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Victor Lerner Memorial Medal & BPAA Hall of Fame

The Victor Lerner Memorial Medal was one of the first awards recommended in 1975 when the board of directors adopted an awards program. It was to be awarded to the person who had devoted a “lifetime of selfless service” to bowling and was not exclusive to proprietors prior to 1981. In 1986 the BPAA Hall of Fame wing of the International Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis was unveiled and this was to house the past and future Victor Lerner Memorial Medal winners and represent those individuals inducted into BPAA’s Hall of Fame.

Today the Lerner Medal is the highest honor awarded by the BPAA and still recognizes an individual for a lifetime of service to the bowling industry as well as induction into the BPAA’s Hall of Fame now located at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas.

1976 - Eddie Goldberg
1977 - Frank Baker
1978 - Roy Snyder
1979 - Sam Levine
1980 - Alberta Crowe
1981 - Billy Williams
1982 - Dez Isaacson
1983 - Don Lowry
1984 - C.C. Bearden
1985 - Ted Sieler
1986 - Rex Golobic
1987 - Nick Mormando
1988 - Manny Levy
1989 - Carl Hindel
1990 - Ruben Dankoff

1991 - Frank Caprise
1992 - Pete Santora
1993 - Harry Wells
1994 - Neil Scherbarth
1995 - Syl Sobanski
1996 - Sonny Frantz
1997 - Walter Hall
1998 - Don Hillman
1999 - Erv Hoinke, Jr.
2000 - Keijiro Nakano
2001 - V.A. “Chief” Wapensky
2002 - John LaSpina
2003 - William Bojè
2004 - Jamie Brooks
2005 - John Crum

2006 - Ruth Macklin
2007 - John Sommer
2008 - Howard Baum
2009 - Rex Haney
2010 - Ted Hoffman, Jr.
2011 - Pat Ciniello
2012 - Jeff Bojè
2013 - Jack Moran
2014 - Michael Ducat
2015 - Mark Voight
2016 - Wes Becker
2017 - Dick Corley
2018 - Tom Martino
2019 - Catherine A. DeSocio
2020 - Neil Hupfauer

2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Nancy Schenk
2023 - Mike Aulby
2024 - Al Blough

President's Medal

In 1975 when an awards program was adopted by the board of directors, the President’s Medal was one of the three initial awards proposed. The President’s Medal was to be awarded for outstanding service over the previous 18 months.

Today the President’s Award is presented to an individual, who in the eyes of the President, is judged to have given exceptional support and/or made significant contributions to the association.

1976 - Manny Levy
1977 - Don Lowry
1978 - Frank Caprise
1979 - Billy Williams
1980 - Neil Scherbarth
1981 - Nick Mormando
1982 - Don Hillman
1983 - Rex Golobic
1984 - Ruben Dankoff
1985 - Al Hurwitz
1986 - Walter Hall
1987 - Syl Sobanski
1988 - Pete Santora
1989 - Don Drooker
1990 - Sonny Frantz
1991 - Al Winkel

1992 - Jack Thomas
1993 - Marcel Fournier
1994 - Howard Baum
1995 - Bruce Davis
1996 - John LaSpina
1997 - Dennis Fanucchi
1998 - Kurt Brose
1999 - Jerry Ray
2000 - Frank DeSocio
2001 - Ruth Macklin
2002 - Alan Douglas
2003 - Cathy Cooper
2004 - Patrick Ciniello
2005 - Michael Ducat
2006 - Rex Haney
2007 - Jack Moran

2008 - Ed Zitnik
2009 - Larry Moyes
2010 - Tom Martino
2011 - Mark Voight
2012 - John Losito
2013 - Dick & Tim Corley
2014 - Kevin Krauss
2015 - Cathy DeSocio
2016 - Jeff Bojè
2017 - Scott Devers
2018 - Diane Voight
2019 - Jamie Brooks
2020 - Andy Bartholomy
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Roger Nyquist
2023 - Amy Arcuri

2024 - Brian Borowski

V.A. Wapensky Award

In 1985 the “BPAA Special Award” was established to recognize an individual who had made a major contribution to the advancement of the bowling industry. In 1992 this award was renamed the V.A. Wapensky Award after BPAA’s long-time executive director, V. A. “Chief” Wapensky.

