five finishes. His best contribution was an 840 series in the 2008-09 Team event. His eight Wisconsin State Bowling Association titles include two in Team and four in Team All Events. He earned USBC Eagles in Team and in Team All Events. He is currently third on the USBC lifetime average leader list at 217.
In singles competition, he has 15 Madison Area Scratch Tour titles in 10 different centers, including four Year End Championships. He was the 1992 state Singles and All Events titlist and was a PBA champion. In league play, he has amassed 37 perfect games and 21 800 series.
Outside of competition, Myers has worked as a collegiate bowling coach developing future bowlers.