BOWL EXPO: A REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Assorted notes and quotes from the 2025 edition of BPAA’s International Bowl Expo, held in late June and early July in Washington, D.C. …

• In addressing proprietors as BPAA president for one of the last times, Kevin Krauss said, “You’re considered rich if you have a great family. I consider myself one of the rich people in this room.”

• Family also was at the forefront for BPAA Executive Director Frank DeSocio, who was inducted into the BPAA Hall of Fame as the 2025 recipient of the Victor Lerner Award. One highlight of the week was the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by DeSocio’s son, Alex, an accomplished opera performer.

• DeSocio noted that BPAA membership continued to be strong, with 3,246 members and a 96% renewal rate. He added that the annual gathering at Bowling Headquarters for state association presidents and executive directors this year is being replaced by calls on non-member centers during the week of Sept. 22. The goal is to gather information for the BPAA board on why center owners choose not to join the association.

• Introducing DeSocio for his Hall of Fame induction, Krauss said, “I can describe Frank to you in two words: loyalty and relationships.” Past recipients of the Victor Lerner Award in attendance were Wally Hall, John LaSpina, John Sommer, Pat Ciniello, Dick Corley, Tom Martino, Nancy Schenk, Mike Aulby and Al Blough.

• New BPAA President Tyler Herreman recalled when he was a child at his family’s bowling center in Hays, Kansas, and the “man from Brunswick” would stop by. That man was DeSocio. “He’d see me and my little brother running around and he’d say, ‘Hey, big man, is your Mom or Dad in?’ He’d usually give us a stick of gum or a lollipop. I wouldn’t be standing here now without Frank’s friendship and guidance.”

• Why did Herreman decide to get involved with BPAA at the national level? “I wanted to serve our organization because I wanted to give back to the industry that has given so much to our family,” he said. “Not just a livelihood, but a purpose. I met my wife in our bowling center. I meant many of my dearest friends through this organization. Serving in BPAA gives me a sense of fulfillment that is larger than working in our own center because it’s bigger than one center.”

• Janet and David Frewing of US Bowling Corporation presented the $25,000 Daroll and Dolores Frewing Scholarship to Ellie Boley, whose story was featured in the August issue of BCM. It was announced that the deadline for scholarship applications in 2026 would be April 17.

• Education continues to be a core service of BPAA. During 2024, proprietors and staff members took 3,259 online courses developed by Bowling University, 159 individuals attended mechanic schools, 195 enrolled in management schools and 232 took part in boot camps. 

• Several past presidents missed the Expo for a range of reasons. Those able to attend were Wally Hall, who served from 1990-92, John LaSpina (1992-94), Tom Martino (2014-16) and Nancy Schenk (2016-18).

• It was announced that the Bill Chrisman Memory Lane facility, located at Storm Bowling’s headquarters in Brigham City, Utah, has been named the first official affiliate museum of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

• Bowlers to Veterans Link Chair Nancy Schenk shared a recent conversation she’d had with a veteran. Schenk said that the vet had told her, “I don’t need you to thank me for my service. I need you to understand what freedom is.” Schenk added that BVL fundraising for the 2023-24 fiscal year reached $1.65 million, bringing the grand total since the organization’s founding to more than $57 million.

• United States Bowling Congress Executive Director Chad Murphy announced that USBC had rolled out “a new e-commerce way for proprietors to be able to pay USBC membership fees in bulk, segmented by league and member name,” addressing the desires that several bowling center owners had been expressing for years.

• QubicaAMF’s Emanuel Govoni described bowling as “the most successful social activity ever invented,” one that “encourages socializing, eating and drinking.” Added Govoni: “It’s the perfect melding of participation, inclusivity and social engagement.”

• While it already was known that the 2026 BPAA Bowling Summit would be held in San Antonio, Texas, it was revealed that the event’s closing dinner would take place at the Alamo — certain to be a memorable evening. The career of long-time staff member Rich Cairns, who will have completed 51 years with the association by the time the Summit rolls around — will be celebrated in San Antonio.

— Bob Johnson