Lycoming County USBC Association inducts its latest HOF members
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Last Saturday night, the Lycoming County USBC Association inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame at its annual Hall of Fame and awards banquet.
More than 100 people were in attendance to honor Beau Vincenzes, Phyllis Furman, Chester Shaffer Sr. and Carol Kibbe as they joined the ranks of previously inducted Hall of Fame members going back to 1967. The County Association Hall of Fame now numbers 263, including 70 living members.
• Vincenzes was inducted for his performance. Between 2003 and 2017, Vincenzes posted 13 perfect games and seven 299 games. He achieved his career high average of 232 during the 2015-16 season, when only two other local bowlers posted a higher average. His career high series of 824 in 2017 was one of six 800 series he bowled since 2011.
Vincenzes started his bowling career in the late 1980s at 8 years old when Patty Brown talked his father into bringing Vincenzes and his brother out to the ABC Lanes to join the Junior Bowling Program. As an eight-year member of the local association board of directors, Vincenzes served as association treasurer.
• Furman was inducted posthumously in the performance category. A member of the local 600 Club, Furman bowled 12 600 series in a career that started in the 1950s when it was a lot tougher to reach the 600 mark and stretched into the early 1970s. Her career-high series was 671 and her career-high game was 258. Phyllis was a member of one of Williamsport's premier bowling families, which includes her father Harvey Tressler Sr., brothers Harvey Tressler Jr. and Andy Tressler, and sons Rod and Bill Furman, as well as daughter-in-law Evelyn Furman, all of whom are members of the local association Hall of Fame.
• Shaffer Sr. was inducted for his meritorious service. Serving on the local association board of directors for more than 15 years, Shaffer was a member of nominating and annual meeting committees, as well as chairing the audit committee. He held the title of president of five different leagues over a span of 24 years, as well as serving as a vice president for 15 years and a sargent of arms for three years.
Over the years, Shaffer escorted young bowlers to Junior and Special Olympic tournaments. He has always been a pleasant person to be around on and off the lanes, always promoting the game of bowling with a smile and a handshake.
• Kibbe was inducted posthumously in the performance category. She was a member of the 600 Club and won the women's Bowler of Year Tournament in 1973. With a career high series of 622 and a career-high game of 256, Kibbe achieved her career high average of 189 during the 1970s. Kibbe started her bowling career in the late 1950s at the age of 14 in the Jersey Shore High School League and made the Jersey Shore High School No. 1 traveling team where she had high single for the season.
In 1973, Kibbe received the Presidential Bowling Award, a certificate signed by President Richard Nixon.
• Also honored at the banquet as the female and male golden age Bowlers of the Year were Barb Steppe and Neil Klinefelter. Association president Michael Klees, as master of ceremonies, handed out trophies to the winners of the 2024-2025 Seasonal Performance Awards. Those winners, which included both regular, senior and youth recipients, were previously listed in the Kegler'.s Korner.
Jim Eckman and Gay Harris were awarded Sportsmanship of the Year Awards named in honor of the late Newell Thompson III, and Jimmy King IV was awarded the Youth Sportsmanship of the Year Award named in honor of the late Patty Brown.