Handegard, barnes elected to Hall of Fame
November 13, 2009
Former Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour star John Handegard and longtime Women's International Bowling Congress Sergeant-at-Arms Betty Barnes have been elected to the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame by the USBC Hall of Fame Committee.
They will be inducted at a special outdoor ceremony May 12 at the International Bowling Campus. The induction ceremony also will include those elected from the national superior performance ballots. On the men's ballot are Del Ballard Jr., Keller, Texas; Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.; David Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.; Amleto Monacelli, Barquisimeto, Venezuela; David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas; and Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif. The women's ballot has Dede Davidson, Buellton, Calif.; Carol Gianotti, Perth, Australia; and Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas.
Handegard, 71, a right-hander from Spring, Texas, was chosen in the Veterans category. The 76-year-old Barnes, from Reno, Nev., was elected in the Meritorious Service division.
"It was overwhelming," Handegard said, recalling his emotion upon being informed of the honor. "I had goose bumps. It's something I never thought could ever happen. I had been on the ballot before and didn't make it and thought maybe they forgot me. I guess they didn't."
Handegard was a late bloomer in the sport as he won his first PBA title of any kind on the Senior Tour in 1990. Five years later, he became the oldest player to capture a PBA national title, winning in Kennewick, Wash., at age 57. He went on to win 14 PBA Senior titles, three PBA Senior Player of the Year honors and three selections to Bowling Magazine's Senior All-America team.
"It took me a long time to find my game," said Handegard, who has virtually retired from bowling and spends his time working part-time at golf courses and a golf store. "The power of positive thinking finally helped me. I used to beat myself up for not being perfect. The big thing I had to realize was I wasn't perfect. Having the right mental game and proper nutrition were what helped me finally succeed."
Barnes served as WIBC Sergeant-at-Arms from 1994-2005 after first joining the WIBC Board of Directors in 1989. As Reno/Sparks Women's Bowling Association president, she was instrumental in helping the Reno community build the National Bowling Stadium and bring the WIBC Championships Tournament to her hometown. She helped coordinate the successful hosting of the WIBC Championship Tournaments in 1988, 1997, 2000 and 2003. She also helped with the 2006 and 2009 USBC Women's Championships.
She actively participated on committees for the 13th Federation Internationalé des Quilleurs World Championships in Reno in 1995 and assisted in the 2001 and 2002 FIQ Senior Opens in her hometown.
"I cried and laughed at the same time," said Barnes, describing her reaction when she was given the news. "There couldn't be anything greater in serving bowling. It's the height of my bowling life.
"There have been so many times when I marched either new or past Hall of Famers up the aisle at the WIBC Annual Meeting. I never dreamed that would happen to me."
Barnes previously was elected into the Nevada and Greater Reno WBA Halls of Fame for both meritorious service and superior performance.
They will be inducted at a special outdoor ceremony May 12 at the International Bowling Campus. The induction ceremony also will include those elected from the national superior performance ballots. On the men's ballot are Del Ballard Jr., Keller, Texas; Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.; David Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.; Amleto Monacelli, Barquisimeto, Venezuela; David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas; and Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif. The women's ballot has Dede Davidson, Buellton, Calif.; Carol Gianotti, Perth, Australia; and Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas.
Handegard, 71, a right-hander from Spring, Texas, was chosen in the Veterans category. The 76-year-old Barnes, from Reno, Nev., was elected in the Meritorious Service division.
"It was overwhelming," Handegard said, recalling his emotion upon being informed of the honor. "I had goose bumps. It's something I never thought could ever happen. I had been on the ballot before and didn't make it and thought maybe they forgot me. I guess they didn't."
Handegard was a late bloomer in the sport as he won his first PBA title of any kind on the Senior Tour in 1990. Five years later, he became the oldest player to capture a PBA national title, winning in Kennewick, Wash., at age 57. He went on to win 14 PBA Senior titles, three PBA Senior Player of the Year honors and three selections to Bowling Magazine's Senior All-America team.
"It took me a long time to find my game," said Handegard, who has virtually retired from bowling and spends his time working part-time at golf courses and a golf store. "The power of positive thinking finally helped me. I used to beat myself up for not being perfect. The big thing I had to realize was I wasn't perfect. Having the right mental game and proper nutrition were what helped me finally succeed."
Barnes served as WIBC Sergeant-at-Arms from 1994-2005 after first joining the WIBC Board of Directors in 1989. As Reno/Sparks Women's Bowling Association president, she was instrumental in helping the Reno community build the National Bowling Stadium and bring the WIBC Championships Tournament to her hometown. She helped coordinate the successful hosting of the WIBC Championship Tournaments in 1988, 1997, 2000 and 2003. She also helped with the 2006 and 2009 USBC Women's Championships.
She actively participated on committees for the 13th Federation Internationalé des Quilleurs World Championships in Reno in 1995 and assisted in the 2001 and 2002 FIQ Senior Opens in her hometown.
"I cried and laughed at the same time," said Barnes, describing her reaction when she was given the news. "There couldn't be anything greater in serving bowling. It's the height of my bowling life.
"There have been so many times when I marched either new or past Hall of Famers up the aisle at the WIBC Annual Meeting. I never dreamed that would happen to me."
Barnes previously was elected into the Nevada and Greater Reno WBA Halls of Fame for both meritorious service and superior performance.