Warheit, Fry enter bowling HOF
BUTLER TWP — Tom Fry and Rich Warheit are more than Hall of Famers.
They have been vital cogs in the engine that keeps bowling rolling in Butler County.
Fry and Warheit, both 57, were inducted into the Butler Area USBC Hall of Fame during a dinner last weekend at the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department Hall.
There are now 66 members in that Hall of Fame.
“I know the names that are in there and it's extremely humbling to be in there with them,” Warheit said. “I'm not sure I belong.
“For me, I feel like I haven't done enough. Those who put me in feel like I've done more than enough. For that, I'm very grateful and appreciative.”
Fry said he was raised to “always stay in the background” and was hesitant about accepting induction into the Hall of Fame for that reason.
“I'm uncomfortable talking about myself and any accomplishments I may have done,” Fry said. “But at the same time, I appreciate the board's intention of recognizing me and my involvement in the sport.”
Both have been involved for a long time.
Fry is the former owner of Meridian Lanes and Sherwood Lanes. He owns the county tournament record of an 814 series. He's competed in PBA Tournaments and won the Long Island Open in 1985.
One of the top bowlers in Butler County history, Fry has rolled more than 25 perfect games, 15 800-series, has competed in 50 county tournaments and more than 30 national USBC tournaments.
His highest single-season average was 241.
“I never kept track of how many 300-games I bowled, or any statistics like that,” Fry said. “I just enjoyed the challenge of the game. It's every bowler's goal, every time you start a game, to roll a perfect game.”
Warheit has rolled one perfect game in his lifetime, doing so in 2010. His high series is 757 and his highest average has been 202.Outstanding numbers to be sure, but Warheit's biggest claim to excellence has been his service to bowling in the community.He has been a member of the Butler Area USBC for 35 years. He has served on the board of directors in the county for 25 years, including the past six as county manager.Warheit is the first county manager of the now merged association — rolling the men's, women's and youth associations into one board.“It's taken some tweaking and a little while for all of us to unify, but that's happened and we'll continue to improve our effectiveness in serving our member bowlers,” Warheit said.Warheit is county manager for 26 area directors and seven youth directors in Butler County. He has also served as secretary/treasurer of the Penn Street Pizza league for 30 years.“I've helped run three PSBA state tournaments in Butler and plan to help out again when that tournament returns in 2021,” Warheit said.Fry started the Butler County Traveling League years ago, getting the idea from his time on the PBA Tour.“That got me thinking about the challenge of bowling in different centers, adapting to different shots,” he said. “The travel league here gave bowlers that challenge. We had six different houses involved.“People who bowl in one league today and never bowl at a different house ... They miss out on that challenging side of the game.”A football and baseball player when he was young, Fry said “I probably rode my bike past Meridian Lanes 10,000 times as a kid without ever going in.”He never bowled until age 15, when a friend asked him to bowl with him at Meridian. Fry became hooked on the game shortly thereafter.Warheit was in on the creation of the Butler Area USBC Hall of Fame.“I still can't believe I'm a member of it now,” he said. “It's been a fun ride and it's not over yet.”
