Portland, ME

Lynn, MA

Westfield, MA

Manchester, NH

It was only a matter of time before Paul Berger found himself an inductee into the International Candlepin Bowling Congress Hall of Fame; his career has been long and successful.

That career began way back when Berger was an 11-year-old from Natick competing on Channel 5’s “Winning Pins” and has been highlighted by a 220 single, 500 triple and a 131 average.  Throw in a 784 high five and a 1,368 high 10, and you see why Berger is an obvious choice for induction into the ICBA Hall of Fame.

Berger graduated from “Winning Pins” to the Channel 5 adult show, on which he made an estimated 63 appearances.  He’s also been on Channel 50 more than 20 times and was that show’s champion eight of nine years.  Berger’s made another dozen or so appearances on Channel 27.  On those shows, he didn’t beat run-of-the-mill competition, either.  He beat the likes of men named Rosario Lechiara, Tom Olszta, Peter Flynn, Tom Morgan, John Miller, Jeff Atkins, Steve Renaud and Dick O’Connell- no lightweights there!

Five times he qualified for Channel 5’s True Value Championship—finishing 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.  He won the top $10,000 prize in 1992, when he beat Olszta 290-239, in the two string step-ladder finals.

Just weeks earlier, Berger left an indelible mark on the candlepin world when he bowled strings of 158-149 and 193 for a 500.  It came on candlepin’s biggest stage, too—on the Channel 5 show—against Dave Richards.  It was the highest three-string total rolled in the show’s history, which spanned from 1958-1996, and consistently topped the ratings for number of viewers.

His opening string of 158 that day featured two strikes and five spares.  His 149 second string also combined two strikes and five spares.  But those strings were just a prelude to his sizzling third string.  He started with a strike-spare and seven fill and was 37 after two boxes.  Then, after an open box of nine, he reeled off seven straight marks, including four strikes, for his 193 and 500.

Milton, MA

Portland, ME 
& Danvers, MA

He was vice president of the first Maine State Bowling Association, Eastern Maine president, and prime mover in the current state title elimination setup.  He successfully advocated adoption of the 15 3/4 inch candlepin.

His lane records range from a 414 triple at the Bowlodrome in 1941 to a 183 single at Waterville's Streamline, to a 20 string 2,274 at the Elm City's Metro lanes in 1942 with brother Armando as a partner.  Jerry hit a ten-string 1,268 with the wooden pins in 1943.  His plastic high was 1,368.

Distinguished as were competitive feats, Cariani is proudest of friends picked up while pinpicking.

They'd include Donat Fortier, Lewiston, MSBA charter president; Max Codere, Waterville; Mike Anton, Scarborough, and M. Boyden, other charter officers.  And, of course, Buddy Marsh, Bangor, whose "Good Luck" message is prominent in the Cariani memory scrapbook.

Lynn, MA

Springfield, MA

Tonight, Ed Czernicki becomes the third member in his celebrated family to enter the ICBA Candlepin Bowling Hall of Fame. Following in the footsteps of his parents Stasia and Tony, Ed's accomplishments in the sport are many and span four decades.

Ed's first title came in 1962 when he and his teammates emerged victorious in the Pony segment of the World Tournament. In 1963, Ed won his first individual title when he captured the junior singles crown in the Boston Traveler Tournament; in 1965, Ed won the Mass State Singles Title in the thirteen and under division.

In adult competition, Ed was a member of the Fairway Mixed State Championship Team in 1968, 1972 and again in 1974. In 1971 and in 1972, Ed teamed with his mother, Dolores Norsigian and Hall of Famer Don Riley to win the World Mixed Team Title. In winning this event in 1972, Ed's team set a New World Record score for Mixed Team Competition with a combined effort of 2553 for twenty games.

In local competition in the Worcester area, Ed held the highest seasonal average in the prestigious Worcester County League. This played a key role in enabling Ed's Mohegan Bowladrome team to win its first title in nine years in the league. Ed bowled in this league for over fifteen years and maintained a 120+ average throughout this timeframe. Ed was honored in 1975 when he received the MBA Candlepin Record Award for his 758 five-string total. Ed's personal high single string was bowled on June 24, 1979 at Hippodrome Lanes in Southbridge, Massachusetts when he hit 200 in league competition.

One of the highlights of Ed's career came in 1971 when he and his beloved mother Stasia won the State Open Mixed Doubles Title with a 1283 total; the score was a record at that time. Another big occasion for Ed came in March of 1976 when both he and his mother won the Pro Tour Event at Pilgrim Lanes in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Ed won the men's division with a 1333 ten-string total and Stasia hit 1251 in the ladies division.

Ed also faired well "under the lights". On the Channel Five show hosted by Jim Britt, and later by Hall of Famer Don Gillis, Ed appeared 16 times. The highlight of his appearances came on March 31, 1979 when he bowled against Jeff Atkins. Ed's first string consisted of eleven marks in ten boxes for a score of 197. This feat was never equaled in the history of the show and the 197 was the program's all-time high single.

On October 22, 1988 Ed appeared on NESN'S BIG SHOT BOWLING show against Peter Flynn. Ed hit 399 and Peter hit 451 for a combined total of 850. This was the highest combined total for the entire series, which was on the air from June 1, 1985 to June 15, 1991.

On BAY STATE BOWLING in the 1970's, Ed made several appearances; at one time, Ed had seven consecutive victories on the show.

Ed and his wife Jeanne have two daughters, Amy and Kim. Ed still lives in Webster, Massachusetts and has been active in recent years on the Western New England and Senior Pro Tours.

Tonight, John Czernicki joins 3 family members already inducted into the International Candlepin Bowling Association Hall of Fame. He joins his brother Ed, father Tony, and his mother Stasia. Obviously, candlepin bowling was in the genes for the Czernicki family.

John started bowling competitively at a young age - in fact he made his first appearance on "Winning Pins" when he was 11 years old. In his second appearance on that show, he bowled a 152 string. He hit his first 400 series at the age of 13, rolling a 134, 145 and 125 for a 404 series.

