Leadership and Spokespeople

Darlene Baker, Chair

Darlene was elected to the Chairmanship of the BVL Board of Directors at the annual meeting in November 2007, and immediately accepted thecharge of propelling BVL forward to a higher level of awareness and involvement both within and outside of the sport of bowling.

Darlene is in a unique position to take on that challenge:  She was the first female president of the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport.

“Our goal is to send the BVL message to every league and bowling center around the country.  I’m confident that when they know more about BVL, they will join in our effort.” Darlene points out, “First, our programs are making a difference – right now and everyday –in the lives of our active duty and veteran service men and women.  Second, we operate under an efficient and
effective delivery model with very little overhead. That’s the perfect scenario — good plus good equals great.”

Associated with the sport of bowling for more than 40 years, Darlene brings a myriad of skills to the BVL effort.  She has served as a Director for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), the Women’s International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling on the national level.

Darlene also holds positions in bowling leadership in her home state of Illinois and is currently a Director for the Illinois State USBC Women’s Bowling Association and Youth organizations.  She has previously held other titles for those organizations including vice presidencies and secretary.

On the lanes, she won eight titles in the 1989 Clinton (Ill.) WBA championships and bowled a high series of 675 to finish fourth in the USBC Open Championships Tournament Classified Division in 2006.  She also is a certified lane inspector.

Currently, Darlene balances her position as a Director in the Champaign Area USBC with her responsibilities on the USBC Board of Directors.  She is presently employed as the CFO for Piatt County Mental Health Center.

“My responsibilities at both the local and national level allow me the opportunity to take the BVL message wherever I go,” Darlene explained.  “I’m delighted to increase awareness and promote our campaign.”

When not wearing her many hats for the sport, Darlene and her husband Randy enjoy spending time with their four children and five  grandchildren.  While Darlene bowls three nights a week, she also finds time for her hobbies including crafts and crocheting. In addition, she is a member of the University of Illinois Women’s Volleyball support group, the Networkers, of which she has been a member since 1998, where she spent six years as president.

Wally Hall 

In 2005, Walter J. Hall, Pasadena, Md., was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) as a representative of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA).

Recognized as a leader within the sport of bowling, Wally has spent almost 50 years in the bowling business and with the BPAA.  Among his numerous honors, Wally earned BPAA’s most prestigious award, the Victor Lerner Memorial Award, and is a member of BPAA’s Hall of Fame.

Wally’s extensive bowling industry resume includes variety of voluntary leadership positions, including President of BPAA, Chairman of National Bowling Forum, Board Member and Vice Chair of Bowling Inc. and President of MUBIG (Bowling Chain Operators Group). In addition, Hall is currently a Trustee of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

Beginning his career as the first employee of Brunswick, U.K. Ltd. in his native England, Wally was promoted to General Manager of Fairlanes Bowling Limited, and oversaw the construction and operation of one of the first bowling chains outside of the U.S.  Hall also served as Managing Director of Public Amusements Ltd., a subsidiary of the Granada Group, Ltd, responsible for a range of operations including movie theaters, bingo halls, bowling centers and a leisure park.  Wally’s next position was with Fair Lanes, Inc., Baltimore, Md.   Subsequently, he became President and CEO of Fair Lanes, then the largest operator of bowling centers in the U.S. with 112 centers, along with a chain of restaurants and 13 health and fitness centers, as well as a controlling position in BTR Realty Inc., of which Wally was Chairman.

“I have been fortunate to have been involved in many aspects of business and the sport of bowling, but I feel a special sense of pride and enthusiasm for our work at BVL,” Wally said.  “We are responsible for brightening the days of our active duty military and speeding the recuperation of our hospitalized veterans – this is a task which we approach with great passion.”

Currently, Wally owns and operates three bowling centers in Maryland, along with a restaurant company based in Salisbury, Md.  He is also the President of Hall Investments, and Chairman of Hall Enterprises, a consulting company.

Outside of bowling, Wally has brought his expertise to a variety of civic and philanthropic boards and is currently a Trustee of the Anne Arundel Community College and a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore/Washington Medical Center.

Wally and wife, Joyce, live along the Chesapeake Bay where they enjoy spending their leisure time with their three sons and their families.

Tony Manna Jr.

Tony began his tenure on the BVL Board of Directors in November 2009.  Tony arrives with a great deal of experience as a competitive bowler. Tony has served six times on Team USA (2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998). He earned three gold and two silver medals in 2002 Tournament of the Americas, three gold medals and one bronze in the 2001 Federation Internationale des Quilleurs American Zone Championships, a gold medal in the 1999 Pan American Games, a silver medal in the 1999 FIQ World Championships and a silver medal in the 1998 FIQ World Tenpin Team Cup.

That drive which made Tony a successful competitor also drove his interest in BVL.  “It’s truly a wonderful cause, yet I feel that BVL does not get the attention it deserves.  We need to work hard to get all our associations involved to be truly successful.  I want to be part of that effort,” he explains.

Manna is a graduate of the University of Nebraska where he also was a member of the bowling club and served as president from 1992-94. Tony has been honored as a member of Nebraska State and the Omaha Bowling Halls of Fame. His high game is 300 and his high series is826.

Tony makes his home in Nebraska, where he works as a Senior Administrator at West Corporation in Omaha.  Manna lives with his wife and two children.  In addition to bowling, Tony tries to find some time to get out on the golf course.

