Texas bowler celebrates 50 appearances at USBC Open Championships
July 16, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Clyde Fravel III of Tomball, Texas, has always looked forward to his annual trip to compete at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and this week, he was recognized as he made his 50th consecutive appearance at the event.
The 70-year-old was part of a presentation Monday at the National Bowling Stadium and received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his longevity. Fravel was joined by his wife of 40 years, Robbie, for the special moment at the venue’s center aisle, while his daughter, Emily, and grandson, Carter, also were cheering on from Reno.
“Being older, I was always concerned about my health and making sure I’m healthy to bowl,” Fravel said. “A few years ago, I tore a tendon in my arm during the tournament, but I did my best to stay healthy and get here. I’ve always enjoyed the tournament and looked forward to bowling every year, but I was nervous for this one.”
Fravel made his tournament debut during the 1976 event in Oklahoma City. Taking in the championship atmosphere that year left a lasting impression, and his scores were pretty impressive, too.
He finished the year with an all-events total of 1,958 to secure a spot in the top 20 of the Regular Division.
“We all came from Houston and drove to Oklahoma City that year,” Fravel said. “It was very exciting. I never really realized what the tournament was all about until I got there to see it.”
In his third appearance, he left the 1978 event in St. Louis with a spot in the top 10 of Regular Doubles and finished the year in 16th place with a score of 1,276. Fravel posted a 662 series in the performance.
“Some people don’t believe the scores, but my doubles partner and I shot 1,276 and were in the top 10,” Fravel said. “We finished in 16th place with a score like that. It might not cash nowadays, but those were in the days of no reoils, too. We were on 1-2 against the wall that year, and I’ll always remember that.”
Fravel also is the owner of a perfect game at the Open Championships. He posted his 300 during his first game of singles at the 1993 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the way to a 713 series.
His run involved some good intel from one of his teammates, since they were switching to a new pair for the second part of the block.
“I had members of our team on the pair next to me, and I was struggling a little bit in doubles,” Fravel said. “One of my teammates came over and told me he thinks he found a shot outside but couldn’t play it … but he thought I might be able to. We were at the end of doubles, so I threw a couple shots out there and thought it might be playable.
“This was at the time when we moved pairs for singles. We moved over, and I threw the first 18 strikes. I was playing outside of the third board and had swing area. I was hanging it on the gutter. I was very excited and couldn’t believe it.”
Fravel has maintained an average of 188.4 across his 50 appearances at the tournament, knocking over 83,657 pins along the way.
The group he now bowls with at the Open Championships features several talented competitors, and he noted how they help him stay ahead of the moves as he looks forward to his next goal at the tournament – 100,000 pins.
“I tried to keep (my average) at 190, but the last few years I’ve struggled with my game a little bit,” Fravel said. “But, I just enjoy coming out and competing. I have a young group of bowlers that I bowl with now, and they keep me young. They’re very good bowlers, and they help me out with the new technology and reading the lanes.
“My goal in the future is 100,000 pins. I was crunching some numbers today, and counting this year, I’ll need to be shooting around 1,600 for 10 more years. Of course, I hope to shoot better than that, but making 100,000 is the goal.”
Fravel was the final bowler to join the 50-Year Club in 2026. In all, 35 competitors reached the milestone in Reno to bring the all-time total to 420 bowlers.
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 70-year-old was part of a presentation Monday at the National Bowling Stadium and received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his longevity. Fravel was joined by his wife of 40 years, Robbie, for the special moment at the venue’s center aisle, while his daughter, Emily, and grandson, Carter, also were cheering on from Reno.
“Being older, I was always concerned about my health and making sure I’m healthy to bowl,” Fravel said. “A few years ago, I tore a tendon in my arm during the tournament, but I did my best to stay healthy and get here. I’ve always enjoyed the tournament and looked forward to bowling every year, but I was nervous for this one.”
Fravel made his tournament debut during the 1976 event in Oklahoma City. Taking in the championship atmosphere that year left a lasting impression, and his scores were pretty impressive, too.
He finished the year with an all-events total of 1,958 to secure a spot in the top 20 of the Regular Division.
“We all came from Houston and drove to Oklahoma City that year,” Fravel said. “It was very exciting. I never really realized what the tournament was all about until I got there to see it.”
In his third appearance, he left the 1978 event in St. Louis with a spot in the top 10 of Regular Doubles and finished the year in 16th place with a score of 1,276. Fravel posted a 662 series in the performance.
“Some people don’t believe the scores, but my doubles partner and I shot 1,276 and were in the top 10,” Fravel said. “We finished in 16th place with a score like that. It might not cash nowadays, but those were in the days of no reoils, too. We were on 1-2 against the wall that year, and I’ll always remember that.”
Fravel also is the owner of a perfect game at the Open Championships. He posted his 300 during his first game of singles at the 1993 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the way to a 713 series.
His run involved some good intel from one of his teammates, since they were switching to a new pair for the second part of the block.
“I had members of our team on the pair next to me, and I was struggling a little bit in doubles,” Fravel said. “One of my teammates came over and told me he thinks he found a shot outside but couldn’t play it … but he thought I might be able to. We were at the end of doubles, so I threw a couple shots out there and thought it might be playable.
“This was at the time when we moved pairs for singles. We moved over, and I threw the first 18 strikes. I was playing outside of the third board and had swing area. I was hanging it on the gutter. I was very excited and couldn’t believe it.”
Fravel has maintained an average of 188.4 across his 50 appearances at the tournament, knocking over 83,657 pins along the way.
The group he now bowls with at the Open Championships features several talented competitors, and he noted how they help him stay ahead of the moves as he looks forward to his next goal at the tournament – 100,000 pins.
“I tried to keep (my average) at 190, but the last few years I’ve struggled with my game a little bit,” Fravel said. “But, I just enjoy coming out and competing. I have a young group of bowlers that I bowl with now, and they keep me young. They’re very good bowlers, and they help me out with the new technology and reading the lanes.
“My goal in the future is 100,000 pins. I was crunching some numbers today, and counting this year, I’ll need to be shooting around 1,600 for 10 more years. Of course, I hope to shoot better than that, but making 100,000 is the goal.”
Fravel was the final bowler to join the 50-Year Club in 2026. In all, 35 competitors reached the milestone in Reno to bring the all-time total to 420 bowlers.
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.