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Author Topic: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?  (Read 30057 times)

Ramtart

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Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« on: July 26, 2006, 09:07:40 AM »
Hey all,

I know we have had this thread brought up in the past.
Revolutions PS put a topic up in regards to "Where is John Mazza?"
and it prompted me to make this post up.

I know the PBA forum has had lively threads on this topic, but I wanted
to see what Ballreviews members have on some of these PRO's since some of you
still keep in touch or bowl with them in leagues and tournaments.

Feel free to add your own favorites!

John O'drobinak
Jess Stayrook (I recently saw his name on the Mini-Eliminator results!)
Scott Devers
Bob Vespi
Jeff Bellinger
Alvin Lou (Heard he has a Pro Shop in So. Cal)
Bob Benoit
Mark Thayer
Ron Palombi Jr.
John "The Buzzsaw" Gant
Adam Colton
Ron "Bent Elbow" Williams
Mark Williams
Bob "The Stalker" Handley (Heard he's still doing Senior Events)
Billy Myers
Tony Westlake
George Branham III
Steve Hoskins
Butch Soper (Still bowling in Lake Havasu and Bartending last I heard)
Mike Miller (Running a Pro Shop?)
Brad Snell
Hugh Miller
Adam Apo (Still bowling Megabuck tournaments I hear)
Marshall Holman
Mike Durbin
Dave Davis

My mind is blank!
Would love to hear about some of these guys!

Regards,
Ram

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Edited on 7/26/2006 5:04 PM

 

LuckyLefty

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2006, 05:23:02 PM »
I've got 4.

Didn't know them all..but just know.

Bob Vespi...sells cars in broward county fla!

Bob Handley (the stalker) was a distributer rep in south and central Fla.
Had a chance to be bowler of the year on the senior tour last year.

Adam Colton last I knew was in South Florida and had won about $100,000 K at a miniEliminator about 4 years ago.  (last I saw him it was at...Strikers Forum Lanes in Fort Lauderdale(Randy Pederson there the same day...cool).

Dave Davis...my friend and bowling idol(class act. perfect technique..fearsome competitor) was tearing up the senior tour up through about age 57 or 58....then when it downsized(after some knee problems he was getting EVEN BETTER at that time)...he downsized his appearances about 3 years ago.  I don't know if you remember he won some Senior majors and some big checks up through about age 56!  I don't know how involved he is in bowling any more.  I was very lucky to be neighbors with him for a few years in addition to getting tons of practice help from him and training tips!  Thanks Dave!

Now lives in central Florida.  One of the all time Eagles!  

REgards,

Luckylefty
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shelley

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 06:00:02 PM »
I heard Hoskins was an insurance salesman down in FL.

SH

REVOLUTIONS PS

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2006, 07:06:25 PM »
Wow...this is just an awesome topic...the memories of these guys just FLOODED back to me as I read that list...

I wish I had something to add...I do know that Branham III is still bowling but that's about it.

Who remembers this name:  Ken McNeely??? (now that I think about it...I don't even know if I have the kid's name right...lol)

He made one show I think which was an arena final and bowled against Dave Ferraro (sp) in one of his last (if not LAST) t.v. appearance.  I am almost sure that Stayrook was on that show too.  Anyway, he had a really funky style...he would bend way down and almost hide the ball completely in his arms to start and then would straighten up as he walked to the line and really came up (too much) at release.  Anyway, I never heard the name again....anyone know????

Pat Patterson

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2006, 07:19:43 PM »
Mike Miller is the co-owner of 10 Pins and More Bowling Center in Rio Rancho, NM.  He is co-owners with sister Dana Miller-Mackie and her husband Steve Mackie.

Mike is my personal ball driller.

Here is the Link to their website.
http://www.tenpins-more.com/
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Crankenstein300

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2006, 07:29:47 PM »
Marshall Holman owns a tax service business here in Medford with his wife. Bowls once a week on the scratch league I bowl and generally still kicks butt with a 230 average.

Hugh Miller bowls regionals in the Northwest region, and I think he does insurance sales or something, but thats a guess.

Wasn't Bob Benoit doing classic car restoration there for awhile?

JessN16

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2006, 07:40:03 PM »
Someone on PBA.com said Durbin is selling cars.

Jess

yoder978

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2006, 09:56:42 PM »
i just went adult last summer.  been bowling some bigger tournaments in ohio and ted hannahs is there.  still a great bowler.  i have picked up on some things and learned from watching and talking to him.

alcornel

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2006, 10:08:22 PM »
Wow not sure where he is now, but I just saw Adam Apo on ESPN Classic this morning and now see his name here and it brought back memories.

Sometime around 1994 or so I was bowling some pot games with Adam and a few other guys until the house shut down in St. Louis. We ended up crossing the river into Sauget where the bars are open 24 hours. We were having a good time until Adam and me got kicked out. Seems he was saying he was a pilot or something and got into it with a guy bigger than me (I am 6'6" and weighed around 200 at the time). We tried to "sneak" back in around 4 in the morning or so but got kicked out again.

Ahhhhh....... Good Times
BTW - He took plenty of my money back in the day
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demo40

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2006, 10:15:50 PM »
I believe Adam Apo lives in Rochester, Mn
and may run a pro shop at Colonial Lanes.

TWOHAND834

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2006, 10:49:46 PM »
Joe Firpo is still tearing apart lanes here in Atlanta. He is a finance manager for a Volvo Dealership here and a great guy to be around.

Lisa Wagner is a very pleasant lady and still one heck of a bowler in her own right. It has been a pleasure getting to know her and a blast to bowl with. She moved here to Atlanta also about 4 years ago. If memory serves me correctly, she was working with animal care here not too long ago. Not sure if she is still doing that or not.


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WSUstroker

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2006, 11:09:30 PM »
quote:
I believe Adam Apo lives in Rochester, Mn
and may run a pro shop at Colonial Lanes.


You are correct, Adam runs Colonial Lanes and also drills balls now.  Colonial is my home house.
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Dan Chambers
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star

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #12 on: July 27, 2006, 06:16:43 AM »
Tommy Hudson has a pro shop in Naples Florida.
No one mentioned him but he was a class act in the late seventies and I had the privelidge to meet him last year on our honeymoon.
One top bowler and a very genuine nice guy.
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BeansProShop

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2006, 02:21:34 PM »
Dave Davis, Mark Roth,David Ozio were at the Bowl expo and were promoting the Ledgends Tour. A Senior bowling tour.   Beans
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directdrill

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Re: Past PBA PROS - Where Are They Now?
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2006, 02:44:27 PM »
If you want to go way back in time, Ray Bluth, a member of the Budweiser bowling team in the 1960s, owns Crestwood Bowl in St. Louis, MO and also (as a partner) Tropicana Lanes in St. Louis.