Arizona bowler celebrates 50 consecutive years at USBC Women’s Championships
June 03, 2025
LAS VEGAS – Joyce Dixon of Mesa, Arizona, has always encouraged others to go out and enjoy what bowling has to offer.
She’s dedicated her time throughout the years at the local, state and national levels in hopes of helping build a support system for others to find their place in the sport, whether it is for the camaraderie or competition.
Dixon leans toward the fun and friendship when reflecting on her journey in bowling, and both were present – along with a surprise or two – as she recently celebrated her 50th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships.
For reaching the milestone, she was presented with a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
While she planned on having a good time with a couple family members and friends in attendance, Dixon wasn’t prepared for the number of supporters she was going to have celebrate her achievement.
More than a dozen people made their way to Las Vegas to surprise Dixon on her big day, including her three children.
Joyce Dixon with her family in Las Vegas
Dixon worked at the USBC Women’s Championships as part of the traveling tournament staff from 2007-2017, and her former tournament director, Eric Pierson, also was on hand at South Point to help her celebrate the moment.
“It brought me to tears when I saw my kids, and the same when I saw Eric,” said Dixon, who has worked as part of the event staff at the USBC Open Championships since 2021. “It was very special for me to have my family and some very good friends here.
“It’s been an adventure. I enjoy getting to see old friends, and even now working at the Open, I see a lot of people I know. It’s also nice to make new friends from all over the country. This experience is still sinking in. There were so many surprises from the minute I walked in – it was just unbelievable.”
The Lake Havasu City Women’s Bowling Association (now Lake Havasu City USBC) and Arizona Women’s Bowling Association (now Arizona State USBC) Hall of Famer made her first appearance at the Women’s Championships in 1975 during the tournament’s trip to Indianapolis, which also served as a homecoming for her.
“I was scared to death when I went to nationals the first year,” Dixon said. “I had bowled a couple state tournaments, but never nationals. It was very special being in Indianapolis, though, because I used to live in Indiana and had never bowled in Indianapolis.”
Many of her trips to the tournament were timed to also attend the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Convention, which included an opportunity to chat one year with USBC Hall of Famer Joyce Deitch.
“I’m a people person, and over the 50 years, I’ve met a lot of people,” Dixon said. “One of the first times I went up to the stage at the WIBC (Convention) as the president of the National 500 Club, I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Joyce Deitch, which was quite special for me.”
Her tournament experiences were often more about what happened off the lanes, whether she was visiting Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale or Bismarck/Mandan, but she also had some tales to tell from her time on the lanes.
“When we went to Seattle (1980), we were bowling our team event in the evening,” Dixon said. “In the seventh or eighth frame, my ball didn’t come back, and they couldn’t find it. Eventually, it came up and I tried to put my fingers in – and it was hot. It burnt my finger holes back there, and I had to use a house ball to finish the three games.”
Although that appearance didn’t go as planned, she fired a personal best in 1983 during the tournament’s trip to the famed Showboat Lanes in Las Vegas.
“I’ve never been a high-average bowler, but I was fortunate when the tournament was in Las Vegas at the Showboat,” Dixon said. “My partner and I came in fifth place in doubles. It was quite shocking. I ended up with a 245 – the highest game I ever had – and that’s when I did it.
“The team we put together for Fort Lauderdale (2001) finished in 22nd place. My thing is, I always wanted to go to the tournament. I have seen more of the country and been to a lot of states, and one of my goals now is to bowl in 2027 in Charlotte. That’s where I started working the Women’s Championships (2007), and I would really like to go back there.”
Dixon also has reaching 55 years at the Women’s Championships as a goal down the line, but it’s important to her to see the tournament continue to grow.
She used her time in the spotlight at South Point to push others to continue their journey at the tournament, and her message to those who may be unsure of taking the next step is inspiring.
“I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been able to encourage the younger ladies to compete,” Dixon said. “Sometimes you hear someone say, ‘I’m not good enough.’ No – you are good enough. Whatever you bowl is good, and you can always improve.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
Photos provided by USBC Photography.
