المراسلة Bowling Hall ofFame2024 INDUCTEES SPECIAL RECOGNITIONSF R A N K E N M U T H - V A S S A R
IndexGloria BurleyMillie Endert45Denny Montgomery6William Johns7Madelyn JansenLiam Liddle910Tom Stasik11Ken Beachy12Joel Rauch8
Board MembersChairmanFred WirthVice-ChairmanBrad FergusonSecretaryKim JenksTreasurerJan KrumnauerAaron GerkenCathy GerkenChris LauxDick ReinertDon MortonHarry GabalisHunter SeegerJerry OpreaJim HeidenbergerMark HaubenstrickerNorma ValentineRenee ZimmerStve Brinkman
Gloria BurleyDespite having suffered numerous painful injuries, plus a severe illness, Gloria Burley iscurrently competing in her 58th consecutive bowling season. She was first introduced tocompetition while a junior in high school; she later joined her first adult league while livingin Pigeon. After moving to Vassar in 1967, Gloria was asked to join the Tuesday MorningWomen’s League at Hill-Top Recreation, where she served as league treasurer for the next19 years. After her classes at Great Lakes Jr. College ended daytime bowling, she joinedthe Women’s Classic League at Richville Recreation, where she rolled an 836 4-gameseries. Her career-high 289 games was rolled at Candlelite Bowl, where she competedwith the Jeff’s Pro Shop team and averaged a career-high 173 average. Competing on twoleagues a week and as an occasional sub, her other career highlights have includednumerous league championships, city tournament team and individual titles, a 600 ClubTournament title, and four Advertiser Bowler of the Week wins and her seasons includedfun trips to the Michigan State Tournaments, the WIBC Nationals, and the Michigan 600Club event in Owosso. Still averaging in the 150s, she is currently a member of theBrentwood Wednesday Morning Women’s League and available to sub with theCandlelight Seniors at Clio Bowl.4
Millie Endert5Millie Endert started her bowling career in the early ’60s, setting pins at the LakevilleBowling Alley. Through the years, she has been involved in many leagues andtournaments at alleys, both local and statewide. Millie has competed in the statetournament for more than 50 years. A highlight she thinks fondly of was when her mixeddoubles team (Millie, her husband Jerry, and their friends Tim and Donna Freeland) wonthe state tournament—TWICE! Through the years, bowling has become more thanrecreation. Millie enjoyed the social aspect of being on a team and appreciates the timeshe spent with fellow bowlers in the various leagues she has been a part of. Looking back,she mainly treasures the years she had bowling alongside her husband and continues tolove bowling with her kids and grandkids. Millie Endert’s bowling career is full of awards,accolades, love, and laughter.
Denny MontgomeryI started bowing when I was two years old. My mother took my brother and me to SandbarLanes in Oscoda while she bowled and let us bowl on a spare lane. Later that year, westarted in a league. I averaged 12 in my first year. I enjoyed the weekend bowlingthroughout school. I had a chance to travel bowl for three years in Omaha, Nebraska whenmy father was transferred there in 1982 to the United States Air Force. We moved back toMichigan in 1985, where I finished high school. I attended Central Michigan University in1987 and made the bowling team. That year, the team qualified for the NationalChampionships in Denver, Colorado, where I helped the team progress. I then spentseveral years in the Detroit area and eventually started a new career, which landed me inCaro in 1999. I had a chance to improve my skills as I continually tried to improve. I spentmost of my adult life in Tuscola County and enjoyed every moment. I have had theopportunity to bowl in many tournaments and traveled to many parts of the country tobowl. Bowling has allowed me to join an organization where I was accepted. It has also letme stay involved throughout my adult life, as bowing has no age limit and can be done inany city. I have met many bowlers who have become good friends, and I have bowled withso many good partners. My partners have taught me a lot; I will never forget them.6
7Will Johns started bowling at age 5 in Rochester at a 32-lane house his grandfather built.While a member of the youth leagues at that house and Airway Lanes in Waterford for 10years, he scored his first 200 at age 11 and a 621 when he was 13 and amassed many youthtrophies and awards. Will moved to the area in 1980 and started bowling in Mayville andCaro, but it wasn’t until 1990, when he began dressing lanes in Mayville, that his bowlinggame came alive. At one point, he bowled in 5 or 6 leagues in Mayville, Caro, Richville, andFlint, with numerous teams, but, most notably, with the Budweiser Team and JohnsonControls, breaking and setting house records with his teammates and individually. Anyonewho bowled back in the early 90’s knew that when Will was in the house, his boisterousattitude and presence were larger than life, whether he was bowling good or bad! If hewasn’t bowling during league time, he was staying after to bowl more and organized potbowling. Will also worked at Richfield Bowl and was the night manager of B’s BowlingCenter in Flint. He was married to Tasha Piccalo, and in 1991, they had one son, JeffreyWilliam. The only thing Will was prouder of and loved more than bowling was his son Jeffand spending time with him. From 1990 until his death in 1998, some of his most notableachievements are - three 300 games, three 299 games, three 800’s series, carried a highaverage on his Turtles League in Flint, converted the 4-6-7-10 four times, earned theTuscola County Advertiser Bowler of the week six times, had over 100 700 series’ and in1995, won the Tuscola County Advertiser Bowler of the year. Will kept quite meticulousrecords of his bowling achievements! If not for those, this honor would not be possible. Ithas been 26 years since his death, and we can only imagine what more he could haveaccomplished if his life hadn’t been cut short. I am positive bowling would still be aconsiderable part of his life and that he would be so delighted and honored to receive thisrecognitionWilliam Johns
Joel Rauch8My bowling career started in 1990 as a youth bowler in Mayville. At age 16, I joined theMonday night men’s league. I have bowled in many leagues at Mayville Lanes. My first300-game and 800-series were on March 5th, 2003. I worked for 22 years at MayvilleLanes. Since then, I’ve had sixteen 300-game and ten 800-series. Bowling has been a bigpart of my life, and I have enjoyed the friends I have met through my bowling career.