John appeared as an adult on all of the major candlepin bowling shows over the years. He had a record of 11 wins and 6 loses on Bob Fouracre's " Big Show Bowling" show. He made 9 appearances on the Channel 5 show over the years and hit the hi-lo jackpot during one of them. John participated in the last show to ever air on  Channel 5. (An interesting side note is that his mother Stasia was the first woman to ever appear on the show!) John and his brother Ed ran a string of 5 weeks on the Channel 5 Candlepin Doubles show, losing in that 5th week in a two box rolloff.

As a longtime member of the WCBC Pro Bowlers Tour, John has 2 pro tour victories to his credit. His first was at the Londonderry Bowling Center on 1987 where he bowled a 1475  which at the time was a new 10 string record for the pro tour as well as a house record. His second tour win was later that same year at the State Bowl in Springfield, MA.

John was a member of the "Lucky Seven" along with Det Klien, fellow inductee Dick O'Connell, John Bird, Tim Soucy, Bill Gover and Chip Carson who won the World Championship in Canada in 1997. John was also a member of the W.N.E.C.A. Pro Tour and has one win to his credit in 1997.

John currently resides in Webster, MA and has 2 daughters - Tara is 21 and Stasia Marie is 6. Besides bowling, he enjoys fishing, boating and golf.

Peter Flynn was born on August 30, 1956 in Woburn, Massachusetts. He attended Woburn High School, graduating in 1974. Peter's first exploits in the Candlepin world took place in 1962 when at the age of six years he began bowling in organized leagues at the Woburn Bowladrome. In 1969 he won the VFW youth state title; however, Peter's prolific skill as a Candlepin bowler was to become internationally recognized as an adult.

In 1976-1977, Peter was Bowler of the Year on the WCBC Pro Bowler's Tour; moreover, he teamed with his late mother, Evie Flynn, to win the 1977 MBA State Mixed Doubles title. Peter cherishes this victory to this day, as it was a dream come true to win this title with his mother who was so omnipresent and supportive throughout Peter's Candlepin career. Peter also won the WCBC Bowler of the Year honors during the 1987-1988 campaign.

Peter's Candlepin statistics are impressive. He has a high single of 211, a high triple of 482, a high five of 806, and a high ten of 1476. He was the Massachusetts State All Events Champion in 1983 and 1985 and he won a total of 10 individual tournaments on the WCBC Pro Bowler's Tour. In 1989, Peter had 10 consecutive wins on " Big Shot Bowling", four of which included 400 totals ranging consecutively from 400-462. Peter has 5 World Team Crowns to his credit, having teamed with Hall of Famers Jack Ray and Don Riley, as well as Bob Kelly, Gary Carrington, Joe Ashline, Johnny Miller and Dave Richards, among others, to secure the victories in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and, finally, in 1992. Peter currently holds the All Events record in Massachusetts with a 26 game total of 3573, as well as the MBA Open Team record of 2167 which he accomplished along with Hall of Famer Mike Sargent, Wally Bazylinski, Joe Ashline and Gary Carrington.

In 1991, Peter suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from which he was not expected to recover. Happily he did, and came back to capture the 1992 MBA State Doubles title with Bart Maderios who filled in for vacationing Bob Kelly on the finals televised on Channel Five. Peter also endured potentially career ending back issues and moved to North Carolina to deal with the chagrin of not being able to bowl any longer. In 2005 he returned and began bowling again - he won his first event on the Senior Pro Tour!

Peter lives with his wife Rita Flynn and has two sons, Sean Flynn, age 25, and Craig Flynn, age 22, from a previous marriage.

Biddeford, ME

Ellsworth, ME

Allyn Joy enters the International Candlepin Bowling Hall of Fame on the basis of thirty-seven years of outstanding performances in Candlepin Bowling, largely taking place in his home state of Maine.

From 1976 through 2003, Allyn was a member of twenty-two combined Maine State Championship Men’s and Mixed teams.  He also was a member of eighteen winning men’s and mixed teams in state competition; he won three Maine State Singles Championships as well!  Quite a resume, to be sure, and I have only begun to expound!

Allyn’s outstanding Candlepin ability has earned him many other coveted statistics in “our” sport.  For example, Allyn has 4 State of Maine Candlepin records to his credit.  These records include an 814 high-five total at Vacationland in Saco, Maine, an All Events record of 5319 for forty strings, (tied with Hall of Famer, Russ Nealey), a Men’s Team record set in 2004 and a Mixed Doubles record for twenty strings of 2544, with his wife Val.

On the Maine Pro Tour, Allyn won twelve individual tournaments and was the Maine Pro Bowler of the Year on two occasions.  On the WCBC Pro Tour, Allyn won tour stops in 1981 and 1982; he finished in the money on this tour much more often than not.

Allyn also established five “house records” in the state of Maine.  These include the 814 five string record at Vacationland, a five string record of 721 at Columbus Bowl in New Brunswick, a 3 string record of 486 at Big 20 in Scarborough, a five string record of 767 at Beacon Lanes and a single string record of 204 at Colonial Bowling Center in Westbrook.

In 2000, Allyn was a member of the World Championship Invitational winning team, pairing up with Kevin Sparks, Rich Arey, Jim Singleton, Ray Dube, Jim Woodsum, Bert Dube and Eben Hobbs to win this prestigious event.

When one thinks of great left-handed bowlers, the name Bob Kelly immediately comes to mind, for he truly was one of the great ones- perhaps the best.

He’s one of just two bowlers, Charlie Jutras being the other, who appeared on Channel 5’s television show across five decades—the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.  One of his most memorable matches came on July 18, 1970, when, despite rolling a blistering 410, Kelly found himself a loser by 28 pins to Mike Sargent, who had a 438.  It was one of the few times in the show’s long and storied history, that a bowler had a 400 triple and lost.

But the Acton native wasn’t just a singles player.  He teamed up with Marie Thompson to form one of the most dominant mixed doubles teams in candlepin history.  During one stretch—from March 25, 1961 to April 29, 1961—Kelly and Thompson won six straight times on Channel 5’s mixed doubles show by an average of 63 pins!  He and Thompson later won Massachusetts and world mixed doubles championships; he also paired with Don Patchell to win the Record-American Sunday advertiser Men’s Doubles Championship.

