JOAN ROMEO ELECTED TO PWBA HALL OF FAME

Long-time industry supporter Joan Romeo will join Kim Adler and Kim Kearney in forming the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame class of 2022.

Adler and Kearney will enter the hall for Superior Performance, while Romeo was elected in the Meritorious Service/Builder category.

Romeo, 89, of Las Vegas, has served countless roles in the bowling industry to help grow the sport and been recognized for her dedication through numerous awards, but her work on behalf of professional women’s bowling has left a lasting legacy.

She diligently worked to secure sponsorships and promote events throughout the years, and her fundraising efforts helped to create an exhibit recognizing professional women’s bowling at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington, Texas.

In addition to her dedication to women’s pro bowling, Romeo’s work within the industry included supporting the International Bowling Media Association, World Bowling (now International Bowling Federation), International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, California Bowling Writers and the Team USA program.

Romeo now joins her eldest daughter, Robin, in both the PWBA and USBC Halls of Fame. Joan Romeo was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service in 2016, while Robin Romeo was elected to the USBC Hall of Fame for Superior Performance in 1995 and the PWBA Hall of Fame for Performance in 1996. They will join Doris Coburn and Cindy Coburn-Carroll as the only mother-and-daughter duos to be inducted into both halls of fame.

Along with Adler, Kearney and Romeo, the three members of the 2020 class also will be inducted into the PWBA Hall of Fame during the ceremony in Addison, Ill., this May in conjunction with the USBC Queens. The 2020 ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19, and the PWBA Hall of Fame Committee deferred the 2021 nominations until 2022.