Evans new BWAA President; James to retire Dec. 31

Dick Evans (pictured with Tom Clark, right) of Daytona Beach, Fla. was elected president of the Bowling Writers Association of America by the board of directors following the 2008 annual meeting at the International Plaza Hotel in conjunction with Bowl Expo. Evans previously served as president in 1986 and 1987. The new term of office begins Aug. 1 and runs through July 31.

Executive Director Steve James announced he will retire from the BWAA position Jan.1, 2009 after seven years in that role. James, Fox Point, Wis. is a 40-year BWAA member, was elected president in 1993 and served as board chairman from several years. An application will be available to any member who has an interest in the position. A decision is expected to be made by the board in early September.

Jackie Wyckoff of Campbell, Calif. was elected vice president and director Mike Hennessy of Bluffton, S.C. was appointed to the BWAA executive committee.

Six candidates were elected to the board for two-year terms from a field of 14 candidates. Those elected were Bill Vint, East Troy, Wis.; Kathy Watson, Richmond, Calif.; Tom Clark, Milwaukee; Joan Romeo, Van Nuys, Calif.; Jim Goodwin, Rockwall, Texas, and Wyckoff.

Lyle Zikes of Arlington Heights, Ill. and Romeo of Van Nuys, Calif. were honored at the Columbia 300/BPAA awards dinner. Zikes became a member of the BWAA Hall of Fame while Romeo was presented with the organization's Meritorious Service honor.

BWAA members agreed with the board's recommendation to eliminate the High School Bowler of the Year award due to the difficulty of accumulating enough information from that group of young people and coaches throughout the nation. BWAA continues to honor bowlers of the year in the professional, amateur, senior and collegiate categories.

During the Bowl Expo Trade Show, BWAA members provided press releases for all proprietors and exhibitors for their hometown news media at no charge. The first-time project was extremely successful.

Thomas Madrecki of Northbrook, Ill. and Liz Sautter of Sunnyvale, Calif. were awarded $1,000 scholarship by the Chuck Pezzano Scholarship committee chaired by Joan Romeo. They were granted one-year free membership in BWAA.

Madrecki's writing credentials include the following: Associate News Editor for the Cavalier Daily, University of Virginia; winner in the Bowling This Month Amateur Writing Contest, and a summer internship writing for Bowlers Journal International.

He is also a Level One USBC certified coach and for the last three years has served as the captain of his high school bowling team. He is currently attending Virginia where he maintains a grade point average and scale of 3.75/4.0.

Sautter comes with equally excellent credentials. She writes for the Homestead Herald, the local bowling center Youth Newsletter, and is a USBC Certified Level 1 Coach. The sophomore attends UC-Berkeley, maintains a grade point average of 2.9/4.0.

The BWAA annually awards the Chuck Pezzano Scholarship to worthy recipients and is named in honor of BWAA, American Bowling Congress and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame journalist Chuck Pezzano of Clifton, N.J.

Qualities considered include academic achievement (2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent) civic involvement and bowling participation.