Michigan bowler celebrates 50 years at USBC Open Championships
April 18, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Starting from a day trip to Indianapolis to 50 years on the tournament lanes, David Cushion of DeWitt, Michigan, has enjoyed his journey at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 77-year-old recently made his 50th appearance at the 2026 event in Reno, Nevada, and his longevity was recognized with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin.
Cushion also had the chance to celebrate the achievement during a personalized march to the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium with his daughter, Kim Smith, and son-in-law, Scott Smith, by his side.
Kim originally was going to be in Reno to celebrate her father’s milestone, but some last-minute changes allowed her to lace up her bowling shoes alongside Cushion for team and doubles in 2026.
“We had someone planning to bowl this year but they couldn’t make it, so we probably made 50 phone calls and tried for two weeks,” Cushion said. “Kim was going to come out and watch for my 50th with her husband, Scott, who’s a really good bowler. She said she would bowl, and I’ll tell you, she’s a sweet bowler. She throws it really well. It was a treat coming down the aisle and having her around all weekend to see it – I really enjoyed that.
“My sister and brother-in-law also flew in from The Villages in Florida, and my wife, Denise, was here to celebrate it, too. It was just awesome.”
His first experience at the tournament was brief, but a quick trip to Indianapolis to bowl doubles and singles at the 1974 event got the ball rolling for Cushion. A 625 series in singles also was a nice welcome to the tournament.
“I was asked to sub for somebody, and it was about a 3 1/2-hour drive from where I lived,” Cushion said. “So, I went down, and my mother went with me. We drove down, I bowled, and then we drove back home that day.”
He missed the following year in Dayton, Ohio, but Cushion has made it to all but one edition of the tournament since 1976.
One of the draws for him to make his appearance each year – beyond the competition and the chance to travel – included part of the tournament format.
“We had a pretty good team with some good bowlers and good guys to bowl with,” said Cushion, a Lansing USBC Hall of Famer. “I really enjoyed it, and the one aspect that I liked the most is that you only get one shot at it each year. You have to come in and be ready to perform, because you can’t bowl two or three times.”
Cushion took the preparation seriously – his scores at the tournament prove it.
His high three-game series at the Open Championships took place during singles at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas (708), and his top performance in all-events was 1,951 (1989 in Wichita, Kansas).
Through 50 appearances, Cushion also has carried a 190.4 average at the tournament and has toppled 85,138 pins.
One of his most memorable moments, though, featured a run at perfection in doubles.
“I had the front 10 and my partner had the front six,” Cushion said. “He marked out for a good game, and I must have had 288 or 289.”
Traveling has been a big part of the experience as well, including fun visits to Baltimore, Memphis and Knoxville.
Along the way, he’s kept some good company, too.
One of Cushion’s teammates for his 50th – Richard Clark – made his 53rd consecutive appearance at the Open Championships in 2026. Two other members of the 12-team group Cushion traveled with to this year’s event also are part of the tournament’s 50-Year Club – Mike Marks of Byron Center, Michigan, and Thomas Morgan of Wyoming, Michigan.
“I’ve bowled with Richard Clark for 50 years,” Cushion said. “His goal is to get to 100,000 pins. I think that may be too hard for me to reach, but he wants to do that. He’s been a great teammate for a long time.
“Most of my best friends are from my bowling days.”
While he looked forward to making his milestone appearance this year in Reno, the tournament has been something he has been excited to be part of each year.
“I was really looking forward to it,” Cushion said. “You guys have done a wonderful job honoring bowlers who reach 50 years – it’s a nice thing that you do. It was a treat, and I look forward to the tournament every year.”
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 made his 50th appearance at the 2026 event in Reno, Nevada, and his longevity was recognized with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin.
Cushion also had the chance to celebrate the achievement during a personalized march to the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium with his daughter, Kim Smith, and son-in-law, Scott Smith, by his side.
Kim originally was going to be in Reno to celebrate her father’s milestone, but some last-minute changes allowed her to lace up her bowling shoes alongside Cushion for team and doubles in 2026.
“We had someone planning to bowl this year but they couldn’t make it, so we probably made 50 phone calls and tried for two weeks,” Cushion said. “Kim was going to come out and watch for my 50th with her husband, Scott, who’s a really good bowler. She said she would bowl, and I’ll tell you, she’s a sweet bowler. She throws it really well. It was a treat coming down the aisle and having her around all weekend to see it – I really enjoyed that.
“My sister and brother-in-law also flew in from The Villages in Florida, and my wife, Denise, was here to celebrate it, too. It was just awesome.”
His first experience at the tournament was brief, but a quick trip to Indianapolis to bowl doubles and singles at the 1974 event got the ball rolling for Cushion. A 625 series in singles also was a nice welcome to the tournament.
“I was asked to sub for somebody, and it was about a 3 1/2-hour drive from where I lived,” Cushion said. “So, I went down, and my mother went with me. We drove down, I bowled, and then we drove back home that day.”
He missed the following year in Dayton, Ohio, but Cushion has made it to all but one edition of the tournament since 1976.
One of the draws for him to make his appearance each year – beyond the competition and the chance to travel – included part of the tournament format.
“We had a pretty good team with some good bowlers and good guys to bowl with,” said Cushion, a Lansing USBC Hall of Famer. “I really enjoyed it, and the one aspect that I liked the most is that you only get one shot at it each year. You have to come in and be ready to perform, because you can’t bowl two or three times.”
Cushion took the preparation seriously – his scores at the tournament prove it.
His high three-game series at the Open Championships took place during singles at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas (708), and his top performance in all-events was 1,951 (1989 in Wichita, Kansas).
Through 50 appearances, Cushion also has carried a 190.4 average at the tournament and has toppled 85,138 pins.
One of his most memorable moments, though, featured a run at perfection in doubles.
“I had the front 10 and my partner had the front six,” Cushion said. “He marked out for a good game, and I must have had 288 or 289.”
Traveling has been a big part of the experience as well, including fun visits to Baltimore, Memphis and Knoxville.
Along the way, he’s kept some good company, too.
One of Cushion’s teammates for his 50th – Richard Clark – made his 53rd consecutive appearance at the Open Championships in 2026. Two other members of the 12-team group Cushion traveled with to this year’s event also are part of the tournament’s 50-Year Club – Mike Marks of Byron Center, Michigan, and Thomas Morgan of Wyoming, Michigan.
“I’ve bowled with Richard Clark for 50 years,” Cushion said. “His goal is to get to 100,000 pins. I think that may be too hard for me to reach, but he wants to do that. He’s been a great teammate for a long time.
“Most of my best friends are from my bowling days.”
While he looked forward to making his milestone appearance this year in Reno, the tournament has been something he has been excited to be part of each year.
“I was really looking forward to it,” Cushion said. “You guys have done a wonderful job honoring bowlers who reach 50 years – it’s a nice thing that you do. It was a treat, and I look forward to the tournament every year.”
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.