Frequent flier miles piled up early for Jerry Koenig, 64, in his travels to far-flung destinations during 30 years of service to the world-wide bowling community.
A three-page resume hardly covers the national and international posts of importance held by Koenig, who lives with his wife, Alice, on Clearwater Beach.
Koenig looked up from his law practice in Shawano, Wis., outside Green Bay, one day in 1980 to discover he was a board member of the American Bowling Congress.
Four years later, he became ABC general counsel, a position that launched dozens of other posts, sending him jetting from city to city, country to country.
"Dublin, Ireland, was my favorite place to visit, I suppose because of its gracious people and beautiful scenery," Koenig said. "However, my travels took me to the most marvelous places in the world."
Koenig is a clever politician, gracious host and the game's most cordial ambassador. Most of all, he's a mover and shaper of the policies and politics of the world's most powerful bowling organizations.
Koenig was the guiding force behind the sport's inclusion in the 1987 Pan-Am Games. A year later, he crafted an exhibition bowling show at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
In 1989, Koenig engineered USA Bowling's recognition by the U.S. Olympic Committee and became its CEO and executive director, a post he had 14 years.
"Team USA comes under USA Bowling, and that was one of my most cherished accomplishments, seeing it grow each year into a viable, competitive organization with world-wide acclaim," Koenig said.
Koenig had hardly settled into the USA Bowling job when the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs came calling. He became president of the world governing body in 1995 and maintained the position until last year.
Last week, Koenig flew to Lausanne, Switzerland, for meetings with International Olympic Committee president Dr. Jacques Rogge and an executive committee.
Koenig is executive director of a committee charged with identifying sports not on the agenda for possible inclusion in future Olympics.
"There will be a process approved in the near future to identify sports for Olympic inclusion, or exclusion," Koenig said.
"The hope is to decrease the number of athletes at the Olympics in hopes of increasing the number of sports included."
Koenig will have air under his wings as general counsel for the new Ladies Classic Tour, replacing the defunct Professional Women's Bowling Association, and as a consultant for U.S. sports included on the Pan-American Games agendas.
ENGLISH ON BOARD: Never in the 100-year history of the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament has a team from overseas won a title.
But Rollrite of Nottingham, England, has the lead in Regular Team competition with a 3,131 pinfall.
Sign Producers, Winter Garden, is sixth at National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
Mike Vasey and Joseph Crocco Jr., Racine, Wis., are the doubles leaders (1,477). Mark Wolff, Ballwin, Mo., is the singles frontrunner with a 793 series.
Connections No.3 owns Classified's top spot (2,775).
Larry Harrington, Whitehall, Mont., and Kent Smallcomb, Kearney, Neb., are the doubles leaders (1,245). Alan Christiansen, Soda Springs, Idaho, is ahead in singles (658).
Classified divisions are for lower-average players.
TEAM USA: Bowlers wishing to qualify for Team USA 2005 may begin the process immediately through the same local and state formats as last year.
Amateurs who are members of the ABC, WIBC and YABA can enter through any league or tournament that features at least six bowlers.
One of every six competitors entered will advance to state qualifiers this summer and fall. One of every eight state championship players advance to the national finals at a place and on a date to be announced.
WORRALL WINS: St.Petersburg's Cathy Worrall defeated St.Petersburg's Fred Heiferman 183-172 to win the NABI Club tournament at AMF Kenneth City on Sunday.
AROUND THE LANES: High scorers - Dennis Brown, 823, at Countryside; Dave Eidys Jr., 299 game, AMF Kenneth City; Bob Hubbard Jr., 300, Twedt's; and Ray Baumbach, 300-817, Rainbow. ... Walk-in entries are accepted in the St.Petersburg Association City Tournament this weekend at Sunshine Bowl. The fee is $15 per event. ... Entries are out for the Florida Senior All-Star Match-Play Championships, April 17-May 2 at Sunshine.
