Bernice Bennie

Meritorious Service

Bernice Bennie
City: Forest Heights
State: MD
Inducted: 2003

Bernice Bennie played a major role in establishing the sport of tenpin bowling in the Washington, D.C., area. In 1945, Bennie and her husband, Matt, helped create what would become the Washington D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association and the Nation's Capital Bowling Association. In 1953, Bennie was named secretary of the Washington D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association. During her time as secretary, membership in the association grew from 278 sanctioned members in 1953 to more than 15,000 members in 1963. In 1957, Bennie helped form the Virginia Women's Bowling Association. She was the first inductee into the Washington D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. In 1963, Bennie was appointed to the Women's International Bowling Congress Board of Directors. She was a WIBC director for more than 15 years and retired from the WIBC board in 1979, when she was named a WIBC member emerita.