Mercer County Bowling Hall of Fame will induct a quintet of greats into its shrine during its 21st annual fete Saturday at The Radisson Hotel, near West Middlesex.
The 6 p.m. banquet and induction ceremony will be preceded by a 5 p.m. social hour. For ticket information, contact Fred Tonty, 724-981-4371, or Donna Stewart, 724-735-5059, by today.
Here are biographies of this year’s inductees:
RICK WALTER
Walter has enjoyed a 35-year career that began at age 19.
His personal-best 858 series, which occurred in the Sunday Jolly Four League, also included the 1st of his 4 career perfect 300 games. His best career average is 214, and during the past 15-year stint he has carried a 203 nightly norm.
During his career Walter has been named Z&Z; Lanes’ “Bowler of the Year” 12 times, has been a 3-time Greenville Bowling Center “Bowler of the Year” (sharing the 2000 title with wife Debbie) and has placed in the county men’s singles, doubles and team events, as well as the Senior Scratch Division. In addition, he was the 1992 Shamrock singles champion, 2005 Valentine’s Doubles champion (partnering with his daughter Tracy), and also placed 3rd at the ’05 Coca-Cola singles tourney at Plaza Lanes, Meadville, in addition to various local singles tourneys and sweepers. He has placed at various ABC national tourneys in various venues, including Reno, Nev.
DOROTHY MORRIS
A 30-year Shenango Valley Women’s Bowling Assn. veteran, Mrs. Morris, with Joe Miller and John Wanacheck, started in the early 1960’s and maintained the Mercer County American Junior Bowling Congress. She served as secretary for 2-plus decades, as well as president.
Her dedication and commitment to youth bowling continued as she initiated the inaugural Coca-Cola (now Pepsi) tourney at the former Hickory Bowl (now Ten-pin Alley), which attracted 200 youthful keglers. Mrs. Morris also organized and conducted numerous local county and district tourneys, and assisted with preparing numerous postseason awards banquets.
During her playing career she posted a 590 high series, 231 game and 163 average.
DAVE McGRANAHAN SR.
A half-dozen perfect 300 games, career-high 790 series and all-time high 218 average (199.84 composite) are among the highlights of McGranahan’s 33-year Mercer County Men’s Bowling Assn. tenure.
He has competed at the local, county, state and national levels. sharing his passion with his family including his children. He and his mother Dot shared the 1976 Greenville Bowling Center “Bowler of the Year” award, and he and nephew Kyle shared a Junior-Senior tourney title. He won GBC’s 2003 “Monster” tourney, and was Senior tourney titlist after posting a 6-game 1,275 series, and also captured the 1987 Peterson Points League with a 15-week 216 average.
During his career, the McGranahan Plumbing team includes his father, wife Shirley, brother Dennis, late son Mike as well as David Jr. and Gary, and nephews Keith and Kyle.
KATHY HENRY
Mrs. Henry helped develop the Celebrity Bowl “Stars of Tomorrow” scholarship tournament, which has enjoyed a decade of assisting YABA members with continuing their education. She was aided in this venture by her husband Gary, as well as Celebrity Bowl proprietors Joe and Sue Dortin.
The “Stars of Tomorrow” event draws approximately 30 young bowlers per month from as far as Erie and New York state, and has awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Penn State, Robert Morris and Morehead State universities, among others.
Mrs. Henry’s playing career commenced in 1989, and she has posted respective high game, series and seasonal averages of 264, 632 and 175. She has been a 3-time Celebrity Bowl 9-pin, no-tap tourney titlist, captured back-to-back Shenango Valley Women’s doubles championships, and been part of several team titles. In addition, she and her son Jason have won Celebrity Bowl and Mercer County Youth-Adult tourney titles, highlighted by her 1st 200 game.
Mrs. Henry’s daughter, Amanda, who has rolled a pair of 700 series, was the 1st YABA female honoree of the Mercer County Bowling Hall of Fame.
BRIAN CHEC
The 34-year veteran kegler (starting at age 8) has spent half of that time as a Mercer County Bowling Assn. member. He competed collegiately for Robert Morris (University) College, including the 1988 national championships.
Chec’s checklist of accomplishments includes 37 perfect games, 15 series of 800-plus (including an 840 high) and a 223 average. He has rolled 800 sets at 5 different county houses, and is the 1st male to do so at Sharpsville Bowl (813).
In addition, he has a pair of top-16 placements at the 1000-competitor Vegas High-Rollers tourneys; has the distinction of posting the 1st 300 game at the 12th annual “Cream of the Crop” tourney in Port Ritchey, Fla., and placed 3rd at the Peterson Classic. Chec also has two top-10 finishes at the ABC nationals team and doubles events. He was the 1992 Pennsylvania Amateur champion, has 7 Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour titles, and a pair of Brunswick Team Challenge crowns.
Locally, he has 10 MCBA titles, 4 Reynolds Lanes “Challenge” browns, a pair of Sunset Lanes’ “Super Bowl Sweeper” championships, and in 1990 captured the Brannan Bowl Spring Singles tourney in Pittsburgh. Chec also has 2 St. Clairsville team titles, the 1995 Pittsburgh Masters crown, and was part of the 2007 Pennsylvania Team championship.