Kelly was at his best in 10-string singles tournaments.  He won 18 of them over the years, including the Milan Memorial in Brewer, Maine and the James Ross Memorial in Lawrence, Massachusetts, twice each.  When he won the Ross Memorial for the first time, he rolled strings of 144-121-131-147-137-100-133-154-137- and 145 for what was then a record 1,349.  Along the way, he also snared the Worcester Telegram-Gazette Central Massachusetts singles title.

Kelly, a former radar man on the destroyer K.D. Bailey in European waters, began bowling seriously in 1952.  His uncle was John Crowley, a one-time world record holder, and Kelly recalls his uncle telling him he shouldn’t be bowling because he was a lefty.  Kelly, nonetheless, persevered and went on to have an illustrious career.

At the height of that career, Kelly averaged 128.  He sports a high single of 196, high triple of 472, high five of 713 and high 10 of 1,403.

The late, great sports broadcaster and ICBA Hall of Famer Don Gillis, once called Rosario Lechiara one of the most animated characters he had ever seen.  The thousands who watched Lechiara perform in person and the tens of thousands more who saw him work his magic on television, can’t argue with Gillis’ assessment.

Rosie, however, backed up his antics with performance.

Attest:

Lechiara performed best in pressure situations.  Who can forget the 1984 Massachusetts State Open Singles Championship when Lechiara entered the 10^th and final string needing a 163 to beat Tim Lipke?  No problem.  Rosie opened the string with spare-strike-spare-strike-strike and took a seat with a 109 half.  He then coasted home with a 57 for a 166 total to knock Lipke off his perch.

Lechiara, a retired bricklayer, became a household name on Nov. 27, 1967, when he made his television debut on Channel 5 with Gillis calling the action.  All he did was mark in every box en route to a 177 string.  Several have done it since, but Lechiara will always be remembered for being the first, and, of course, for his theatrics.

Said Gillis:  “The electricity in the place was phenomenal, and Rosario was extremely colorful in expressing exultation or disgust with what were very obvious gestures.” 

Timothy L. Lipke was born in Manchester New Hampshire on October 4th, 1955. Tim attended schools in Manchester, graduated from Manchester Central High School and attended college at Notre Dame; Tim married the former Wendy Bettez in October of 1981. Tim began his bowling career, at the age of six, at Lakeside Lanes in Manchester New Hampshire. As a teenager, he began bowling in some very competitive leagues. As happens with many young bowlers, his mindset was on of his difficult issues; however, with a lot of coaching by another bowling great, Al Cloutier, he overcame those issues and became a more dedicated and mature competitor. One of his first championships came in 1968 when he won the New Hampshire Midget State Doubles title with Mike Chouinard. One of his greatest accomplishments was winning the True Value Championship, hosted on Channel 5 by Don Gillis. Tim had won 11 straight shows, putting him into the live championship show in 1985. Here is where this fine competitor rolled the first "Triple Strike" in the history of this Championship Show, and will long be remembered as the only Granite State bowler to have achieved that accomplishment.

Perhaps the musical hit of the Sixties. " From a Jack to a King" best describes Tim's accomplishments:

Tim Lipke a Junior Champion bowler, Adult Champion Bowler, Bowling Center Employee, (Tim worked at Londonderry Bowling Center for 14 years) and finally, the Proprietor of Lakeside Bowling Center, (which he purchased in 1999 with his wife Wendy), has been a very active bowler for 46 years; even now as an owner/operator, Tim can still compete with the Pro's. Tim's High Average is 137, his High Three Series is 515 and his High Single is 215; he has recorded four 200 plus games. In his spare time Tim keeps busy with his hobbies of Antique Cars, Golf and his Harley Rider.

Toni-Marie Baldinelli-Lopes enters the ICBA Hall of Fame tonight in recognition of a stellar Candlepin career that spanned four decades.

At the age of six, Toni was sporting a ninety-six average at Baldinelli's Bowl-A-Way, (now Leo's Superbowl), in Amesbury Massachusetts. The lanes were a family enterprises, with Toni's beloved father, Hall of Famer Tony Baldinelli, at the forefront of the business. In her youth, Toni became a child star on Channel Five's popular youth bowling program "Winning Pins", appearing more times on that show than did any other female competitor. She also amassed a plethora of State and World titles as a youth bowler a harbinger of what her adult Candlepin bowling career would manifest.

From the early 1980's to the mid 1990's, Toni-Marie became the dominant female competitor in the sport. In MBA State competition, she won the prestigious All Events title six times between 1982 and 1995. She won the MBA Open Singles title in 1983, 1986 and 1989, the Ladies Doubles Crown in 1982 and the State Mixed Doubles Honors in 1982 and 1991, (with Tom Olszta), and in 1996 with fellow inductee Jack Ray. Her 1988 Ladies Team set an MBA record in winning their competition with a score of 1831. Over the years, Toni won additional Mixed Doubles events with such notables as Ed Arsenault, Rosario LeChiara, Bert Dube and the late Hall of Famer, David Romani.

In competition on the WCBC Pro Tour from 1980 - 1989, Toni won Bowler of The Year Honors four times, while finishing as Runner-Up on three occasions. Winning her first title; in 1973 at the age of eighteen, Toni Marie finished her WCBC career with eleven overall victories.

Throughout her tenure on the lanes, Toni-Marie won many incidental events and titles; most noteworthy among these events was her captaining her Ladies team to five victories against the Canadians in International World Competition.

In television competition, Toni-Marie made over 200 appearances from 1966 to 1996, sporting thirty-seven wins on Candlepin Bowling with Don Gillis alone!

Toni-Marie made several contributions to the games and it's youth. She founded the Atlantic Coast tournament with Canadian youth versus the Americans, and served as the Head Coach from 1992-2002 for the ICYBA group at Pilgrim Lanes in Haverhill, Massachusetts. She remains the only Female President of the WCBC Pro Tour to date, having served for four years in that capacity. She was the 1996 recipient of the Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award in recognition of all she has meant to the betterment of the Candlepin Industry.

