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. 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.
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.
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.
AROUND THE LANES: Entries are out for the Florida Senior All-Star Match-Play Championships, April 17-May 2 at Sunshine.
Scores
TEN PIN: Chuck Simons 711, Rob Harris 738, Dale Longenberger 659, Paul Victory 676, Robert Morison 687, Jen Layton 619, Deb Bailey 535, Ester Motzne 513, Carol Jones 537, Rosalie McGinnis 512, Saralyn Rickman 527, Dawn Gillingham 544, Carl Hakansson 660, Jim Callus 621, Lynn Starkweather 632, Roe Mandel 566, David Segler 665, Anthony Yingling 516, Mary Girourd 537, Jack McMeekin 538, Chuck Wilson 510, Ken Bayley 540, Bo O'Keefe 637, Dave Pettry 659.
AMF KENNETH CITY: Dave Eidys Jr. 299, Tom Milton 746, Tony Russo 706, Jason Scanga 760, Dennis Blakey 712, Bruce Arantz 751, Jason Petry 743, Patrick Deegan 616, Susan Russo 505, Danny Webster 673, Tom Wedding 642, Chuck Brush 678, Les Stein 601, Millie Ajello 501, Mary Alabisco 455, Vic Milloy 509, Betty Arkin 450, Becky Arras 459, Libby Vallario 537, Ave Hickman 528, Lori Sheppard 513, Katie Hendricks 516, Sue Crook 531, Judy MacReynolds 547.
COUNTRYSIDE: Dennis Brown 823, Louis Kusner 736, Greg Kennard 757, Scotty Gormley 722, Todd Frame 717, Sam Ardillo 739, John Gesell 702, Joann LaBarbera 535, Lois Gorbey 555, Stella Gandolfo 556, Bridget Freeberg 584, Cheryl Mourer 663, Dee Micenec 568, Connie England 531, Nan Till 515, Kim Knapp 537, Pat Stevens 562, Judy Penrod 544, Peggy Raymond 546, Kimberly Caroll 603, Karl Pasiak 619, Dave Aupperlee 676, Greg Kennard 662, Dennis Davis 660.
DUNEDIN: Paul Pippenger 712, Chris Holly 733, Burl Sharrow 702, Mark Munson 705, Angelo Rampino 706, Alex Theofilos 705, Ron Rogers 675, John Gesell 694, Edward Miller 688, Paul Buckley 698, John Ebert 673, Ron Maniscalco 697, Joe Smith 684, Jerry Bates 671.
TWEDT'S: Bob Hubbard Jr. 300, Jim Zaletel 711, Mike Bixler 722, Jay Taylor 692, Lance Lonsdale 687, Joe Alore 677, Lou Alessi 675, Jack Sorrentino 666, Scott Baird 666, Jim Christiansen 660, Tammy Tucker 631, Kay McAleer 558, Mary McAteer 558, Melissa Pushinsky 557, Lynne Weaver 550, Yvonne Hayden 539, Donna Gunther 538, Amy Bowes 536, Bob Lawson 656, Danny Bolton 651, Christ Springstead 649, Greg Mong 647, Jack Farrell 644, John Oliver 639.
SUNSHINE: Frank Fernandez 719, William Moore 711, Branden McCombs 704, Mike Foss 738, Tom Dale 725, Justin Veitch 750, Leroy Goffer 684, Norb Treutel 695, Royce Pauley 616, Jack Steward 699, Don Vinson 672, Adam Swank 667, Eleanor Hughes 513, Dottie Thompson 593, Judy Hettinger 579, Melinda Kasica 564, Dale Smith 593, George Filiau 592, Mark Finlayson 681, Frank Rodgers 681, Walt Davis 663, Russell O'Neal 662, Scott Price 643, Bill Hicks 678.
AMF CLEARWATER: Dawn Cook 730, Minard Frischer 584, Ray Chesser 609, James Sperry 644, Joe Presipino 601, Randy Boyle 685, David Miller 651, Bill Buckley 607, Moe Palin 501, Lester Meyers 507, Jeff Haven 628, Jay Pink 638, Jay Clark 643, Margaret Cote 586, Melissa Pushinsky 610, Tina Sumlin 683, Patti Draper 604, Ruth Harvey 538, Marianne Clay 546, Mike Scott 642, Jack Baker 575, Dave Cabey 595, Mike Eakins 639, Karl Monitzer 625, David Hamm 672.
SEMINOLE: David Broughton 740, Jon Hunt 700, Rick Ickes 708, Kevin Krauss 755, Dean Rosko 777, Steve Weyand 765, Rick Langton 782, Dick Rohrs 721, David Jones 732, Steven Peacock 701, Larry Townsend 717, Cindy Hall 773, Derek Moreau 773, Kristin Poole 643, Tricia McKee 607, Vicki Yovich 625, Donna Kelley 646, Christina Taylor 666, Drew Beierlein 707, Kim Teft 604, Ziggy Podlas 710, Loretta Santo 631, Tricia Robbins 600, Freida Wheeler 636, Shaun Goucher 666.
TARPON: Joe Riendeau 719, Carol Lilienthal 511, Margaret Radetski 510, Mary Paras 505, Vivian Steele 510, Bob Ulrich 608, Don Shattock 595, Dick Stein 678, Roger Dodrill 596, Bob Fusco 695, Frank Canfi 671, Helen Steidl 537, Ron Gebo 505, George Noorts 545, Joe Subbiondo 540, Romie Russo 523, Paul Shepard 672, Karl Bobbinger 606, Wes Jones 606, Gordon Troy 544, Jim Reedy 540, Rod Sowers 541, Terry Tracy 502, Jan Benes 530, Grace Russo 519.
RAINBOW: Ray Baumbach 300-817, Mike Bixler 752, Kevin Ahern 773, Carl Quick Jr. 738, Steve Fox 682, Ed Wagner 713, Lynn Kasica 568, Linda Guerin 538, Ernie Pietroburgo 653, Robert Terrell 585, Joe Gang 598, Celeste Dietz 515, Donna Seddon 505, Dionne Simmons 412, Betty Procoffee 466, Tom Bates 571, Jolene Schotter 561, Frank Iamarino 565, Denis Davis 740, Janet Carnahan 460, Neva Olson 469, Bud Powles 541, Inge Desmore 548, Herb Cervinka 516.
