Two long-time supporters of our sport at all levels — from youth competition through the professional ranks — have been elected to the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame.
Bill Chrisman and Barbara Chrisman were elected by the USBC Hall of Fame Committee for Meritorious Service, and will be inducted on a date and at a site to be announced, along with other members of the Hall of Fame Classes of 2020 and 2021, based on recommendations and restrictions due to COVID-19. In recent years, the induction ceremony has taken place in conjunction with the USBC Convention, which presently is scheduled for April 26-29 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Ill.
Over more than three decades, the Chrismans have used their positions and success as co-founders of Storm Products, Inc. to have an immeasurable impact on the sport well beyond the production of balls, bags, shoes and accessories for Storm, Roto Grip and 900 Global.
Together, the two have supported bowling, particularly women’s bowling, through sponsorships of countless players and tournaments around the globe, including the PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles. USBC Senior Queens and National Golden Ladies Classic.
Supporting the tournaments for women has been a major part of Barbara’s mission, as she always has been a booster of women’s bowling as a competitor and a fan.
As a member of the USBC Board of Directors from 2005-2011, Chrisman served on the Financial Committee and Legal and Legislative Committee, and helped establish the Diversity Committee. She was the keynote speaker at the 2016 Singapore Women’s International Coaching Symposium.
Before the Storm brand came to be in 1991, along with the company’s first bowling balls, Bill Chrisman’s High Score Products was in its sixth year as a one-product company, producing U Clean/U Score Urethane Bowling Ball Cleaner. Under his leadership, Storm has been a leading innovator, including introducing bowling balls with distinctive fragrances.
Individually, he also has served the sport at the association level, spending time as a director on the Ogden (Utah) Bowling Association Board from 1981-1989. He was inducted into that association’s hall of fame for superior performance in 1994, and was inducted into the Utah State USBC Hall of Fame in 2005 for meritorious service.
Bill Chrisman’s efforts and determination brought him the USBC Joyce Deitch Unity Award in 2014. The award is presented to individuals who have made important contributions to bowling as motivators, visionaries, leaders and innovators.
At the youth level, Storm was the title sponsor of the USBC Junior Gold Championships, and later introduced a series of youth scholarship tournaments under the Storm Youth Championships banner.
As much as bowling has benefitted from their individual dedication, the Chrismans likely will be remembered for their collective contributions and the role their company has played in the future of the sport.
As a team, the Chrismans have received numerous honors from the bowling industry, including the 2016 International Bowling Media Association Alberta E. Crowe Meritorious Service Award, 2014 Billiard and Bowling Institute of America Industry Service Award, 2003 William Landgraf Memorial Award for Distinguished Service and the 2003 John Davis Award Memorial Award.
They’ve also made numerous charitable contributions in support of Susan G. Komen Bowl for the Cure, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and Weber State University.
The Chrismans will be the seventh husband and wife overall to be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame.
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