Upcoming Events

The Rochelle USBC Association proudly announces the 2009 Hall of Fame Banquet to be held April 18, 2009, at Hickory Grove Convention Center, 1133 North 7th Street, Rochelle, Illinois. Cocktail hour starts at 6:00 PM, with dinner served at 7:00 PM. Entrees include choice of New York Strip steak and Chicken Cordon Bleu. Tickets for this prestigious event are $30.00 each, and are available at T-Byrd Lanes and Chelle-Crest Family Bowl. The 2009 Hall of Fame inductees are as follows: Ladies division: Donna Challand, Laura Holzlander, and Diane Schultz. Men’s division: Allen Swegle, Jacob Scott, and Don Strawbridge.

Our heartfelt thanks to Association President Ron Hall for acquiring this year’s guest speaker, PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss! He was born August 4th, 1958. His father purchased a bowling center in Anchorage, Alaska, thus introducing Brian to the game of American Tenpins at age 6. After moving to Colorado, he worked at another bowling center while struggling to pay for his college education before deciding to enlist in the US Army, serving 2 years in Seattle, Washington as an Army electronics technician. This enabled him to participate in intramural bowling, refining his game. He won his first PBA tour title in 1983. His only major tour title in the 1980’s was the 1988 PBA National Championship, earning a then-record $225,485, then accordingly named PBA Player of The Year. From 1987 to 1998, he won at least one tour title for 12 straight seasons. A broken wrist in 1999 ended his streak. He has collected $2.3 million in career PBA earnings, which puts him 5th all-time in that category. He is also recognized for Harry Smith PBA Point Winner, 1987-1988, inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1994, the USBC Hall of Fame in 2007, was ranked #13 on the PBA’s list of “50 Greatest Players of The Last 50 Years”, and 24 Denny’s PBA Tour titles. He has been diligent in promoting bowling internationally in Spain, Russia, Italy, Greece, Panama, and other nations. He is also currently writing a book on the mechanics of bowling and mental imagery.

Following the program, John Bearrows of Bearrows Real Estate and Auction Company will auction Brian Voss items and memorabilia, such as shirts and bowling balls that he has used. All proceeds will go to the John LaRue Scholarship program, assisting and promoting youth bowling in Rochelle.

Richard Westlake

Rochelle USBC Publicity Director

815-899-7071