By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Seven men and one women were officially enshrined into their respective halls of fame during the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame’s annual enshrinement ceremony Sunday at the Double Tree by Hilton.
Joining the Stark County United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Hall were Don Sprout, Jim Williams, Matthew J. McCourry, Brian Buehler, all in the superior performance category, and meritorious service honoree Cayce Burkholder.
The Greater Stark County Fumbleball Association inducted three outstanding players, including Jon Melnichenko, Chris Parker and Bob Thompson.
The four new male bowling enshrinees were profiled earlier in this story along with Burkholder, whose honor was accepted by her son, Kenny Burkholder:https://snieronbowling.com/2026/04/18/five-new-inductees-to-join-stark-county-usbc-hall-of-fame/
We took the opportunity ask the new enshrinees a couple of questions about receiving this honor prior to Sunday’s event. Some were from their early years; some as adults.
Here are there responses to remembering their most memorable bowling moments and how they felt about receiving the honor:
DON SPROUT
Top memory: “Actually it was when I was still living in Navarre and I was around 8 or 9 years old … walking a mile and a half through the snow carrying my ball bag to Country Lanes in Navarre on Saturday mornings with my brother. It’s something I will always remember.”
About the night: “I have no words to describe this. When Jose (Rante) called me, I thought he just was looking for a sub and I didn’t want to bowl five times that week. I was in shock … I’m just on cloud nine … this is so fantastic to be here like this to join all of these great bowlers.”
JIM WILLIAMS
Top memory: “It’s going clear back to junior leagues when I was probably 15 years old. I had the front eight in a game and my dad was there because I couldn’t drive yet. I carried the one in the eighth and he yelled from the back, ‘I bought that ball.’ Then I threw the shot in the ninth and it went Brooklyn, and he yelled, ‘Just like his mother.’ I still remember that.”
About the night: “It’s an honor and I’m kind of shocked and surprised thinking about the other people who are in there and being considered to be in the same group with them. I think it’s really just starting to sink in.”
MATTHEW McCOURRY
Top memory: “It may not be necessarily on the lanes. Coaching, for me, has been far more satisfying. The numbers were there as far as bowling-wise, but coaching was the thing and I wish I could still do it, but work and life got in the way.”
About the night: “It’s just surreal … it’s something I’ve always wanted, but it’s something I had no control over. Just to be associated with the names and people who are in the hall is a definite honor.”
BRIAN BUEHLER
Top memory: “Bowling with that man over there (pointing at McCourry). He was the first one to draft me in the Miller Lite Traveling League and I was so happy to be selected. I’m very happy that it worked out this way … that we are going in together. Also, my first 300 game (he now has 149 overall).”
About the night: “This is a dream for me. I just wish my mom and dad were here, but they are up there looking down on me during this ceremony.”
CAYCE BURKHOLDER
Burkholder, the lone enshrinee in the meritorious service category, died in January 2026. Her son, Kenny, accepted the award in her honor. He was a former bowler for Massillon Washington High School.
Top memory with your mom: “We bowled some together, but I would stay it might have been when I was in high school and Mom was bowling on Wednesday nights at College Bowl. There would always be a couple of extra lanes and me and my sisters would go with her and bowl until she was done with league … until around 10 or 11. That’s when I became more involved in bowling.”
About the night: “She would have been very honored by all of this. We would still be at home when she was out doing city tournament stuff or other things until she was done. It was like her second job … Stark County bowling and working with the younger kids. She would have appreciated that her work has been recognized by the people above.”
The bowling enshrinements brings the total number of hall of fame members to 249 on the men’s side, beginning in 1971, and 117 on the women’s side, beginning in 1974.
Bill Snier, a past hall of fame honoree, handled the introductions for the bowling enshrinees while Kim Cooksey did likewise for the fumbleball honorees.
Rante, the GCASHOF president, was the event coordinator and master of ceremonies along with Stark USBC Sue Vukmanovich. Stark County USBC association manager.