Jim Sturm

A West Virginia native, Jim is the current president of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the  immediate past president of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), who worked his way up the BPAA ranks through almost 18 years of involvement with the organization.  During that time, Jim served on a variety of different BPAA and USBC committees currently presiding as the Chairman of Strike Ten Entertainment.  Jim joined the BVL Board of Directors in November 2009.

Jim grew up in the bowling business, and today owns and operates Dunbar Bowling Center, a 12-lane center in Dunbar, W.Va.  In addition to being one of the nation’s most successful small center operators, Sturm is a highly successful bowling coach and has been recognized as one of the top 100 coaches in the United States.

Two professional regional bowling titles and many accolades as an amateur scholastic bowler are also part of Jim’s resume. He has rolled multiple career 300 games and has a high series of 855. He owns a 219 high average. He is a graduate of the Vincennes University Bowling Lanes Management program and a graduate from West Virginia State College with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing.

When Jim is not travelling to represent the USBC at venues around the globe, he enjoys spending time working in the yard and cooking with his wife, Missy. Jim has also spent many years with his Harley on rides to support the troops and veterans. “It was just a natural fit for me to be involved with BVL,” says Jim.

He adds, “I’m looking forward to working with my fellow BVL Board Members to grow the BVL effort.  We’re doing wonderful things for our active duty and veteran service men and women, but the need is great and there is much more work to be done.”

Marci Williams

Marci became the newest member of the BVL Board of Directors in September 2010, bringing with her an extensive knowledge of bowling as well as finance. For the last 35 years, Marci has been very active in the sport as well as in her career with Learjet, Inc. from where she recently retired as a corporate tax analyst.

In addition to her work in the tax department, Marci served on Learjet’s management association board and their employees’ association board for more than 15 years.

She began her “other” career – in the sport of bowling in 1975 in which she has enjoyed a great amount of success.  Marci had a record qualifying round at the 2007 USBC Senior Queens and part of a team that won several Brunswick World Team Challenge women’s events in the 1990s. She was named 2006-07 Great Plains USBC Senior Bowler of the Year.  Additionally, Marci was Great Plains USBC Association president from 2005 (when the association being named 2005 BPAA Association of the Year) to 2010.

Marci is a native of Wichita, Kan., where she lives with her husband.  In her spare time, Marci enjoy golfing and traveling.

“I’m delighted to be a part of the leadership of BVL,” explains Marci.  “This is a great cause which makes a difference every day in VA hospitals and on the front lines.  We have an opportunity to give back to those who sacrificed for us and we take that mission very seriously.”

Elaine Hagin, Member Emeritus

For more than 20 years, the Bowlers to Veterans Link thrived under the stewardship of one of the leaders in the sport of bowling, Elaine Hagin.  Elaine, a Castro Valley, Calif. native, is now the BVL’s first member emeritus.

Elaine began her work with BVL as a member of the Alameda County (California) Women’s Bowling Association during the 1970s.  Since then, she has contributed as a BVL torchbearer throughout her career in the sport of bowling.

Elaine’s other titles include the First Vice President of the former Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC).  Within WIBC, she has served in a variety of committee capacities including Marketing/Public Relations, Finance, Legislative and dozens more.  Also on the list of Elaine’s positions are Secretary, International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame; President, USA Bowling; President, Young American Bowling Alliance; and Director, Bowling Writers Association of America.

Elaine is a recognized leader in sports around the world, traveling extensively as part of her duties for bowling, as well as through her responsibilities as a former member of the Advisory Board of the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Anti-Doping Committee of the United States Olympic Committee.

Over her career, Elaine has received many honors including Women’s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, Women’s Sports Foundation President’s Award, and Street & Smith’s “Super 50.”

BVL Spokesperson:  Bowling Hall-of-Famer and Vietnam Vet Johnny Petraglia

One of professional bowling’s biggest names, Johnny Petraglia, is the Bowlers toVeterans Link (BVL) bowling teacher for veterans receiving care in VA Hospitals nationwide. His Learn-to-Bowl clinics are part of the BVL program. Through this effort, the BVL organization sponsors special bowling classes for veterans at hospitals designedto provide a physical and emotional outlet during their stay at the facility. Petraglia joins an impressive list of professional bowling stars who have served as BVL Clinicians including Nelson Burton, Jr. and the late Helen Duval.

Petraglia lays claim to 16 National and 35 Regional and other professional bowling titles, including bowling’s coveted triple crown — the PBA National Championship, the U.S. Open and the Tournament of Champions.

Petraglia, a touring pro since 1965, was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 1982, and has served three terms as that organization’s president (1979-1980, 1989-1990, 1997-1998).  After launching his bowling career, Petraglia was called to duty in Vietnam in 1967 -1968, during the Tet Offensive. There he served as an Army Spec. 5 in Long Binh and Bien Hoa. Like many veterans, Petraglia lost many friends in Vietnam, and a couple of close friends suffered leg amputations. “After coming home, to see the way they live their lives and what they’ve done with themselves, it’s really inspirational,” continues Petraglia,

“In terms of my career, it’s helped me put things in perspective, if I throw a clutch strike on TV to win, I tell myself that this isn’t tough. Tough is going through the war experience.”

“I’m happy to meet more of my fellow veterans. BVL does many great things for our veterans, and I want to be a part of that.”

Petraglia visits VA Hospitals throughout the country while competing on the PBA Senior Tour.