County bowling Hall to honor 4 greats

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

October 10, 2007 Last Updated: October 10, 2007 11:52 AM Amateur

Dandois

Ivan Dandois and Ray Greenert stood out on the bowling alley when few others did.

They are joining the Butler County Bowling Association Hall of Fame as a result.

Both will be inducted for their bowling ability at the organization's annual banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Tanglewood Senior Center.

Current BCBA president Larry Parenti and Rick Reeder are being inducted for meritorious service.

"Ivan won at least five association championships and set two tournament records along the way,"said Ron Brandon, the organization's public relations director. "Ivan and Ray bowled in an era when everyone used rubber bowling balls.

"The lanes were wood and the pins were heavier. These guys stood out regardless."

Dandois died in 1965 at the age of 65. He was the 1961 BCBATournament scratch all-events champion with a record score of 1,867. During that same tournament, he combined with BCBAHall of Famer Joe Rosenberg to win scratch doubles with a record score of 1,253.

In the 1963 tournament, Dandois teamed with four other Hallmembers — Ralph Henry, Ray Henry, Jack "Bo"Ordy and Brandon — to win the scratch team title. He won the scratch doubles title with Brandon in 1965 and was part of the 1967 tournament championship team.

"Ivan became the 14th bowler in BCBAhistory to roll a 700 series in 1959-60,"Brandon said. "Those performances were few and far between then."

Dandois approached a 200 average in 1964-65. Only three other bowlers had averaged 200 in Butler County at the time. He also won a $1,000 squad prize at the prestigious Peterson Classic in Chicago.

Greenert became a standout bowler at a young age, joining fellow Butler High students Dave Fishel, Terry Black, Rudy Natali and Brandon to win the BCBATournament handicap team title in 1960."That was a lot of fun because we were just kids,"recalled Greenert, 64. "We weren't very good bowlers yet."Greenert certainly became a good bowler, joining Ralph and Ray Henry, Dee Crowe and Rollie Hortert to win the BCBATournament team championship in 1972. He led Butler County bowlers with a 203 average in 1969 and rolled several 700 series.He bowled a 700 series at the 1971 state tournament in Meadville. Greenert also won the Brannan Bowl Singles Tournament in McKees Rocks in 1962 and the Bailey Bowl Singles Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1964."The only two times I bowled in the county team tournament, I won,"Greenert said. "I don't know why I didn't bowl in more. I wish I had. I wish I stayed with bowling longer than I did."Greenert has not bowled in a league for nearly 20 years.

Parenti, 57, averaged about 190 for a five-year stretch before health problems knocked his average down a bit. His biggest contribution to the sport — and the reason for his induction — is his administrative work.Parenti has been a league secretary in the Commercial, Saturday Nighters and Buckhorn leagues. He also served on the BCBAboard of directors for 14 years and is the organization's current president."I'm eligible to run for one more term and probably will,"Parenti said. "We've started efforts to make a bid to bring the 2011 state tournament here, and I want to see that through."When the WIBCand ABC were merged to form the current United States Bowling Congress, Parenti attended a USBCtraining class in Wisconsin."That merger was going to require a lot of transition at the local level and I wanted to make sure we did it right," he said."I love bowling and keeping the integrity in the game. When you work with tournaments and meet the bowlers one on one, it's a very satisfying and gratifying thing to do."

Reeder, 54, knows all about that. He's been heading the county's junior bowling program for 22 years and has been junior league coordinator at Family Bowlaway since 1988."Rick's kids went through the program, but when they grew up and left, he stayed,"Brandon said.About 500 young bowlers participate in the Butler County youth program each year."I enjoy working with the kids,"Reeder said. "It keeps me involved with the game."A former league bowler himself, Reeder's highest average was 187. He had a knee replacement in 1983 and hasn't bowled since.Reeder's sons, Greg, 27, and Jim, 24, were Butler County youth bowlers. Greg Reeder recently bowled a 773 series in Erie.Seven bowling houses in Butler County — Family Bowlaway, Sherwood, Freeway, Mars, Meridian, Bruin and Slippery Rock Lanes — have junior bowling programs."It's fun teaching kids a sport they can play for a lifetime,"Reeder said.PBAtouring pro Bob Learn will be a guest speaker at the banquet. A social hour begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available from any BCBAboard member or from association manager Jim Bowser at 724-285-3323.

Here is the membership of the Butler County Bowling Association Hall of Fame:Bowling Ability1995: Tony Betty1996: Charlie Michaels Sr.1998: Ray Henry2000: Ralph Henry2001: Jack "Bo"Ordy2002: Dee Crowe, Joe Rosenberg2003: Ron Brandon, Wayne Giesler Jr.2004: Dick "Pooch" Ordy2005: Ed Kellerman Jr., Lance Rihn2006: Ron Henry, Jim Zarnick2007: Ivan Dandois, Ray GreenertMeritorious Service1995: Ike Pawk, Hal Phillips, Mike Surkalo1998: Charlie Kurtz1999: Bill Rock2001: Jim Bowser2002: Dave Hutchison, Lyle MacDonald2004: Dr. Michael Pawk2005: Mike Coyle2007: Larry Parenti, Rick Reeder