Skowhegan, ME & Cambridge, MA

Tonight the ICBA proudly welcomes Maine's All Time Candlepin Icon, Charles Milan III, into it's Hall of Fame.

One could legitimately argue that Charlie's induction into the Hall of Fame is long overdue; however, Charlie would likely protest that it is premature! After all, at age 68, he just finished as Runner-Up in the 2005 Maine State Men's Championship!

Charlie has won the aforementioned title a phenomenal twenty-three times in his illustrious Candlepin career, setting several Maine State and World records along the way. His Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Team Titles abound; his television appearances span five decades and reflect many victories and several outstanding performances.

Charlie started his unabashed assault on Maine State Candlepin titles in 1951, winning the Junior State Championship at the age of fifteen and repeating again in 1952. In 1955 he won his first adult title and repeated the fete in 1956. After having spent some time away from the game in college and in the Army, Charlie returned to his winning ways and captured the 1959 Maine State Singles Crown. Charlie hasn't skipped a beat since that title; his outstanding ability has enabled him to compete with the game's best into the new millennium.

Charlie has received several accolades throughout the years for is many accomplishments. To name a few, in 1969, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED named Charlie one of the fifty best athletes in the State of Maine; in 1982 Charles Henry Milan III became one of the youngest athletes, and first male bowler, to have ever been nominated and inducted into the Maine State Sports Hall of Fame! In 1990, the city of Brewer, Maine issued a certificate of commendation recognizing Charlie's twenty-second " State of Maine Championship" title.

Charlie's contributions to the Candlepin Industry are bountiful. He ran the Charlie Milan and the Bridget Milan memorial tournaments for years at his Bangor-Brewer Lanes. For the past twenty years, he has run the American portion of the World Invitational Men's Team Championship tournament that he helped found. He has hosted and bowled on countless television shows throughout his career, even playing the Candlepin version of Ben Stein on one program where bowlers competed in roll-offs to earn the right to face Charlie "under the lights"!

Married to the former Marie Gosselin, Charlie is most proud of their four children, Dawn, Charles IV, John and James. Tonight we join Charlie's wonderful family in welcoming one of the game's living legends into the ICBA Hall of Fame.

Mike Morgan was born in Saugus, Massachusetts on June 24, 1956. he graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1974 and he and his wife Kathleen and twenty-four year old son Mike presently reside in Lynn, Massachusetts. His notable Candlepin Bowling career commenced in the 1970's with several appearances on Channel 27's Bay State Bowling show; in fact, Mike bowled against current WCBC Pro Tour president Paul Wambach on the final telecast of that program.

In 1978, Mike had a breakthrough year. He won the Yellow Pages Championship show on Channel Five, winning 406-287 over Joe Donovan. He also won the MBA State All Events title, beating Steve Puopolo in the live finals on Channel Five 140-97.

Finally, Mike placed second in the Men's Doubles with his brother Tom, and third in the Mixed Doubles with his sister Donna, in the same MBA Tournament.

In 1979, Mike teamed with the legendary Stasia Czernicki to finish runners-up to Gary Carrington and Hall of Famer Carol Downey on Channel Seven's Candlepin Pros show hosted by Bill O'Connell and Hall of Fame Don Riley. Gary and Carol each won a new car, while Mike and Stasia had to settle for a trip for two to Bermuda for their efforts!

Mike was a regular in the 1980's and 1990's on all of the televised Candlepin Bowling programs. He and Tom made approximately fifteen appearances on Channel Five's Candlepin Doubles show, and Mike made several individual appearance on Candlepin Bowling with Don Gillis, with several 400 plus totals to his credit.

Mike won two ladder championships on Channel 50's Stars and Strikes show during the Doug Brown and Dan Murphy hosting era, and finished with an impressive 26-7 overall appearance record. During the Dick Lutsk and Mike Moran hosting era. Mike made twenty-six individual appearances and compiled a 15-11 overall record; additionally, Mike bowled in eight mixed doubles shows with various partners. Overall, Mike appeared in seven Tournament of Champions series and won two series titles. Mike has also made several appearances on the current CN8 Candlepin Challenge show; his streak of seven consecutive victories in 2003 presently ranks third overall in the program's history.

Mike holds the record for the highest string ever bowled in the thirty-five year history of the WCBC Pro Tour with 212! Mike bowled approximately fifteen years on the WCBC Pro Tour, winning one "Bowler of the Year" title and notching two Pro Tour victories.

Mike's talent extend beyond the lanes. He is a 10 handicap golfer and played shortstop in eight National Softball Tournaments. He always gives his time to the yearly Rock n' Bowl fundraiser at Pilgrim Lanes; he is also involved in the Youth Travel Program.

The late Tom Morgan was born in Lynn Massachusetts on March 22, 1954. He graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1972. Tom and his wife Linda, presently of Revere Massachusetts, had two daughters Jaime and Kellie, both now in their mid twenties.

Tom's stellar Candlepin Bowling career was joined at the hip with that of his fellow Hall of Fame inductee and brother Mike Morgan. As Bart Madereiros aptly wrote, "It's not so much what they did on their own, but more importantly, what they did as a team that helped distinguish the Morgan's in the sport of Candlepins. Together they shared a unique blend of sportsmanship, charm and charisma that won them the hearts and adoration of many fans. In my opinion, one would be hard pressed to find a better known and more well loved brother duo in any Professional sport than the Morgan's." Touché!

Nonetheless, Tom did quite well autonomously! Tom was the 1983/1984 season Rookie of the Year on the WCBC Pro Tour. As regards televised Candlepin Bowling, Tom made about twenty appearances on Channel Five's Candlepin Bowling with Don Gillis show, and finished runner-up to Tom Olszta in the 1983 Live Championship show 268-254.

On the Channel Fifty Candlepin Stars and Strikes show, co-host Mike Morin states that Tom made seventeen singles appearances and compiled an overall record of 10-7; he also bowled on two mixed doubles shows. In eight seasons, Tom and his brother Mike faced each other four times; Mike won two of the matches as did Tom! When the show was formerly hosted by Doug Brown and Dan Murphy, Tom made about twenty-five appearances and appeared in three or four ladder championship shows.

