Cyber Report #1,010

E-dition No. 1,010 • Friday, July 6, 2018

Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)

 

Jamie Brooks Receives Flowers for the Living Award

 

Iconic proprietor, bowler, and tournament promoter Jamie Brooks of Plano Texas, was honored with the 55th Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award during International Bowl Expo is Las Vegas.

 

Brooks, 83, has been in the bowling business since 1955. During his long career, he has owned 44 bowling centers. He currently has ownership in three centers in the Texas communities of Fort Worth, Allen and Plano.

 

Brooks has remained a unique and independent businessman and bowler during his seven decades in the industry and sport.

 

“The Flowers award recognizes those who have demonstrated integrity and straightforwardness over a long period of their careers,” said Jim Goodwin, who chairs the committee that oversees the award. “It goes to people we all love and admire — not for any spectacular accomplishment but for doing the right thing for the right reasons; not just for what is accomplished, but also for what a person stands for.”

 

Brooks has always stood not only for what is best for the business, but also for the good of the sport and how it is played with dignity and honesty across the world. He has employed and trained thousands of people, and has worked with volunteers from local, state and national associations on committees and hundreds of projects. Brooks never hesitates to reach out to fellow proprietors, employees and friends in times of need, offering whatever help he can.

 

Brooks believes that bowling is a sport for all ages, and his youth programs have been and continue to be some of the best in the nation. He has been generous with his time and sponsorship to start youth leagues and keep youth bowlers in the spotlight.

 

An accomplished bowler himself, Brooks has supported the professional tours, and has held his own in many pro and top amateur tournaments. He continues to bowl today at a high level, and believes that bowling is the best sport ever for all ages and abilities.

 

In the early 1990s, he founded the Senior All Star Bowling Association, a tournament group that has staged hundreds of events for bowlers age 50 or older. SASBA has paid out millions in prize money through events conducted year-round throughout the South and Southwest.

 

Brooks and his wife, Peggy, live in McKinney, Texas, and remain active in their centers and associations, continuing to support bowling and bowlers everywhere.

 

Brooks was taken by complete surprise with the presentation at the Bow Expo Awards Luncheon, saying he was “speechless.”

 

The Flowers for the Living Award was inaugurated in 1961, and has been awarded to star bowlers, proprietors, association representatives and business executives from all corners of the industry. It is a unique award because it is not owned by any group or organization. Its founders wanted it to be independent from any group to insure that there would be no campaigning or politics involved in the nominating and selection process. An independent committee runs the award and chooses the recipients. No one is allowed to know they have been nominated, nor is the winner known until the official announcement.

 

For more information about the Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award, contact Goodwin at: jgoodwinbowling@sbcglobal.net. To view the presentation to Brooks, go to: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=2018+Sam+Levine+%27Flowers+for+the+Living%27+Award#id=1&vid=527d7f984108ceec2b36db15a7fec5a7&action=click.

 

 

Brooks Also Honored by BVL… as Is Sommer

 

Jamie Brooks also took a bow during Bowl Expo week for his support of the Bowlers to Veterans Link — as did another veteran proprietor, John Sommer.

 

Brooks received a Special Projects Award for raising funds to provide Mikey Smith of Dallas with an Action Track Wheelchair. Smith is a Vietnam veteran who suffers from the effects of Agent Orange. Thanks to the chair, he now is able to teach his grandchildren many outside activities such as fishing and hunting.

 

Sommer received a Special Service Award, recognizing his significant support of BVL for many years and his persuasive conversations that have motivated many bowling center operators to support BVL.

 

Sommer, a veteran himself, also was deeply involved in the “Lanes for the Troops” program to send portable lane kits to servicemen and women overseas. Thanks to that program, thousands of soldiers every day can take some “time off” from their stressful jobs and go bowling.

 

 

Walker Promoted to V.P. of Operations at ZOT

 

Ray Walker Jr. has been promoted to Vice President of Operations of ZOT Pinsetter Parts; it was announced by P.J. Rosendahl, ZOT’s President and owner.

 

“Since [I acquired] ZOT in April of 2017, Walker has demonstrated that his vast experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the company [is] a valuable asset, and he has all the qualities necessary to serve as my right-hand man in the day-to-day operations,” said Rosendahl.

 

Walker joined ZOT in 1988 as an Electronics Technician, and was promoted to Electronics Supervisor in 2000. In addition to managing the electronics department, and being an integral part of ZOT’s ongoing R&D program, he also managed the company’s shipping and receiving, and pitched in to assist and work closely with the various other departments within ZOT.

 

The 51-year old Walker, who resides in Westminster Colo., is an Associate of Technology with the ITT Technical Institute of Colorado, from which he graduated with honors.