Today this award recognizes an individual whose overall major contribution to the advancement of the bowling industry involves endless good nature, remarkable business savvy, love for bowling and continual promotion of the game both locally and nationally.

1985 - Eddie Elias
1986 - Roger Tessman
1987 - Mort Luby
1988 - Jack Reichert
1989 - Chris Schenkel
1990 - Remo Picchietti
1991 - Flora Mitchell
1992 - Jim Bennett
1993 - Keijiro Nakano
1994 - Sandy Hansell
1995 - Helen Duval
1996 - Allen Crown
1997 - Joyce Deitch

1998 - John Sommer, Jr.
1999 - Jim Dressel
2000 - Joe Schoenberg
2001 - Dick Weber
2002 - Chuck Pezzano
2003 - Hazel McLeary
2004 - Alton Forbes
2005 - Frank Esposito
2006 - Sylvia Broyles
2007 - Dick Evans
2008 - Bruce Davis
2009 - Mike Hennessy
2010 - Roger Dalkin

2011 - Bob Gudorf
2012 - John Davis
2013 - Hero Noda
2014 - Gary Forman
2015 - Bill Chrisman
2016 - Rick Goins
2017 - Andy Bartholomy
2018 - Albert Blough
2019 - Jim Stubler
2020 - Roger Philipi
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Hiroshi Funaki
2024 - Keith Hamilton

Proprietor of the Year Award

At the 1975 board of directors meeting in Miami Beach, an awards program was initially adopted and Certificates of Achievement were one of the first awards created by then Executive Director Chief Wapensky and proposed by the Association Research and Study Committee. The Awards Committee was created as a result of the program and the Proprietor of the Year awards evolved from the Certificates of Achievement awards.

Today this prestigious award is presented to a proprietor for outstanding contributions to the industry and the sport of bowling. One who “pushes the envelope” of the industry and is successful at it…and willingly shares their knowledge with others to make the industry better.

2016 - Jim Chambers, Cloverleaf Family Bowl—Fremont, CA
2017 - John Losito, Sun Valley Lanes—Lincoln, NE
2018 - The Buffaloe Family, Buffaloe Lanes--Raleigh, NC
2019 - Mike Logan
2020 - Mike Divis
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Don MacBrayne
2023 - Doug Bohannon
2024 - Steve Wiemer

Ruben A. Dankoff Award

In 2001 the Ruben A. Dankoff award for Public Policy and Legislative Service was created to recognize a proprietor or bowling industry leader who, or a proprietor organization which, provides outstanding voluntary service on the federal, state or local government levels in the development of legislation, public policy initiatives or other political efforts, which benefits BPAA members, the BPAA itself or the bowling industry as a whole.

2001 - Ruben A. Dankoff
2002 - Dick Tanner
2003 - Charlie Hall & PA BPA: Norm Brumberg, Doug Eiserman, Terry Brenneman & Al Blough
2004 - Bob Herbolsheimer
2005 - Jerry Ray
2006 - Ron Richard
2007 - Rex Golobic
2008 - Kenn Rockler
2009 - New York State BPA
2010 - Bob Stubler
2011 - No Recipient
2012 - No Recipient
2013 - Bill DeDominicis
2014 - David Bardon
2015 - Debra Bojè
2016 - Reggie Frederick
2017 - Roger Nyquist
2018 - No Recipient
2019 - Steve Wiemer
2020 - No Recipient
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Bryce Smith
2023 - Alison Ibarra
2024 - Joe LaSpina

Dick Weber Award

In 2005 the Dick Weber Ambassador Award was created as a way to continue the memory and legacy of bowling legend Dick Weber after his untimely passing. The award is named in his memory as he was bowling’s global ambassador who spent a lifetime setting the standard for all bowling athletes by elevating the positive image of bowling and promoting the game and sport of bowling to all ages both on and off the lanes. Weber was known as a tireless ambassador of the sport and rarely passed up an opportunity to promote it.

This award is presented to a bowling athlete who has consistently shown grace on and off the bowling lanes by promoting the game and sport of bowling in a positive manner.

