Butler County formed a bowling hall of fame in 1993 — because there was a need for one.

"We have a lot of trend setters in the sport here, some excellent bowlers with fantastic abilities," former Butler County Bowling Association president Mike Coyle said. "We needed something to honor them."

Jim Bowser was president of the BCBA in 1993. After that season, he formed a committee to put together the Hall of Fame. Coyle was named chairman of that committee.

"We wanted to make the criteria for nominating someone for induction as strict as possible," Coyle said. "It was important that only the best of the best got in."

The first four of 22 eventual inductees — Tony Betty, Michael "Ike"Pawk, Hal Phillips and Mike Surkalo — formed the Hall in 1995.

Nominations for Hall of Fame consideration are in two categories: Meritorious service and bowling abilities.

Criteria for meritorious service include being a member of the BCBA for at least 20 years, demonstration of leadership abilities through being a league officer, BCBA board member, etc., and having a long-term commitment to the sport.

Criteria for bowling ability include being a BCBA member for at least 20 years, having a minimum verified average of 190 for 10 years subsequent to 1975, having rolled an 800-series or multiple honors scores, and having participated in 10 BCBA championship tournaments and being an individual events winner for more than one year.

Nomination forms are available on the BCBA web site, butlercountybowling.org

"We used the year 1975 because that's when bowling began to change," Hall of Fame committee member Wayne Giesler said. "Bowling at a high average was much more difficult prior to that year because the lanes were different."

Living BCBA Hall of Fame members can get together and elect someone into the Hall without having to go through the committee.

Two of the Hall's 22 members — Joe Rosenberg in 2002 and Ed Kellerman this year — were inducted through the current members.

"It's a nice option to have because most of the present-day committee members never saw some of the old-timers bowl and they won't remember them," Giesler said. "This option gives them a chance.

"The Hall of Famers bowled with a lot of those guys and know how good they were."Anyone nominated for induction in a given year not voted in by the board that year has two more years for consideration.If he has not been inducted within three years, his name must be re-submitted to remain open for consideration."Not only does the person have to meet the qualifications, he must be voted for by at least 75 percent of the committee," Coyle said. "Believe me, every name in that Hall of Fame has earned their place there."Brian Marcellus is the BCBA board member currently in charge of the Hall of Fame. He said the annual Hall of Fame dinner is being moved from June back to either late September or early October."The thinking is to have it during bowling season so bowlers are around," Marcellus said. "Come June, a lot of guys are on vacation or out of town."Marcellus said Tom Fry is probably the best bowler in the county and "he's only become eligible in the past year or so.""I've got to believe he'll go in this year," Marcellus said.Coyle described Fry as "a star, a standout bowler who is easy to recognize."It's the inductees for meritorious service who are hard to find.Coyle should know. He's one of them, having been inducted through that category earlier this year."The guy who has been secretary for three to five different leagues, who's put teams together for tournaments or provided different services for bowlers over the years … There always seems to be a problem digging them out," Coyle said."They're unsung heroes. They're hesitant to be recognized.Coyle said there are still a number of names out there deserved of Hall of Fame induction."Our qualifications will remain status quo for a while yet," he said.A glass-enclosed plaque honoring each Hall of Fame member is displayed at the Lyndora Hotel. A photo of each Ike Pawk Memorial Award winner — considered the county's Bowler of the Year — is displayed there as well.