 

 

Topeka FEC Invests in Major Modernization

 

“If you’re going to sell your product, and ask your staff to sell it, you need to be proud of what you see each and every day,” said Noel Taylor, General Manager of West Ridge Lanes and Family Fun Center in Topeka, Kan.

 

The 34,000-sq.-ft. family entertainment center, which also has an outdoor mini-golf course and go-karts, recently modernized with the help of Brunswick Bowling.

 

West Ridge upgraded with Brunswick’s Sync scoring and management system, masking units, and Frameworx seating and tabletops. The center also added new flat-screen overhead scoring monitors.

 

“We decided to modernize because we knew it would allow us to better market the center,” said Taylor. “We believe in keeping things current so customers have the best experience available. If you don’t stay current, your repeat customers will see the same thing over and over, and will look elsewhere to spend their entertainment dollar.

 

“Things can become stale, no matter how good your customer service is,” Taylor added. “Since we’ve modernized, our staff is excited each day, and that carries over to our customers.”

 

 

World Takes Note of Bowling in Unusual Places

 

As bowling continues to break through the walls of traditional bowling centers and into new venues, including movie theater complexes, high-end bars and hotels, the “outside world” is taking notice.

 

Architectural Digest today posted a travel feature on “5 Hip Hotels With Chic In-House Bowling Alleys.”

 

The story featured:

 

* Dream Midtown in New York City.

 

* Ham Yard Hotel in London.

 

* Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

 

* The Miami Beach Edition in Miami, Fla.

 

* Foxwood Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

 

There are several bowling installations in hotels around the country, including The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., host of the 2018 F2FEC experience; The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif., host of the 2012 BPAA Bowling Summit; and the Palms Casino/Resort/Spa in Las Vegas, home of the unique Kingpin Suite.

 

To read more about the hotels featured by Architectural Digest, go to: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/hotels-with-bowling-alleys

 

 

Business Briefs…

 

• America celebrated its independence yesterday, and Pinsetter Bar & Bowl in Merchantville, N.J., will keep the patriotic theme going by declaring July 17 as “Military Appreciation Day.” On that day, members of any branch of the military, with proper I.D., will bowl for free. To view photos of the center, go to: http://pinsetterbowl.com.

 

* Speaking of celebrations, Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho, N.M., is marking its 35th anniversary with a three-month celebration featuring an array of tournaments, a summer bowling camp, the big-money New Mexico Open and more. For a look at the center’s event calendar (packed with great promotional ideas), go to: http://tenpins-more.com/calendar.php. According to proprietor Steve Mackie, about 8 million games have been rolled on the center’s 24 lanes.

 

* Phil Kinzer, a veteran bowling center operator in the Dallas area, now living in Ohio, may step in to help save the lone bowling center in Las Cruces, N.M., which was recently closed by its owner, Randy Najar. Kinzer operated the center for five years before selling it to Najar in 2008. To read more about this development, go to: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/las-cruces/2018/06/29/former-10-pin-alley-owner-says-he-wants-save-bowling-center/747131002/.

 

 

Other News You Can Use…

 

• The road to the U.S. Women’s Open finals is long and tedious, especially if you start back in the pack. Liz Kuhlkin, in 64th place after the opening round of the 2018 Women’s Open, completed an epic climb Saturday with a 218-196 victory over top-seed Stefanie Johnson to capture her first major title. Report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/kuhlkin-climbs-ladder-to-win-first-major-title-at-u-s-womens-open/.

 

• Entering the stepladder finals as the top qualifier, E.J. Tackett beat a struggling Bill O’Neill to win the PBA Xtra Frame Parkside Lanes Open for his 10th Go Bowling! PBA Tour title. Tackett defeated O’Neill, who was trying for his 10th title, 210-171, in the title match to record his first win of the season. Report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/tackett-wins-parkside-lanes-open-for-10th-pba-tour-title/.

 

• Pete Couture of Cocoa, Fla., a 2016 inductee into the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame, died Saturday at his Florida residence of undetermined medical issues. He was 73. “Pete was one of the toughest, hardest-working players our sport has ever seen,” said long-time friend Bill Spigner, a Connecticut native who grew up competing against Couture in New England. Couture won five titles on the PBA Tour and nine on the PBA’s senior circuit. More: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/pba-hall-of-famer-pete-couture-dead-at-age-73/

 

* The guest this week on Phantom Radio is Samuel Guy of USBC Lane Certification. To listen to the conversation, go to: https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2018/7/3/samuel-guy-phantom-radio.

 

* CONTACT: Please send business news, event information, etc. to Bob Johnson at bjibob@aol.com. For breaking business news, visit bcmmag.com or bowlersjournal.com, and “Like” Bowling Center Management and Bowlers Journal International on Facebook. BJI Cyber Reports are now archived at bcmmag.com.