2006 - Dick Ritger
2007 - Helen Duval
2008 - Carmen Salvino
2009 - Mike Aulby
2010 - Johnny Petraglia
2011 - Parker Bohn III
2012 - Norm Duke
2013 - Bob Hart
2014 - Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
2015 - Kelly Kulick
2016 - Lynda Barnes
2017 - Jason Belmonte
2018 - Shannon O'Keefe
2019 - John Janawicz
2020 - Tim Mack
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Kyle Troup
2024 - Verity Crawley

Special Projects

In 1995 BPAA instituted the Special Projects Award to be presented to an individual (or individuals) recognizing their efforts and contributions on a particular special BPAA and/or bowling project.

Past Recipients

1995 - Jim Patrick
1996 - Hank Totzke
1997 - Ed Zitnik, Mike Hennessy
1998 - Ruth Macklin, Brett Dankoff, David Spiegel, Larry Moyes
1999 - Chuck Seiberling, Ron Tomassoni
2000 - Jeff Bojé, Alan Douglas, Rick Bourgeois
2001 - Peppe Smith, Bill Scheid, Bob Reid
2002 - Bob Jarlenski
2003 - Dave Haness
2004 - Don Labrecque, Roger Wiemer
2005 - Luby Publishing
2006 - Greg Olsen, Scott Bennett
2007 - C. J. Fox
2008 - Wally Hall
2009 - Hank Harris
2010 - Dan Labrecque
2011 - None Awarded
2011 - Bev Van Blair
2013 - Hall of Fame Xtravaganza
2014 - Natalie Savant
2015 - None Awarded
2016 - Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
2017 - Dave Driscoll
2018 - Jack McCarthy
2019 - Mandy Haws
2020 - Daroll and Dolores Frewing
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Classic Products

BPAA Media Award

This award is presented to an individual or organization that has helped bring awareness to and promoted the bowling industry through media efforts.

Past Recipients

2003 - Rick Press, Fort Worth (TX) Star Telegram
2004 - Bud Fisher
2005 - Ellen DeGeneres
2006 - ESPN
2007 - Good Morning America
208 - Matt Fiorito, Detroit Free Press
2009 - Kent Lowe – Baton Rouge Advocate
2010 - No Recipient
2011 - ESPN Radio Mike and Mike in the Morning
2012 - No Recipient
2013 - John & Joe Laspina
2014 - Chicago Sun-Times
2015 - Kids Bowl Free
2016 - Dude Perfect
2017 - Kevin Hong
2018 - Keith Hamilton
2019 - Mookie Betts
2020 - Tom Clark
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - Dave Portnoy
2024 - Amleto Monacelli

BPAA USBC Association Award

Originally Best WIBC Local Association Award and Best ABC Local Association Award and after merger award became the BPAA USBC Association Award. Recognizes exemplary USBC associations that demonstrate a high degree of cooperation and collaboration with their local proprietors.

This relationship is critical since local associations represent the “consumer” and BPAA member centers are the “playing fields” for bowling. BPAA appreciates how local USBC associations work with member centers and acknowledges examples of how this relationship can work at the highest level.

1999 - ABC Award - Albuquerque Bowling Association
WIBC - Tampa Women’s Bowling Association

2000 - ABC - Oscoda Bowling Association
WIBC - Meridian Women’s Bowling Association

2001 - ABC - Greater St. Paul Bowling Association
WIBC - Bellefontaine (OH) Women’s Bowling Association

2002 - ABC - Lexington Area Bowling Association
WIBC - Lexington Women’s Bowling Association

2003 - ABC - Norfolk Bowling Association
WIBC - Tidewater Women’s Bowling Association

2005 - ABC - Dodge City (KS) Bowling Association
WIBC - San Diego Women’s Bowling Association

2006 - Great Plains USBC
2007 - Staten Island USBC
2008 - Suburban Windy City USBC
2009 - No winner
2010 - No winner
2011 - Greater Killeen-Fort Hood USBC
2012 - No winner
2013 - No winner
2014 - Harrisburg USBC
2015 - Metro Detroit USBC
2016 - Greater San Antonio USBC
2017 - Greater Baton Rouge USBC
2018 - Southern Nevada USBC
2019 - Central Ohio USBC
2020 - The Sarasota Manatee USBC Association
2021 - No Recipient
2022 - The North Central Texas USBC Association
2023 - Louisville Metro USBC
2024 - Greater Tampa USBC Association

“The BPAA is pleased to honor these award recipients for their outstanding service to the industry and hopes they inspire others to share their passion for bowling with others,” Randy Thompson, BPAA President and Awards Committee Chairman, said.

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