Butler County bowling Hall inducts 4 Saturday
Four new inductees will join the Butler County Bowling Association Hall of Fame Saturday night.
The late Dick McKain and his son, Rick, will be inducted for bowling ability. Jim McCune and the late Don "Benny" Beneroski will go in for meritorious service.
The BCBA Hall of Fame induction dinner begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Tanglewood Senior Center.
"It's not easy to get into this Hall of Fame," said its public relations director, Ron Brandon said. "Nominations are considered by its current members, then are pared down to a vote of Hall members and BCBA board of directors."
Four nominations are selected for a final vote. Each voter can vote for no more than two names and nominees must gain 75 percent of the votes cast to gain induction.
The BCBA Hall of Fame, which has existed since 1995. will increase its membership to 32.
"This is something you never expect to see happen," Rick McKain said. "For me to go in with my father makes it a double honor.
"I used to follow my dad to the bowling alley every chance I could. I sat there, watched him and enjoyed it. That's how I gained interest in the sport."
Dick McKain died in 1997 at age 69. He performed at the highest levels of Butler County bowling in the era when rubber bowling balls and heavy wooden pins ruled the day, as well as in the modern era with advanced equipment.His career-high average was 212. During the 1950s, McKain became the fourth bowler in BCBA history to shoot a 700 series when he amassed a 728. He won the 1963 Pittsburgh-West Penn Singles Tenpin Tournament, besting 800 bowlers.The top 11 total scores after five games bowl elimination rounds against each other until a champion is determined.Dick McKain bowled on a team with his son, Rick, in 1981-82 that set the BCBA all-time high series of 3,409."That record's been broken many times since," Rick McKain said. "But it's a nice memory being a part of that."Rick McKain, 48, has been a BCBA member for more than 30 years. His highest career average is 224, posted during the 2005-06 season.The younger McKain has won numerous BCBA Tournament titles, including three doubles crowns with HOF member Ed Kellerman. He won the singles crown in 2001 and four team championships. He has rolled six 300 games in his career."There is so much bowling history in the Butler area," McKain said. "There's still numerous bowlers from decades before us who could be going in. I can't express how this induction makes me feel."
Beneroski's bowling activities were centered at Freeway Lanes in Zelienople. He was a longtime member of the BCBA Board of Directors and was Pennsylvania State Moose Tournament director from 1958 through 1996.He died in 2002 at age 67.Beneroski served as secretary-treasurer of the Moose League for 20 years and for many years organized teams to compete in the St. Clairsville (Ohio) Tournament, which is the largest team-only tournament in country.As a bowler, Beneroski posted career highs of 298 (game), 735 (series) and 205 (average).
McCune, 67, has been a BCBA member for more than 50 years. He got started in the sport as a pinsetter at B&W Lanes (now Bon Aire Bowl) at age 12."Setting pins on weekends enabled us kids to bowl for free and it put money in our pockets," McCune said.A BCBA board member for 16 years, McCune served as president of the Buckhorn and Pioneer Leagues for years, and was founder of the Animals League. He also was founder of the Soda Pop Kids League at Bon Aire Bowl.McCune has served as a lane inspector for 12 years."There was a need and the board asked me to do it," McCune said. "We check every bowling house in the county for gutter depth, cross-tilts, weight of pins, etc. It's once a year, usually right before league play begins."As a bowler, McCune was the 1997 BCBA Tournament handicap singles champion with a 758 series.Tickets for the dinner are available by calling Jim Bowser at 724-285-3323, Jim Hepler at 724-316-3660 or any BCBA board member.
<B>Bowling Ability</B>1995: Tony Betty1996: Charles 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 Greenert2008: Dick McKain, Rick McKain<B>Meritorious Service</B>1995: Ike Pawk, Hal Phillips, Mike Surkalo1998: Charlie Kurtz1999: Bill Rock2001: Jim Bowser2002: Dave Hutchison, Lyle MacDonald2004: Dr. Michael Pawk2005: Mike Coyle2007: Larry Parenti, Rick Reeder2008: Don "Benny"Beneroski, Jim McCune
