Every year the American Bowling Congress travels to a new city and constructs a temporary bowling center to hold its national championship tournament. Although the lanes are only temporary, some of the bowlers who visit log performances that will be remembered a lifetime.
The ABC ensured that five men will be remembered for their performances and contributions by electing them to its Hall of Fame during recent ceremonies at the Salt Palace.This year's inductees are Bob Goike of Belleville, Mich.; John Archibald of St. Louis; Mike Totsky of Detroit; Frank Briell of New York City, and Henry Moore of Dunning, Neb.
Goike is the first non-professional bowler to be elected to the hall in three years. He won the 1984 ABC Tournament all-events title by knocking down a then-record 2,142 pins, and he has established a 218 average over 10 years of participation in the ABC. He also has six other top 10 finishes in the ABC Tournament.
"Being a second-generation Detroit bowler where there were so many great bowlers and ABC champions, coming to the ABC was always something special,"
said Goike. "Never did I think I'd be standing here accepting this great honor."
Another inductee, the late Mike Totsky (1928-1990) was one of the great Detroit bowlers of whom Goike spoke. In fact, Totsky was named King of Detroit bowlers five times, something no one else has done in one of the nation's bowling strongholds.
Totsky was a member of the 1973 ABC Tournament team champions and he had 12 top 10 ABC finishes to go along with a career 197 average over 26 years. Totsky was elected to the Detroit Hall of Fame in 1978.
John Archibald earned his election to the hall through his dedication and meritorious service to the sport. Before retiring from the St. Louis Dispatch in 1989, Archibald was one of the most respected bowling columnists and reporters in the bowling world. He traveled the country covering all the major tournaments
Archibald won 48 Bowling Magazine writing awards during his 39 years as a bowling writer. "This is one of those moments you dream about - it's bowling's highest honor," said Archibald.
The two other inductees, Frank Briell and Henry Moore, left us long ago but these pioneers will be remembered for their important contributions to the game.
Briell (1864-1944) was one of the first "stars" the sport knew. He was the first national champion, winning the singles and all events titles in the ABC Tournament in 1901.
Beginning his career at the age of 16, Briell competed with the Produce Exchange team in New York, a team that won the prestigious New York Herald tournament. In that tournament, Briell averaged a then-amazing 196 over 10 games. Briell was also a member of the Linden Groves team, the first to tour the country.
Moore (1908-1966) was the inventor of the plastic-coated bowling pin. He began his life as a chicken farmer but later went into the bowling pin restoration business in the days of wooden pins.
The invention of the automatic pinsetter greatly reduced the amount of games in which the wooden pins could be used, and along with the shortage of maple after World War II, an alternative was needed.
Moore's version of the plastic bowling pin was approved by the ABC in 1962, and major pin companies around the world then adopted his formula.