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Honorees for
Texas
| Name | Hometown | Branch | Rank | Yrs. | Contributor |
| V.A. "Chief" Wapensky | Arlington | Army | Chief Warrant Officer | 22 | Wally and Joyce Hall |
| "Chief" served as a Warrant Officer in the Army in the administrative area for 22 years --from 1943 to 1965 -- in various branches of the Army, including the Infantry, Coast Artillery, Transportation Corps, MASH unit, as well as the Pentagon. His tour of duty brought him to Germany for six years and France for four years. Following his active duty, "Chief" spent five years with the Association of US Army as Managing Editor for ARMY Magazine. While in service, "Chief" was also active in organizing bowling leagues. He was the city association president twice in Washington, D.C. He proudly stated that he served as the Executive Secretary of the Women's International Bowling Congress City Association in Verdun, France. An avid promoter of the sport, "Chief" also wrote for a number of bowling newspapers and magazines during his lifetime. Wherever he was stationed, he always wrote a bowling column for the military newspaper. Following his military service, "Chief" served one year as Executive VP of the National Bowling Council and began an illustrious career in 1971 as the Bowling Proprietors Association of America Executive Director. He held that position for 20 years overseeing BPAA's relocation to Arlington, Tex., celebrating its 50th anniversary, and increasing its membership for 14 consecutive years. In 2001, "Chief" received the bowling industry's highest honor -- the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal -- and was inducted into the BPAA Hall of Fame, which he was instrumental in creating during his tenure at BPAA. For more than 10 years, "Chief" served on the BVL Board of Directors and saw this organization through the tumultuous period of the 1970s following our nation's anti-war and anti-military movements, as well as through the massive re-structuring of the VA healthcare delivery system. |
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| Additional contributors for V. I. "Chief" Wapensky: | |||||
| Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl | Dublin, CA | ||||
| "Chief" was a very good friend and he was good for the bowling industry. | |||||
| Perry Garrett, Jr. | Houston | Navy | Bunker Hill Senior Bowlers | ||
| WWI enlisted and served with 62nd Naval Construction Battalion in Pacific Campaign. Received Bronze Star and "Presidential Unit Citation" for invasion and Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Served briefly on aircraft carrier USS Yorktown before being honorably discharged in 1946. Was wonderful gentleman and friend. Was married to Beatrice Garrett for 56 years who survives. | |||||
| Charles Nelson Baldwin | Lamesa | Lt. Col. | Army Air Corps | 22 | Ms. Bernie M. Baldwin |
| Baldwin served in 9th Air Force, ETO flying P-47 Thunderbolts. Stayed in Reserve and completed 22 years service altogether. Very proud of my brother. Our father served in Army, France, WWI. | |||||
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