Tom also made several appearances on Channel Five's Candlepin Doubles show with his brother Mike, and once had a thirteen week winning streak on the Channel Five Skins show! Tom's most impressive appearance was on the 2002 Candlepin Stars and Strikes Tournament of Champions show. In the interim between Tom's qualifying for the show and the date of Tom's championship appearance, Tom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He had surgery that February and his attempted recovery included a lot of balance issues and falls. Tom remained determined to compete and, indeed he did so. As his friend Bob Kelly wrote in nominating Tom for induction tonight. "He lost the match, but the heart he showed was unbelievable. He didn't even hit 300, but there wasn't a dry house in the house"!

Several tributes to Tom Morgan were made in his final months; the most memorable occurred on Labor Day weekend 2002 when hundreds of adoring friends and fans packed the host hall from start to finish. Additionally, The Youth Travel League championship trophy is named for Tommy. Tom, like brother Mike, was an avid golfer and softball enthusiast, and one of the diamonds in The General Electric Softball League is named for him. Tom was inducted into the Lynn Classical Hall of Fame for Basketball and Baseball. Tom is sorely and lovingly missed by all who knew him.

Bow, NH

Springfield, MA

Russell J. Nealey, was born November 18th, 1942 in Portland Maine. Russ attended Gorham High School in Gorham Maine. He attended the University of Maine in Gorham and graduated from this institution with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, as a Math Major; in 1972, he received a Masters Degree from the same institution. He loved the Gorham area so much, he then taught math in the Junior and Senior High Schools. In 1982, he left his teaching occupation and decided to go to work for himself. He purchased "Prides Corner Bowling and Recreation Center", which had 14 Tenpin Lanes and 12 Candlepin Lanes with a restaurant and lounge. He sold this establishment 5 years later and purchased the Oxford Hills Bowling Center in South Paris, Maine. He later purchased the Otis General Store in Otis Maine. He further expanded his business holdings with the addition of a 13 unit-apartment complex in Jay, Maine.

Russ started bowling in 1962. even in his younger days, Russ was a very eager competitor, but always a gentleman on the lanes. Be it one, 10, or 100 pins down in a match, he put a total effort into the event, generally overcoming the deficit; never was that effort more prominent than in a match against Walter Reed, being down 99 pins with 2 strings remaining, and winning the match! One of Russ Nealey's toughest matches was back in 1999. His competitor was a young man named Nathan Nealey, his son. This was for the State of Maine Singles Championship. Russ was the winner by a slim 7 pins, but he then realized that he defeated the best bowler in Maine, his opinion of course.

His notable Candlepin Bowling accomplishments include his winning over 30 State of Maine titles! In addition, Russ has won a World Title, an International Candlepin Bowling Association Title, and at least one Maine State Title in 5 different decades; he has bowled on 5 different Television Shows in New England and Canada. Russ was very active in promoting Junior Bowlers in a very successful Junior Bowler Program. Russ was the organizer of the Maine Pro Bowlers Tour; moreover, he became not only it's organizer, but also a Bowler Representative and its President for many years. He is also an active pilot, and enjoys horseshoes, swimming and boating.

Russ is a survivor of 2 types of cancer, thanks to his great doctors, his many friends and especially Russ's former wife, the former Sharon Fogg. Russ married Sharon Sharon in 1994 and together they have six children.

Tonight, we welcome Richard J. (Dick) O'Connell as a member into the International Candlepin Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Dick started bowling over 45 years ago, and made his first TV appearance on the junior TV Show and then moved up to the senior division; he has kept the TV appearances coming ever since! He was even invited on the "Candlepins For Cash" show when it first aired as a promotional appearance!

Dick appeared many times on the Channel 5 Bowling Show with Don Gillis - his record on the show was 24 wins and 8 loses (not counting his appearances on the live championship shows). Besides the fantastic record, he has many other memorable events from this show. He hit the hi-lo jackpot 3 times, had 2 triple strikes and threw a four bagger once! Over his 32 appearances, he scored 400 or better on 14 occasions. His overall average while appearing on the show was an astounding 130.5. He and Gary Carrington hold the record for the highest combined score ever on the show - Dick defeated Gary 468 - 415 for an 883 combined score. (By the way, Dick and Jim Putney hold the record for the second highest combined score of 863).

His record on the live Championship show was just as stellar - 3 appearances, 3 wins. In his efforts, Dick defeated fellow inductee Peter Flynn, Gary Carrington, and Tom Olszta, which makes the wins even more impressive. Dick and Tom Oszlta (4wins) are the only two bowlers to win this show more than once. Dick is the only bowler to have back to back wins on the championship show.

Dick bowled on the Channel 27 show, were he had a 7-3 record, and he had a 3-3 record on Fran Onorato's TV Show.

Dick did not limit his championships to TV - he competed in state tournaments in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In Mass., he accumulated 3 Men's Teams titles, 2 Men's Doubles titles, and a Mixed Teams title. In New Hampshire, he won the Men's Teams 3 times, the Men's Doubles twice, Mixed Doubles and Men's Singles once each.

Dick was a member of the WCBC Pro Tour for many years and has 6 wins to his credit over the years. Dick was the WCBC bowler of the year in the 1982/83 season without ever winning and individual tour stop. He had 2 seconds, 2 thirds, a fourth and a 5th finnish, but his consistency paid off for the title. An interesting fact is that Dick was a member of the WCBC Top Ten Club in 4 different decades!

Dick and his wife Charlene live in Brockton and have 2 children - a daughter Kati and a son Adam. Other than bowling, Dick enjoys boating, golfing and sports in general.

John "Pete" Palumbo

Pete Palumbo, who tonight is fittingly reunited with a host of Hall of Fame pin pals, was the game's most articulate spokesman during its darkest days.

When candlepins were barely flickering because of the Depression, the Lynn, Mass., resident was lobbying before legislative groups and other committees for Sunday bowling.

Advocacy of the sport wasn't limited to Sunday rolling as salvation of the lanes. Palumbo was organizing Cafe Society long before Amy Vanderbilt and the jet set.