She’s dedicated her time throughout the years at the local, state and national levels in hopes of helping build a support system for others to find their place in the sport, whether it is for the camaraderie or competition.
Dixon leans toward the fun and friendship when reflecting on her journey in bowling, and both were present – along with a surprise or two – as she recently celebrated her 50th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships.
For reaching the milestone, she was presented with a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
While she planned on having a good time with a couple family members and friends in attendance, Dixon wasn’t prepared for the number of supporters she was going to have celebrate her achievement.
More than a dozen people made their way to Las Vegas to surprise Dixon on her big day, including her three children.
Joyce Dixon with her family in Las Vegas
Dixon worked at the USBC Women’s Championships as part of the traveling tournament staff from 2007-2017, and her former tournament director, Eric Pierson, also was on hand at South Point to help her celebrate the moment.
“It brought me to tears when I saw my kids, and the same when I saw Eric,” said Dixon, who has worked as part of the event staff at the USBC Open Championships since 2021. “It was very special for me to have my family and some very good friends here.
“It’s been an adventure. I enjoy getting to see old friends, and even now working at the Open, I see a lot of people I know. It’s also nice to make new friends from all over the country. This experience is still sinking in. There were so many surprises from the minute I walked in – it was just unbelievable.”
The Lake Havasu City Women’s Bowling Association (now Lake Havasu City USBC) and Arizona Women’s Bowling Association (now Arizona State USBC) Hall of Famer made her first appearance at the Women’s Championships in 1975 during the tournament’s trip to Indianapolis, which also served as a homecoming for her.
“I was scared to death when I went to nationals the first year,” Dixon said. “I had bowled a couple state tournaments, but never nationals. It was very special being in Indianapolis, though, because I used to live in Indiana and had never bowled in Indianapolis.”
Many of her trips to the tournament were timed to also attend the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Convention, which included an opportunity to chat one year with USBC Hall of Famer Joyce Deitch.
“I’m a people person, and over the 50 years, I’ve met a lot of people,” Dixon said. “One of the first times I went up to the stage at the WIBC (Convention) as the president of the National 500 Club, I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Joyce Deitch, which was quite special for me.”
Her tournament experiences were often more about what happened off the lanes, whether she was visiting Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale or Bismarck/Mandan, but she also had some tales to tell from her time on the lanes.
“When we went to Seattle (1980), we were bowling our team event in the evening,” Dixon said. “In the seventh or eighth frame, my ball didn’t come back, and they couldn’t find it. Eventually, it came up and I tried to put my fingers in – and it was hot. It burnt my finger holes back there, and I had to use a house ball to finish the three games.”
Although that appearance didn’t go as planned, she fired a personal best in 1983 during the tournament’s trip to the famed Showboat Lanes in Las Vegas.
“I’ve never been a high-average bowler, but I was fortunate when the tournament was in Las Vegas at the Showboat,” Dixon said. “My partner and I came in fifth place in doubles. It was quite shocking. I ended up with a 245 – the highest game I ever had – and that’s when I did it.
“The team we put together for Fort Lauderdale (2001) finished in 22nd place. My thing is, I always wanted to go to the tournament. I have seen more of the country and been to a lot of states, and one of my goals now is to bowl in 2027 in Charlotte. That’s where I started working the Women’s Championships (2007), and I would really like to go back there.”
Dixon also has reaching 55 years at the Women’s Championships as a goal down the line, but it’s important to her to see the tournament continue to grow.
She used her time in the spotlight at South Point to push others to continue their journey at the tournament, and her message to those who may be unsure of taking the next step is inspiring.
“I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been able to encourage the younger ladies to compete,” Dixon said. “Sometimes you hear someone say, ‘I’m not good enough.’ No – you are good enough. Whatever you bowl is good, and you can always improve.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
Photos provided by USBC Photography.