Dates

Events

Notes

1920s

Major Bowling Establishment access for African Americans was primarily as Pin Setters or Janitors

1932-1938

Inter-City Matches / Starting Cities

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit and Toledo

1939

1939

First Tournament sponsored, coordinated and hosted by Cleveland

First organization meeting for then NNBA (now TNBA)

May 5 & 6

Detroit, Frogs Club August 20

Wynston Brown, Cleveland

Organizer of the United Clubs Bowling League in 1931; the inter-city match games and helped sponsor the First  TNBA (NNBA) tournament. First President

Viola Crosswhite, Cleveland

Organizer of Ladies Progressive League in Cleveland, OH; TNBA founder and instrumental in women bowling in the 2nd NNBA tournament in Cleveland 1940.  Las woman to receive the Joe Blue Award.

J. Elmer Reed, Cleveland

First black owner of a bowling establishment (United Recreation).  The facility was located in Cleveland.  Organizer of the Brunswick Singles Classic Tournament (Reed-Hawthorne Classic).  Strong advocate for UNCF, Sickle Cell Foundation and March of Dimes.

1940

First Convention Cincinnati

First officers:  Wynston Brown, President-Cleveland; Luscious

Huntley,  Vice-President-Toledo; Richard Benton, Secretary

1940

Second Tournament, first time for women participation

The second tournament set NNBA (TNBA) aside as the only major bowling organization that permitted men and women in the same venue.

1945

Joseph Blue, Cleveland

The Joe Blue Award for outstanding achievement and contribution to TNBA was donated by the Postal Alliance League in memory of Joseph L. Blue.

1946

Jack Marshall, Chicago first recipient of the Joe Blue Award

He was an All American.  Played in the Negro Baseball League and was drafted by Major League Baseball in the early 1940s.  His ethnicity was not known until his arrival to baseball camp.  He was not retained as a possible player in the Major League.

1948

Bill Rhodman bowl first TNBA sanctioned 300 game.

Finished 12th in the first ABC tournament Singles event with a 719 scratch score in 1951.  Possibly undisputed the greatest African American bowler of his time.  Four regional Classic tournaments held in his honor annually.

1950

Sidney Celestine, Chicago

Coordinated the integration of African American men and women with the WIBC and the ABC after the removal of racial restrictive clauses from their constitution

1951

Allen Supermarket Team, Detroit

First all black team to compete in the ABC Tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Team members—Bill Rohdman, Lafayette Allen, George Williams, Maurice Kilgore, Len Griffin and C. W. Williams

1958

Charles Wilson, Chicago

Succeeded in getting the NBA Convention in a hotel for the first time.  It was the Sheraton Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio.

1959

TNBA Brunswick National Singles Classic Director and originator J. Elmer Reed

J. Wilbur Sims won the first four Classic events for men.  Florence Richardson won the first event for women.

1959

Mary L. Wilkes, Cleveland

The Mary L. Wilkes Award was established in memory of this extraordinary contributor to the growth and survival of TNBA

1960

First Annual King and Queen Contests, Joseph Thomas contest originator

William E. Doar, Jr.  first King and Kitty Bracey, first Queen, both from New York, Empire Senate

1960

Martha Burton, Washington, DC, first recipient of the Mary L. Wilkes Award

Prior to 1960, six Joe Blue Awards recipients were women:  Mary L. Wilkes; Geraldine Wells Bennett, Rosa Strothers; Rachel Ridley; Viola Crosswhite and Charlie Mae McIntosh

1960

Martin Kelley, Cleveland—Director TNBA Foundation

Initiated the Development Foundation Fund to put NBA on a sound financial basis with the ultimate goals of purchasing a permanent headquarters building, hiring full time employees.. Senates were assessed a certain amount over a three year period to get this fund established.

1961

First Regional All Events Tournaments

1963

First time Annual tournament and Convention held in same city at same time

Newark, NJ

1966

Margarette Uncles, Washington, DC

First woman in TNBA to bowl a 300 game

1970

Mixed Team Event added

Buffalo, NY

1972-1978

Joseph King, TNBA Field Representative

Under Mr. King’s effort, TNBA had its greatest increase in membership from 6500 to over 23000 members in less that 4 years.

1972

First Rhodman Classic Scratch Tournament

First Rhodman Classic Tournament in honor of Bill Rhodman, Madison Square Garden.  Lou Ballard of New York was the organizer and tournament director.

George Wilson, former Central Regional Tournament Director started the building fund.

The building fund was a savings investment account that was established for the purpose of purchasing a TNBA Headquarters.

Scholarship award program— Owens Washington, Chicago

Junior Bowling Program, Ruth Payne, Cincinnati—Director

1976

First tournament and convention in southern United States

Atlanta, GA

1980

Inaugural Hall of Fame, Martha Burton, Washington, DC Coordinator

Inaugural inductees:  Sidney Celestine; J. Wilbur Sims; Viola Crosswhite; Margarette Uncles and J. Elmer Reed

1980

Joan McDuffie, Chicago

First woman elected as President of TNBA

1980

Aubrey Harrison, Los Angeles

Bowled first 300 game in annual tournament, Los Angeles, CA

1984

Inaugural Celebrity Bowl event, Louisville, KY.  Ruth Payne Coordinator

1989

Gospel Fest, New Orleans Emelda Greenwood (New Orleans) and Caroline Simmons (Louisville) initiators

2000

First all female TNBA Cabinet.  Cornell Jackson, Washington DC—President; Alesia Bryant, St. Louis, MO—Vice President; Margaret S. Lee Secretary/Treasurer.

2004

Lois Wilson, former Central Regional tournament director.  Located and negotiated acquisition of Headquarters property.  Jim Alston, former National Tournament Director provided financial assistance in both collaboration with the Development Foundation under Larry Pumphrey in completing the purchase of this property.

2004

National Headquarters

It is a wonderful reality to have a place where all of our members are welcome.  It is the place where we all can call our own.

2012

National Headquarters

As it exist today

2012

History Brick Walk

The History Archive and Museum success is directly linked to this campaign.  As of May 2013, only 20 Senates have responded.  We work and play together in Sportsmanship, Fellowship and Friendship.

2012

Team TNBA

Current Administrative Team