Gabe Attoun, a product of Joplin’s aggressive junior program and a student at the University of Arkansas, drives home on weekends and competes in the Friday Night Mixed League at the Fourth Street Bowl.
Apparently his game hasn’t suffered after being away from local league competition a year or so. The young left-hander recently cranked out an 815 series that included a 300 in addition to games of 268 and 247. The 815 was at least Gabe’s second 800-plus series. The 2007-2008 USBC Greater Joplin Association yearbook lists Gabe with an 826 series.
If Sonya Fort and Billy Byrd can be used as examples, there’s something to be said for buying a new ball. Both have been cranking out big games and series since getting the new equipment.
Sonya shot 247-645 in league play last week at Fourth Street Bowl. Bill, a senior left-hander, had 276-698 at Fourth Street and 254-238-679 at Bowl East. It took Bill a couple weeks to get acclimated to the hard back-end break on his new Columbia ball, but he’s throwing a lot of strikes now.
While Gabe Attoun’s 815 topped the men’s series charts during the past week, Margaret Kaughman led the women with a 652 series at Fourth Street. Margaret logged games of 211, 219 and 222.
Other outstanding performances last week:
Bowl East
Men—Kirt Roach 300-701, David Brisco 274-733, 279-742 and 276-705, Shaun Beeson 716, Brad Kohlbusch 299, Frank Wiesler 280-278-738, David Roach 289-722, Harry Parrish 731, David Sumner 728, Jeremiah Tripp 722, Jake Hensley 279-718, Mike Bullette 705, Jonathon White 708, Rob Smith 701, Darry Mingus 707, and Tony Harvey 277.
Women—Candy Brown 224-204-212-640, Heidi Burggraf 247, Jean Jackson 246, Robyn Laubach 225-617, Tammy Little 223-600.
Senior men—Buryl Clingan 254-616, J.R. Jones 205-234-212-651, Pepper Martin 248, Steve Wiles 604 and Ron Bogue 233-599.
Senior women—Millie Dickerson 183-515.
Youth—Zach Fort 212-218-602, Tyler Meyer 230-612.
Crown Lanes
Men—Johnny Vickers 278-669.
Women—Cindy Goheen 550, Marsha Henson 209.
Fourth Street Bowl
Men—Shaun Horner 300, Butch England 278, Lucas Clifford 277.
Women—Carol Dutton 256-639, Pam Kohler 227-638, Valerie LeRiche 233.
Senior men—Jim Billman 235, Tom Fortson 231, William Rentschler 220-606, Steve Wiles 237.
Senior women—Bernice Cooke 220-582, Millie Dickerson 565.
USBC historian seeks books
Lloyd York, a long-time member of the Joplin USBC Bowling Hall of Fame committee, is the unofficial historian of the men’s division of the city association.
He compiles workups on every bowler nominated for the Hall of Fame. He can tell you how many years a bowler has participated in league competition, how many games he bowled each year and what his averages were in a particular year.
His work is greatly appreciated by other members of the committee who help select the Hall of Fame inductees each year. When you can see a bowler’s performance record in black and white, it’s difficult to disregard his or her accomplishments.
Lloyd currently has annual yearbooks of the Greater Joplin Men’s Bowling Association and the Joplin USBC dating from the first one in 1960-61 through the current 2007-08 book. He’s missing seven books — 1968-69, 70-71, 73-74, 75-76, 76-77, 77-78 and 1980-81.
If there are any bowlers out there who might have copies of those “lost” books, Lloyd would appreciate a phone call (624-0446). He is very thorough in his record keeping and hates to overlook someone who should be included on the Hall of Fame roster.
As Lloyd says, “I see the Hall of Fame as part of Joplin’s bowling history and if history isn’t recorded correctly, or close to it, it isn’t really history.”
Address correspondence to Wendell Redden, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802, or e-mail sports@joplinglobe.com.
