By Gary Anderson

September 26 - WTBA has recognised the contibutions of Ahlstrom and Reichert with the awarding of the inaugural John Davis Memorial AwardFormer Finnish Bowling Federation (FBF) President Kauko Ahlstrom and former Brunswick chairman and chief executive officer Jack Reichert have been announced as the inaugural recipients of the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) John Davis Memorial Award.

The John Davis Memorial Award recognises individuals who have selflessly devoted their time and resources to the sport of bowling over a significant period of time, and is awarded at the discretion of the WTBA.

The award is named in honour of John Davis, who founded international bowling maintenance supply company Kegel, which has a state-of-the-art training facility in Lake Wales, Florida.

Davis passed away suddenly in January of this year.

Ahlstrom, a founding member of the International Federation of Bowlers (FIQ) in 1952, was the national bowling champion of Finland on three occasions and was a member of the national team for 20 years.

He has also served as President of the FBF from 1940 to 1971, and as President of the FIQ Tenpin Division, Ahlstrom helped to oversee the USA's joining of FIQ in 1955, before going on to serve as overall President of FIQ from 1973 through until 1979.

American Reichert, was instrumental in gaining Olympic status for tenpin bowling as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Games, and during his time in charge of sports company, Brunswick, he championed the sport's campaign to become an fully established Olympic discipline.

The Illinois native, became chief executive officer of Brunswick in 1982 and chairman of the Board in 1983 before his retirement in 1995, and is an inductee into the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Halls of Fame.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
September 2013: 
Tenpin Bowling World Championships awarded to Las Vegas and Doha
September 2013: New name and logo for international bowling as it aims for Olympic status