He visited cafes, from swank to greasy spoon, enlisting support for the game which had such personal tug.

The lane version of the theaters' "Free Dish" night maintained customer interest until the Bay State petition for Sabbath bowling which had Palumbo as first signer became law.

Palumbo's candlepin credits aren't confined to the persuasive arguments he marshaled to press his pin cause.

Lane action matched dedication. He was Lynn City League champion, and expanded on intercity rolling with an extensive on-the-road record more exhilarating than exhausting.

Out-of-town test meant head-to-head matches with the Hall of Fame likes of Archie Walsh, Frank and Emil Chiminiello, Joe Bonigli, Paul Poehler, Johnny Tagg and Lefty Mitchell. When he wasn't knocking heads with Tagg in Fitchburg, he'd be knocking down pins against Manchester, N.H., or area rivals.

As impressive as are his playing credentials, Palumbo has earned a niche in Candlepin's Hall of Fame for the unflagging manner in which he carried the Sunday ball.

His bold signature on that once-controversial bill places the game in his debt, one hopefully partially paid by overdue recognition of a man with no bowling connection except the true amateur's strong link with a sport he found fascinating. 

Testimony to the grip the game has on Palumbo, and the value he places in becoming a deserved part of a distinguished and quite exclusive body, is his presence.

Hit by several heart attacks, he hasn't departed the Kathleen Daniel Nursing Home, Framingham, Mass. in almost two years.

Thanks to heart-of-gold nursing volunteer Mrs. Jolene Cereghino and indomitable will to fully savor a lifetime dream, Palumbo will accept proudly - and in person - his cherished Hall of Fame plaque.

That acceptance style characterizes "Polite Pete," as he was known in his lane heyday. He was at his best in head-to-head matches.

The likes of George Gastonguay, Jim Gurry, Willie King, Louise Hamilton, Jerry Gianferante, and the Chiminiellos applaud recognition of Palumbo.

Portland, ME

Portland, ME

Tonight, we welcome Janet Poch into the International Candlepin Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Janet has been a dominant force in the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire over her years of competitive bowling.

Perhaps Janet's most incredible claim to fame was qualifying for the Channel 5 Championship show in 1994. She was the first and only woman to ever qualify for the show. Although she came up just 3 pins short, it was a remarkable feat in itself for a woman to have one of the 5 highest scores during that Channel 5 taping season. Speaking of Channel 5, Janet rolled the highest single string by a woman (165 in 1991) and the Highest 3 strings for women (422 in 1993) during her many appearances on the show.

Janet holds personal best of a 191 single, a high triple of 459, and high five of 721 and a high ten of 1355. She has competed in the Massachusetts State Tournament, and over the years has amassed 4 All Events titles (1994, 1996, 2002 and 2004) and 2 Ladies Doubles titles with Nance Vestal (1996 and 2005).

She has fared just as well in New Hampshire State Tournaments. She owns 4 All Events titles (1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996), 2 Mixed Teams titles (1984 and 2004), 6 Ladies Teams titles (1987, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2005 and 2007), a Mixed Doubles title (1990) 4 Ladies Doubles titles (1988, 1994, 2003 and 2005) and 3 Ladies Singles titles (1992, 1994 and 1996).

Janet is also part of two teams that currently hold world records. She holds the 15 string record of 1852 bowled in a NH team event with teammates Celeste Buckmore, Nance Vestal, Cyndi Cawley and Glennis McKinnley. She also holds a 5 string record of 670 bowled in Maine with teammates Debbie Scannell, Annie DeChiara, Nance Vestal and Donna Banzi.

Janet has been a member of the WCBC Pro Tour for many years. Over those years, she has amassed 14 titles, winning her first (and second!) in 1987 and most recently in 2007. She scored runner up title 3 times as well.

Currently residing in Lynn, MA, Janet also enjoys playing golf when she isn't bowling.

Jack Ray of Stow, Massachusetts enters the ICBA Hall of Fame tonight with credentials that any bowler would aspire to. From his youth to the present, Jack has excelled at the sport he loves and has proven to be a leader both on and off the lanes.

Jack made two appearances in his youth on Channel Five's WINNING PINS show and reigned as the VFW Boy's Champion of Massachusetts in 1968, 1971 and 1972. The next year, Jack, at the tender age of nineteen years, bowled a 220 single string score at the now defunct Sunlite Alleys in Stoneham, Massachusetts. At that time, Jack's score was recognized as the highest sanctioned Candlepin string ever bowled!

Jack continued his winning ways into adulthood, winning the City of Woburn's Adult Men's City Championship on three different occasions in the 1970's.

In the 1980's and 1990's, Jacks proficiency at the sport was cemented. In 1982 and again in 1994, Jack was a member of the Massachusetts Mixed Open Championship Team. Jack captained seven World Invitational Tournament Championship Teams, winning this prestigious event in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992 and 1996. In 1988 and again in 1990, Jack was the Massachusetts Open Singles Champion.  Finally in 1996, Jack and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Toni-Marie Baldinelli-Lopes won the Massachusetts Open Mixed Doubles title.

Jack has appeared on television in excess of 120 times in his forty year Candlepin career, and was one of only three bowlers in the history of Channel Five Bowling Show to throw ten consecutive marks. Also, to anyone's recollection, Jack remains the only bowler to have thrown two sets of triple strikes in the same bowling show. This occurred in 1985 on NESN'S BIG SHOT BOWLING SHOW, hosted by Bob Fouracre. Incidentally, Jack's opponent on that show was current WCBC President Paul Wambach, who threw a triple strike of his own!

Jack continues to bowl outstandingly into his 50's, having appeared on Channel 50's CANDLEPIN STARS AND STRIKES show last season where he hit over 400 in the first two of three shows in which he competed. He also excelled this season on the Senior Pro Tour.

Like many of tonight's inductee's, Jack has given back to the sport. Jack served for over ten years on the Executive Board of WCBC Pro Tour, two years of which were as the tour's President. He has appeared at countless charity and youth events throughout his career and is the congenial host of "The Bowler's Bash" at his Stow home each year in July. Jack, his wife Kelly and children Jessica and Mitchell host countless bowlers of yesteryear and the present to a day of games, swimming, great food and camaraderie.

