September 14, 2007
By: Mark Martin
DETROIT
BOWLING HALL OF FAME ELECTEES
The
Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame Committee, a committee of the Metro Detroit USBC
Association (MDUSBC), has elected six new members to its Hall of Fame and named
three others for special awards.
Virginia
Austin of Detroit, Carol Davis of Lake Orion, Quintin Greene of Dearborn
Heights, George (Mike) Lee of Dearborn Heights, Alvin Harrison of Southfield and
George Zainea of Grosse Pointe Woods earned entrance into the hall and Joe
Guotana of New Boston, Dave Beachnau of Allen Park and Randall Shank of Sterling
Heights will receive special awards.
Virginia
Austin began bowling at a relatively late stage in life in 1984 and averaged 131
her first year. She progressed quickly and by the 1996-97 season she was
averaging over 200 and continues at that level currently. Her high average was
recorded in the 2004-05 season at 217.
Her
resume includes three first team and one second team all-city honors. She has
eight 300 games, two 299 games, five 298 games and three 800 series with a high
series of 837 in 2007.
She
won the Detroit WBA Doubles title in 2000 and the MDUSBC Singles title in 2007.
Additionally she won the 500 Club crown in 1994 and the Hoinke Ladies Doubles
title in 2002.
Carol
Davis has been a stellar bowler for several years and primarily earned her
honors as a member of the Pontiac WBA. A 200 average bowler since the 1995-96
season, she recorded her lifetime high average in the 2006-07 season with 214.
Her record includes three 300 games, two 299 games and a high series of 819.
She
earned six Pontiac WBA All-City selections and earned MDUSBC Women’s Senior
All-City in 2007.
She
has fared well in Michigan Women’s competition with a third place finish in
the Michigan Senior Queens in 2002 and a second place finish in 2003.
Locally
she was a member of the Actual Team Champion in the Detroit WBA Tournament in
1993. In the Pontiac WBA she was a member of the Actual Team Champion in 1996,
1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; Actual Singles Champion in 2001 and 2002;
and Actual All-Events in 2001 and 2002. In 2007 she was runner-up in the MDUSBC
Queens Tournament.
She
also holds a record 10 titles in the Midwestern Women’s Bowling Association.
Quintin
Greene has averaged over 220 for most of his career recording a high average of
226 in 1994. He has twelve 300 games, one 299 game and seven 800 series with a
high of 836.
Three
times he has been named to the All-City team with one first team and two second
team selections.
He
has participated in 29 consecutive ABC/USBC National Tournaments with a lifetime
average of 197, which includes two top 100 finishes in doubles and a high
all-events score of 2,031. He also was a member of the championship team in
inaugural ABC World Team Challenge event in 1992.
Twice
he was a member of the
In
local competition he won the prestigious GDBA Masters in 1992 and finished third
in the event in 1990 and 1996. In 1990 he also won the GDBA Doubles.
He
won three titles in the Michigan Majors, was Rookie of the Year in 1984 and
named to the Michigan Majors Hall of Fame in 2001.
For
18 years he has coordinated the Dearborn Heights Kiwanis Handicap Charity
Tournament and has participated in the event for 26 years. Over his career he
has contributed to numerous other charity bowling events.
George
(Mike) Lee has been an outstanding performer on the lanes for many years. He has
bowled in the Detroit All-Star Classic for 38 years, winning four championships
and two Cup championships.
His
record includes twenty-one 300 games, several 299 games and three 800 series
with a high of 836.
He
has been named to the All-City team three times, twice on the first team and
once on the second team.
He
has won three GDBA titles, team in 1982, all-events in 1990 and doubles in 1990.
He also was runner-up in the GDBA Masters in 1990.
Three
times he has been a member of the winning team in the Michigan State Bowling
Association tournament.
He
has participated in 26 ABC/USBC National Tournaments averaging over 190.
In
Michigan Majors competition he has won four titles, was the leading money winner
in 1986, bowled a 300 game on TV to win a title in 1994 and elected to the
Michigan Majors Hall of Fame in 1993.
Other
tournament titles include the ABC World Team Challenge, Can-Am Baker Doubles and
the Gavie Team Tournament.
Alvin
Harrison has earned his stripes as a member of the bowling media. As the bowling
writer for the Observer Eccentric Newspapers he writes a regular column and
covers bowling news in the local market.
He
served as a director for the Greater Detroit Bowling Association from 1996 until
2006 when the GDBA merged with others to form the Metro Detroit USBC
Association.
He
also has served on the Old Timer’s Board since 1995 and was the president in
2000.
He
served as director and promoter of the Senior – Youth Bowling Challenge which
raised money for scholarships for youth bowlers and involved in the annual
Evergreen Children’s Services “Bowlathon” to help prevent child abuse.
George
Zainea has literally been involved in bowling for his entire life. His family
purchased Garden Bowl in
George
and his brother Joe took over the business and expanded into other areas of the
bowling business including pro shop, bowling lane installation and lane
resurfacing.
Detroit
Bowling and Trophy was an outgrowth of his involvement in bowling and continues
today at DBT Promotional Marketing Group.
His
influence on the local bowling industry is legendary including involved in the
design and establishment of the Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame exhibit at
Thunderbowl Lanes.
George
continues as a member of the Old Timer’s Board and an active bowler.
Joe
Guotana will be honored with the Thomas W. McKay Award for a lifetime of service
to the sport of bowling.
Dave
Beachnau of the Detroit Metro Sports Commission, will receive the Judge Watts
Award for making outstanding contributions to the promotion of bowling.
Randall
Shank will receive the George Prybyla Industry Award presented for someone
involved in the ownership or management of a bowling center that has contributed
to the promotion of the sport.
Induction
ceremonies will take place Sunday, November 11, 2007 at the
------
HONOR SCORES
300
Games
Date,
Name, Hometown, Center, League
Sept. 5, David Maiorana Sr., Rochester Hills, Van Dyke Bowl, Wednesday Nite Men
Sept. 5, David Beare, Hartland, Century Bowl, Barhoppers
Sept.
9, David McElroy,
Sept.
9, Timothy Lowell,
Sept.
9, Ronnie Bowlson II,
Sept.
11,
800
Series
Sept. 11, Scott Hansen (814), Madison Hts., Imperial Lanes, Knights and Guards
Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column on Fridays for The Daily Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.