Arizona bowler celebrates 50 years at 2026 Open Championships
May 10, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Family and friends have made the journey to 50 appearances at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships a fun one for Roger Hailey of Tonto Basin, Arizona, and he hopes to keep the good times rolling at the tournament.
The 77-year-old recently was recognized for his longevity at the tournament during the 2026 event in Reno, Nevada, and he was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin at the National Bowling Stadium with his wife, Ilene, by his side and sons, Ryan and Tyler, bowling next to him.
Hailey made his tournament debut at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California, and he’s made his annual appearance each year since 1978.
“Somebody just needed a bowler, and I was a young guy and didn’t really know what the national tournament was but it sounded like fun so off I went,” said Hailey, looking back at his first trip to the tournament. “I missed a few years after that since I was going to college, but then I bought a center. It was exciting to travel around the country and nice to go to new places.”
Whether it was the chance to drive to places like Oklahoma City and St. Louis or enjoy some southern cuisine in spots like Baton Rouge, Hailey noted the company kept during each appearance helped make each trip special.
“They’ve all been good – it’s always been a good time,” Hailey said. “It was just the camaraderie with the guys. A lot of them aren’t here anymore, unfortunately, but we always have a little toast to them, so they’ll never be forgotten.”
Hailey was the proprietor of Starlite Lanes in Flagstaff, Arizona, for 40 years before retiring, and the venue set the stage for one of his favorite tournament moments.
At the 2023 USBC Open Championships in Reno, Ryan and his longtime friends – Chris Hull, John Hull, Michael Hull and Tim Macias – were able to take the lead in Classified Team early in the event and hold on to capture the title. Hull Point Pursuit earned the victory with a 2,700 total that year at the NBS.
Hull Point Pursuit at the 2023 USBC Open Championships in Reno
“I’m really proud of the five young people bowling next to us, because they won the 2023 tournament here in Reno,” Hailey said. “They all grew up in my center as kids, so it was really exciting. I think every morning for three months, my son would check the scores to see if they were still leading. It was a treasured moment for all of them.”
The National Bowling Stadium also served as the home of Hailey’s top series at the Open Championships (678 in doubles during the 2014 event), and he made the national finals of The Forty Frame Game in The Biggest Little City in the World.
For 50 years at the Open Championships, Hailey has toppled 80,783 pins for a career average at the event of 179.5.
While he looks forward to seeing a few teammates also hit their participation milestones and adding a few more appearances onto his own record at the event, Hailey has been thankful for the opportunity to compete and share the lanes with those closest to him.
“You never think about it until you get five or 10 years away and start to hope that you’ll make it,” Hailey said. “It’s been exciting. A couple of my teammates are getting close, so we’re excited for them, and now I’m looking toward 55.
“I want to thank the USBC, since I’ve been able to meet a lot of really nice people along the way. Being in the business for 40 years as a proprietor, I have a lot of respect for the USBC.”
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The 77-year-old recently was recognized for his longevity at the tournament during the 2026 event in Reno, Nevada, and he was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin at the National Bowling Stadium with his wife, Ilene, by his side and sons, Ryan and Tyler, bowling next to him.
Hailey made his tournament debut at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California, and he’s made his annual appearance each year since 1978.
“Somebody just needed a bowler, and I was a young guy and didn’t really know what the national tournament was but it sounded like fun so off I went,” said Hailey, looking back at his first trip to the tournament. “I missed a few years after that since I was going to college, but then I bought a center. It was exciting to travel around the country and nice to go to new places.”
Whether it was the chance to drive to places like Oklahoma City and St. Louis or enjoy some southern cuisine in spots like Baton Rouge, Hailey noted the company kept during each appearance helped make each trip special.
“They’ve all been good – it’s always been a good time,” Hailey said. “It was just the camaraderie with the guys. A lot of them aren’t here anymore, unfortunately, but we always have a little toast to them, so they’ll never be forgotten.”
Hailey was the proprietor of Starlite Lanes in Flagstaff, Arizona, for 40 years before retiring, and the venue set the stage for one of his favorite tournament moments.
At the 2023 USBC Open Championships in Reno, Ryan and his longtime friends – Chris Hull, John Hull, Michael Hull and Tim Macias – were able to take the lead in Classified Team early in the event and hold on to capture the title. Hull Point Pursuit earned the victory with a 2,700 total that year at the NBS.
Hull Point Pursuit at the 2023 USBC Open Championships in Reno
“I’m really proud of the five young people bowling next to us, because they won the 2023 tournament here in Reno,” Hailey said. “They all grew up in my center as kids, so it was really exciting. I think every morning for three months, my son would check the scores to see if they were still leading. It was a treasured moment for all of them.”
The National Bowling Stadium also served as the home of Hailey’s top series at the Open Championships (678 in doubles during the 2014 event), and he made the national finals of The Forty Frame Game in The Biggest Little City in the World.
For 50 years at the Open Championships, Hailey has toppled 80,783 pins for a career average at the event of 179.5.
While he looks forward to seeing a few teammates also hit their participation milestones and adding a few more appearances onto his own record at the event, Hailey has been thankful for the opportunity to compete and share the lanes with those closest to him.
“You never think about it until you get five or 10 years away and start to hope that you’ll make it,” Hailey said. “It’s been exciting. A couple of my teammates are getting close, so we’re excited for them, and now I’m looking toward 55.
“I want to thank the USBC, since I’ve been able to meet a lot of really nice people along the way. Being in the business for 40 years as a proprietor, I have a lot of respect for the USBC.”
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.