By BILL SNIER
snieronbowling.com
CANTON — Seven new members will join an elite group as the Stark County USBC Hall of Fame will hold its annual enshrinement ceremonies in August.
The seven inductees for 2025 are in four categories, including:
- Performance — Chrissy Brady and Roger Webb;
- Recognition of Contribution — William and Bevelee Palmer, David Boyd and Joe Sinay Jr.;
- Meritorious Services: Jean Tondola Smith
- Golden Age Award: Ron Lemmo.
This will mark the third class inducted since the the merging of the Greater Canton Bowling Association and the Canton Women’s Bowling Association. The rekindling of the hall of fame was made possible through the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, which houses the various halls of fame.
The bowling hall of famers will be enshrined that evening along with four new members of the Stark County Fumbleball and one addition to the Greater Canton Disc Golf halls of fame.
The inductees for fumbleball include Mitch Raebel, Richard Kleinhenz, Jason Norch and Tom Tender. Chris Pellegrino will be joining the disc golf honorees.
The event is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at the downtown DoubleTree by Hilton, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Tickets will be $40.
Here is a look at the seven new bowling hall of famers:
PERFORMANCE
CHRISSY BRADY
The 50-year-old Paris resident, who is being inducted in the superior performance category, has been a member of several winning city tournament doubles and teams during her 27-year career while bowling in both Canton and Alliance. She owns a pair of 300 games, and has been a top finisher in state Buckeye Belle and Eagles tournaments during her career with a high career average of 217. Known as a “team player,” Brady also has performed well in 600 and 700 Club events with a high career series of 751.
ROGER WEBB
The 58-year-old Perry Township resident also is a member of the Stark County High School Bowling. Conference Hall of Fame for his coaching ability at Perry, where he served as head coach for 15 seasons. In his 32 years on the lanes, he owns 21 career 800 series, with a high of 844, and 29 300 games, which carrying a high average of 235. He also has top-five finishes in various area tournaments while participating in 20 city and state events, including a first in all-events.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE
JEAN TONDOLA SMITH
The 82-year-old Massillon resident has served as a league officer for nearly 60 years and was inducted into the Ohio Bowling Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 2010. She received the USBC’s Helen Baker Award as the outstanding leader who made invaluable contributions to local and state associations in 2009. A member of the Ohio Bowling Council’s board of directors for 16 years, including serving as president and vice president, she has added various innovations on both the local and state levels to keep bowlers better informed as to what was occurring in their local association. She currently serves as a Stark County USBC director after serving in various executive positions with the Massillon Women’s Bowling Association for many years.
RECOGNITION OF CONTRIBUTION
WILLIAM, BEVERLEE PALMER
To say the Palmers lived bowling would be an understatement. They actually live in a house attached to Minerva Bowl. Both now in their 80s, they have owned and operated the eight-lane center for 50 years, doing a complete renovation in 1996, and adding new synthetic surfaces in 2007. They have been strong supporters of high school bowling, beginning with Minerva’s first team in 2003. They have owned and operated Minerva Bowl since 1975. They were the first couple inducted into the Minerva Alumni Hall of Fame and were members of the Stark County Bowling Proprietors Association for 30 years.
DAVID BOYD
Boyd, who died in November 2022, was the owner-operator of East Sparta Recreation for more than 40 years, serving as desk manager, mechanic, lane conditioner and “complaint department” for the eight-lane center. He assisted bowlers with equipment and also provided lessons to help players improve their games. “He provided a sense of family and belonging to those who came in,” Travis Boyd said of his late father. Even after selling the center, he was constantly looking in on “his bowlers’ ” progress.
JOE SINAY JR.
The 71-year-old North Canton resident has his share of impressive statistics on his bowling résumé, including five 800 series to go along with 10 300 games, with 40 years as a league officers. But it is as a bowling promoter and general manager where he also shined. He started his career at the former Classic Bowl, moving on in 1991 to the former Nancy O’s Bowl, where he ran many leagues and served as general manager until it closed in 2005. Then, he moved to Eastbury Bowling Center as general manager, a position he has held for 19 years. He developed strong relationships with bowlers and leagues, especially senior payers, while running some of the largest senior leagues and sanctioned leagues in the area. He also owns a 279 triplicate as as player.
GOLDEN AGE AWARD
RON LEMMO
The 75-year-old Canton resident averaged over 210 for six of his 17 years on the lanes, qualifying for the Stark County All-Star U.S. Open in 1972 and 1974. He had a state doubles title and was known as a very consistent player overall. His high average was 216 and he owns one career 300 game and was a member of seven championship teams while also serving as a league officer.