USBC Hall of Famer Joyce Deitch dies at age 90

ARLINGTON, Texas - Joyce Deitch of Boulder City, Nevada, a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, died Monday. She was 90.

Deitch was inducted for meritorious service in 2003 after nearly 30 years of service for the Women's International Bowling Congress.

She got her start on the national level in 1973 when she was elected to the WIBC Board of Directors and ascended through the organization, leading up to her election as the seventh president of WIBC in 1993. Deitch served three three-year terms as president, before retiring in 2002.

During her time with WIBC, Deitch was involved in helping establish Bowling Inc., Team USA and the Young American Bowling Alliance. She also held leadership roles with the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, National Bowling Council and what now is the International Bowling Federation.

Deitch's legacy to the sport of bowling, however, will be tied to her push to bring the multiple membership organizations within bowling together to create a single organization.

The United States Bowling Congress officially launched Jan. 1, 2005, resulting from the merger of the American Bowling Congress, WIBC, YABA and USA Bowling.

"In her 29 years of WIBC service at the national level, Deitch held a variety of positions and made numerous key contributions," Bowlers Journal International magazine wrote in November 2002. "But her single biggest contribution may have been to pave the way for the ultimate merger of the various membership groups."

Deitch received numerous accolades for her dedication and work, including the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America V.A. Wapensky and Lifetime Achievement Awards. She also is a member of the Southern Nevada USBC and Nevada State USBC Halls of Fame for meritorious service.

Her contributions to the sport also earned her the distinction of having one of USBC's National Recognition Awards named after her.

The USBC Joyce Deitch Unity Award (previously WIBC Joyce Deitch Trailblazer Award) recognizes organizations and individuals who have made important contributions to the overall sport of bowling by being motivators, visionaries, leaders or innovators.

On the lanes, Deitch was a 46-time participant at the USBC Women's Championships. She started her career on the championship lanes at the 1956 event in Miami, and she competed every year from 1968 until her final tournament appearance in 2005.

Funeral services will be held Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas, with the celebration being held later that day (5 p.m. - 8 p.m.) at Boulder Bowl in Boulder City, Nevada.