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V.A. WAPENSKY AWARD

Putting Contacts to Good Use

Hamilton’s position as a publisher opened doors for raising funds.

BY JOHNNY CAMPOS

or more than partner, Mike Panozzo, purchased Hamilton also is a co-founder and
F 40 years, LPI in 1994. chairman (from 2005 to 2009) of the
Keith Hamilton “I think my status was really ele- IBPSIA Advisory Board.
has been involved vated when I created BCM (Bowling “I created the IBPSIA Advisory
at the highest Center Management),” he said. “I Board with John Berglund,” he said.
levels of some of also created Pro Shop Operator and “For five years, we advised IBPSIA
the most influen- Bowling Entertainment Center. We when they had just moved into the
tial organizations also did U.S. Bowler for the USBC. campus. We were able to be an
in the bowling “I grew the Luby Publishing important bridge and help them.
industry. Keith Hamilton empire. Nobody had ever done that. Two years in a row (2014 and 2015),
Those include I wanted to make sure that each they honored me with the Friends
Luby Publishing Inc., the Inter- niche had its own magazine.” of IBPSIA Award.”
national Bowling Museum and As a 20-year member of the Hamilton worked with the PBA
Hall of Fame, the International bowling museum’s board of direc- for six years prior to the sale of the
Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors tors, Hamilton also had a hand in organization to Bowlero Corp.
Association (IBPSIA), the Interna- the decision to move the location of “The PBA was struggling and
tional Bowling Media Association the hall from St. Louis to the USBC at a critical point,” he said. “I ran
(IBMA), the Bowlers to Veterans campus in Arlington, Texas. their membership department and
Link (BVL) and the Professional “I was on the executive committee also was involved in the financials.
Bowlers Association. for half of my 20 years on the board, I played a key role in selling to
The Bowling Proprietors’ Asso- first as the vice chairman and then Bowlero. But what was weird about
ciation of America is recognizing as chairman,” said Hamilton, who that is that you’re doing your best
his efforts by awarding Hamilton was chairman and president from job on the PBA’s behalf, knowing
this year’s V.A. Wapensky Award, 2011 to 2014. “As the chairman, I that you’re going to lose your
named after the BPAA’s long-time was able to work with Reno to open contract.”
executive director, V.A. “Chief” up the satellite museum in the Hamilton recently took over as
Wapensky. National Bowling Stadium. I found the executive director of the Illinois
“I am humbled to receive this a home for the portraits (of WIBC State Bowling Proprietors Asso-
award,” Hamilton said. “A lot of Hall of Fame members) that had ciation. He believes that since he
this has to do with timing. There’s a hung in St. Louis.” and Panozzo sold his magazines
certain time in any timeline that is As president of the IBMA, Ham- in 2020 — with Bowlers Journal
significant and presents an oppor- ilton, a member of the IBMA Hall going to USBC and BCM/BEC and
tunity.” of Fame, was able to help the group PSO to BPAA — he had become
Hamilton took advantage of those with his financial guidance. “a forgotten soul” in the bowling
opportunities and played a hand in “We doubled our revenue and industry.
some landmark decisions during his increased the award for the Chuck “I think getting this job is what
career. Pezzano Scholarship,” he said. “I put me over the edge. That’s prob-
He is probably best known for his had the contacts to do it and was in ably why I’m getting this award,”
association with Luby Publishing, a good position to raise revenues.” he said. “After I sold the magazines,
the long-time publisher of Bowlers Hamilton also is on the BVL’s the identity was gone. But I’ll always
Journal International. board of directors, serving as trea- be identified as a publisher and a
Hamilton first joined that com- surer for the organization. volunteer.”
pany in 1981 as an intern, and “BVL is booming, but I give And now, his name will forever
eventually worked his way up to 95 percent of the credit to John appear on the list of V.A. Wapensky
part owner. He and his business LaSpina,” he said. Award recipients.

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