Madelyn Jansen9I started bowling in my freshman year on the Saturday juniors league at Brentwood,recommended by a friend. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what I was doing and howkids my age were doing so well. In my first year in the league, I won the Brentwood Jr.Bowler of the Year, and I continued to bowl in that league for the last three years of highschool. Then, sophomore year started, and a friend mentioned there was a high schoolteam. I’d never taken the sport seriously but loved going and bowling with friends andfamily. Once I started to bowl more and more, I began to understand that it was an actualsport. I have made many memories and friends, experienced many new things, and grownto love the sport. I have been to a state tournament every year since I’ve been on theteam; we have gone as a team. This past year for my senior year was the cherry on top. Wetook conference champs and regional champs, and I even placed for individual regional tomake it to states for the team and as an individual. That was my goal this year, and Iaccomplished it. I have so many supporters, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have eachone of them by my side. The sport of bowling will always have a place in my heart, and Ican guarantee I will never stop bowling. I will always find my way back to the alley one wayor another. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for sticking by me and supportingme. My family, I wouldn’t be here without them showing up to watch me these past fouryears.HIGH SCHOOL BOWLER SPECIAL RECGNITION AWARD
Liam Liddle10HIGH SCHOOL BOWLER SPECIAL RECOGNITIONAWARD I originally joined because I hadenjoyed bowling at birthdayparties when I was little andthought it would be a fun activityfor high school. Bowling issomething I can dedicate myselfand my time to and a skill that hasseen much improvement.Practicing this skill by following atraining regimen is preparationfor when I will learn other skillsthat are required for my careerand other hobbies I have later inmy life. It has also taught me theimportance of teamwork throughthe encouragement of fellowbowlers and the value of beingable to put your trust in others.
11I began my service time as a 19 yr. old in boot camp in Davisville, RI. Uponcompleting my training, I was sent to Gulfport, MS. I was to become a steelworker as a Navy Seabee. We build, We fight! I became a member of MobileConstruction Battalion 133. In November of 1966, we trained with the Marines atCamp Lejeune, NC, to prepare for Vietnam. We deployed to Hue Phu Bai, wewere there about a month when the rockets and mortar rounds becameincoming. On January 2020, 1967, I was wounded, and so was my friend Murlin. Ihad eleven pieces of shrapnel in me, I was medevacked to the USS ReposeHospital ship, it was the scariest ride I ever had. My friend Murlin didn’t make it.Devastating news! I was presented the Purple Heart Award on my 20th birthday,January 30th. Four-star general Lewis Walt, second in command of the MarineCorps in Vietnam, then presented my award. After a month, I healed up and wasreturned to my battalion in Nam. I completed an eight-month tour, thenreturned to Gulfport for a short 3 months, then back to Vietnam. My secondtour was in DaNang. On my discharge, I was flown to Long Beach, CA, on 6-6-68, where Robert Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles at the same time. Itwas a time when service members in the USA were not well received. I amproud to have served my country and would do it again if asked. May Godcontinue to bless the United States of America!VETERAN OF THE YEAR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDTom Stasik
12I can use only so many words to describe the impact of picking up a bowling ball for thefirst time over five decades ago. In the years since I started bowling, what began as apassion for competition, of the pursuit of the perfect game, has also shown mecamaraderie-- a sense of community that has stuck with me throughout my bowlingcareer. From tournaments and charity events to passing on lessons of the sport to thenext generation, I have enjoyed the shared love of bowling from any and everyone whohas embraced it with the full-heartedness that I have. The smiles over strikes, thetemporary despair of defeat, the celebration of every 300 game achieved was shared withthose around me who also thought of themseleves as a “bowler”; for that, I must thankthem for their support and friendship. It is an honor to be recognized by this group, but itwould be a mistake not to mention the honor it is to share the sport with so many. Thankyou all for your continued support. Mayy we all bowl our best frame.SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDKen Beachy