The ICBA warmly welcomes Jack Ray into the Candlepin Bowling Hall of Fame.

>Seven Massachusetts or New Hampshire state tournament championships; the first coming in 1972 – the last in 1990.

             >Five world championship titles

>WCBC Bowler of the Year in 1974, and runner-up finishes in 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1985

Bob Shepard’s impressive Candlepin Bowling career began to take shape in 1971, when Bob anchored the Beverly Bowl-O-Mat’s Men’s State Championship team with a 439 triple.  That team established a tournament record score of 1951, surpassing the previous record score of 1927.  Breaking records must have rested well with Bob, as he and his Mixed Team cohorts of Linda Dunn, Linda Mercaldi and Mike Reilly established another one in 1973 with a score of 1505.  That score effaced the previous record of 1479, set by a team that included Hall of Famers Pete Iannuzzo and the late Fran Onorato.

In 1974, Bob’s solo efforts took the limelight.  Bob emerged as the Men’s State Open Singles Champion with a score of 1351, which included his individual career high single game of 203.  His 203 score was recognized as the MBA high single string through November of 1979.

Bob’s onslaught on state titles resumed in 1975 and 1976, when he and Linda Dunn teamed up to win consecutive MBA State Mixed Doubles championships.

In 1978, Bob reached his greatest MBA tournament heights.  He won his second MBA Men’s State Open Singles title with a 1414 total that included a high single string of 183.  Additionally, Bob finished runner-up in the All Events category, to Hall of Famer Peter Flynn’s MBA record breaking score, 3555-3459.  In 1979, Bob won the MBA Men’s State Open Doubles title with Alan Barbeau.  Bob’s final MBA state title came in 1980, when he anchored yet another Beverly Bowl-O-Mat championship team; Bob’s individual contributions to the title included a 179 single and a 447 triple. 

Bob appeared on the Candlepin Doubles program on Channel Five, as well as Candlepin bowling with Don Gillis.  On the latter show, he defeated Jim Orlandi and the late Tom Surrette, scoring over 400 in both of these consecutive victories.  Bob also made television appearances on Channel 27’s Bay State Bowling program, hosted by ICBA Hall of Famer Bob Fouracre. 

In 1981 Bob established the Beverly Bowl-O-Mat’s house record of 488 for 3 strings, when he bowled consecutive strings of 163, 175 and 150 in league competition.  Speaking of leagues, Bob won four high average titles on the prestigious Eastern Massachusetts Friday night pro league in an eight year span; he averaged 125 or better during each season that he won these high average titles. 

Dick Smus of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts enters "The Hall" tonight in recognition of a successful Candlepin Bowling career in the sport's earlier heyday.

Dick was one of the true stars of the Channel Five Bowling Show, having appeared thirty-eight times and winning on the show in twenty-six of the thirty-eight appearances! In 1962, and again in 1975, Dick won six straight weeks on the show. He hit over 400 on several occasions and proved a formidable foe to some of the game's great competitors of his era. Dick also made eleven appearances on Channel twenty-seven's BAY STATE BOWLING.

Dick's tournament accomplishments are also noteworthy. In 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1983, Dick was a member of The Men's State Open championship team. In 1971, he teamed with Hall of Famers Charlie Jutras and Marcelle Aiken, and also Pat Parker, to win the Massachusetts State Open Mixed Team championship. This same team also won a World Mixed Team Title in the early 1970's.

Dick excelled in the 1972 World Championships at Hall of Famer Sil Angelotti's Pilgrim Lanes. Not only did he win in the Men's team competition; Dick also won the Singles event with a 1414 ten-string total. Most importantly, Dick won the coveted All Events Crown in the same year!

In 1981, Dick and his partner Pat Parker won the Massachusetts State Open Mixed Doubles title with a record-setting score of 1327.

Throughout his long and distinguished Candlepin career, Dick also won many Western Massachusetts titles, too numerous to mention, in fact!

Dick has also given back to the sport he loves. Over the years, Dick instructed youngsters in the Riverside Park Lane's junior bowling program. He also served for sixteen years as President of the Canal Lanes Pro League, as well as participating in fund-raisers for the Heart Association at Valley Park Lanes in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Dick's overall career statistics include a 191 high single game, a high triple of 474 and highest seasonal average of 128.

Dick worked for 41.5 years at United Technologies, retiring in 1998. He and his wife Lois have two children, Peter and Kristen, the latter of whom nominated her father for tonight's honors.

Tonight the International Candlepin Bowling Association welcomes Joe Tavernese into the Hall of Fame.  Joe is a familiar face in the candlepin family- especially on the North Shore of Massachusetts. In fact, he is the face that will greet you at the Metro Bowl in Peabody, MA where he is employed as the manager!

Through the years, Joe has amassed over 50 television appearances, as well as numerous individual and team titles.  He was crowned the MBA All Events State Champion in both 1987 and 1989- setting a new record with each win.  He has 2 Pro Tour victories to his credit, (1997 and 2004), as well as a couple of appearances on the Channel 5 Yellow Pages show in 1989, (finished 4^th), and in 1990, (finished 2^nd).  Joe was a member of the Metro Bowl Team in the Mass Northeastern Men’s Pro League that won the title 11 times.

Joe is among the elite candlepin bowlers with a high single over 200.  His personal bests include a 207 high single, a 484 high three, a 758 high five and a ten string high of 1,481.

Perhaps Joe’s most prized accomplishment is his commitment to the sport of candlepin bowling and his willingness to help out a good cause whenever he is asked.  He is a fan favorite at the annual Rock ‘n Bowl to support the ICYBA youth program, played a major role in the fundraiser for late Hall of Famer Tom Morgan and participated in the MBA Senior Jamboree Exhibition in Natick, MA.  He has run numerous house events at the Post Office Lanes in Lynn, MA and the Metro Bowl in Peabody, MA.  He works tirelessly with bowlers in the house leagues to teach them not only the fundamentals of candlepin bowling, but proper bowling etiquette as well!

Joe lives in Lynn, MA and is married to his wife Sharon- also a familiar face in the candlepin bowling circuit.  They have two children- Joe Jr., and Joline.  Joe and Sharon are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren- Abbey, Dominic and Rylan. 

Tonight the WCBC Hall of Fame welcomes Steve Vadney of Claremont, NH into its exclusive ranks. 

From 1978 to the present, Steve has established himself as a force to be reckoned with whenever hi is in competition, having amassed a resume that boasts over 100 television appearances and State and World Titles that span four decades.

Steve's first title came in 1978 when he emerged as the All Events Champion in WNECA yearly championship.  In 1983, Steve paired with Bill Baker to win the New Hampshire Men's Doubles title.  He did even better in 1984, winning the New Hampshire State Singles title as well as the All Events Crown with a record-tying 1381 total.  It doesn't stop here folks!

In 1985, Steve faced Hall of Famer Dan Murphy head to head for the New Hampshire All Events title.  Steve bowled a phenomenal 1520 while Dan finisher with a remarkable 1482  as runner-up in the ten-string competition.  Steve's total remains today, twenty years later, as the New Hampshire State Ten game record.

After the demise of the Channel Five Bowling Show, Steve did not participate on the WCBC Tour for a few years.  At the prompting of his son, who was attending college in proximity to many of the Pro Tour stops, Steve rejoined the tour in the late 1990's.  His son came to root for Steve and wonderful things followed!

Ins subsequent years, Steve earned many more titles on the WCBC Tour!  In fact, Steve won the WCBC Bowler of the Year honors in 1999-2000 season, averaging 134 for the season.  He has won several individual tournaments during his tenure with the WCBC, as well as finishing in the top ten on many occasions.

In 2002, Steve became a member of SPCBA, the senior counterpart of the WCBC Pro Tour.  Steve has won several individual tour events on the Senior Tour and won the Senior Pro Bowler of the Year title for the 2002-2003 season with a 131 overall average.

Steve's television record is also impressive.  On the Yankee Championship Bowling program in Concord, New Hampshire, Steve held the three-string record with a 488 triple.  He also held the individual string record with 195.  He has appeared on the Channel Fifty show in excess of sixty times, while his Channel Five appearances exceed twenty.  Over the years Steve also appeared on NESN's BIG SHOT BOWLING, as well as Comcast's current hit show co-hosted by our own Dan Murphy.

Tonight, we welcome Nance Vestal into the ICBA Hall of Fame Class of 2011 for competitive ability; she joins many other members from the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, including tonight’s fellow inductee, Joe Tavernese.

Nance has several Massachusetts State titles to her credit, including being crowned the 2005 Open All Events Champion.  She has notched 6 WCBC Pro Tour victories, as well as 17 New Hampshire State titles, including this past year’s Ladies Doubles and Ladies Singles titles, scratch and handicap divisions, alike.

Nance is an active participant in many of the Ladies International Events, and her list of accomplishments includes 8 international titles.  She was also a member of the North Shore Women’s Travel League for many years, and was a member of the championship team on 7 occasions.

Nance’s personal bests are quite impressive- a 189 high single, 454 high triple, 735 high five and a 1,305 ten string mark; she has also appeared on television five times.

Nance is married to her husband Fred, and they are the proud parents of 3 children- Sara (26), Rebekah (24) and Benjamin (20).  They also have 2 granddaughters- Abby (6) and Lily Mae (2). 

The time has come to acknowledge and celebrate the Candlepin Bowling career of Roly West.  Although noticeable shorter in span than many of tonight's other inductees, Roly's career on the lanes was exemplary and eventful.

Roly first tasted victory as a member of the 1961 World Championship Junior Boy's Team.  He obviously liked the feeling that winning that event provided; in the years to follow he did a lot more of it!  In 1962, Roly became the youngest bowler ever to appear on the Channel Five Bowling show at the age of sixteen years.  Not only did he appear, he won this first match over Arthur Duff of Dorchester, Mass. 358-336.  Roly's appearance, though inspirational, spawned the move to raise the age limit for qualifiers to the program!  Roly had just begun to fight!

Also in 1962, Roly finished in first place in the MBA Classic event in Walpole, Massachusetts with a score of 1284.  In 1963, hitting 422, Roly spearheaded his Men's  Team to the Open title in the Massachusetts State Championships in Natick.

Some in the audience tonight will recall the prestigious and lucrative Huntington "55" event held yearly in Boston, Massachusetts in the 1960's.  I'm sure Roly has special memories of the 1965 event.  Roly finished first in the Singles competition with a fantastic score of 1382.

In 1965, Roly won the twenty string MBA All Stars Events at the Wal-Lex in Waltham Massachusetts with a score of 2447.  This event was an invitational and included all the top competitors from the Channel Five Bowling Show.  Winning this event at the age of 19 years was certainly a formidable and noteworthy accomplishment; runners-up included Joe Donovan, and Hall of Famers Charlie Jutras, the late Jerry DiVechhia and Mike Saniuk, to name a few.

Another yearly event that "all of the big guns" competed in was the yearly Easter Sunday Sweepstakes held in Manchester, New Hampshire  Comparable to today's event held at Leda Lanes, Roly was the 1966 champion with a score of 1297.

After a hiatus of nine years, Roly placed second in the 1975 MBA Open Singles with a 1324 ten-string total.  In 1976, Roly finished in third place in the televisiond finals of the MBA All Events competition on Channel 7 Boston, Massachusetts.

In league competition, Roly was the first bowler to win back-to-back High Average titles in the Suburban Businessmen's Bowling League at the West Roxbury Bowling Center .  This league included Hall of Famers Jerry DiVecchia, Mike Saniuk, Herb Berman, Tony Karem and Lou Pagnani, to name a few.

Roly essentially retired for the sport in 1968 at the age of 22, citing burnout as the reason.  Although he returned briefly in the 1970's competition outlined above, Roly left his mark amoung the game's elite in just six short whirlwind years.

Today, Roly is married to Kirsten and they have three children, Sven, Petra, and Christian.  He is VP of Eastern Sales and Marketing in his hometown of Needham, Massachusetts.