1980 PSBA Hall of Fame Inductees

MARLYN (Marty) ROEMIG (Deceased)

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Marty Roemig is one of those individuals who needs no introduction but is going to got one in spite of that.

Marty, as he is affectionately known in the bowling fraternity, began his long bowling career as a pin boy at the age of 14. Since then he has been identified with the game as bowler, league, Association and State Association officer and leader of the Junior activities, both local and statewide. His personal high spot& include a season's average of 205, a high game of 289 and a high series of 750, one of 13 of 700's bowled during his career.

Roemig is a retired police officer from the Allentown P.D. and while an active officer was a guiding light in the PAL Junior bowling for 16 years. This activity led to Marty being instrumental in the formation of the State Junior Association in 1964 and serving as its president for 11 years. He still serves on the advisory board.

In 1954 he was elected president of the Allentown District B.A. and served in that capacity for 10 years. In 1971 he was elected to the Allentown District B.A. Hall of Fame.

Marty's election to the P.S.BA. presidency was in 1965 and in 1966 was appointed to fill the un-expired term of Harry Gumpert as secretary-tournament manager and continued to serve as tournament manager until 1977. Since 1974 he has been acting as manager of the Rose Bowl Lanes in Allentown.

Mart Roemig has left a permanent imprint of the Pennsylvania Junior Bowling scene; a result of his many years as a police officer and a member of the armed forces during World War I I is seen in the discipline and pride of accomplishment of the younger bowlers. Marty joins former State officers, Ed Jefferson, Frank Thompson, John Brannan and M. W. Dissinger in the Hall of Fame.

ANDREW NICHOLAS (Deceased)

Back to Top

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In honoring Andy Nicholas we are recognizing one of the founders of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association. Although Andy never hold an elective office in the Association he was a prime mover of the group along with Eddie Jefferson, the first elected president of the P.S.B.A. and already a member of the Hall of Fame.

Nicholas also was a moving force in the organization of the Philadelphia Bowling Association and the Philadelphia Major League in which he captained the Old Bookbinder team that was a powerhouse in the East for many years and developed several topflight individual players. Additionally, his organizational skills were recognized by the ABC by being elected a Congress director from 1927 to 1938 and later, in 1963 he was elected an honorary member at the age of 80.

Andy recalled how he got the idea for the State Association. "in my business I traveled extensively throughout Pennsylvania and often stopped in at various bowling centers. I met so many fine people that I thought something should be provided so that they could get to know each other better. This resulted in the formation of the Pennsylvania Association."

Nicholas bowled in 25 ABC tournaments shooting an all events score of 1911 in 1939. To this he added 10 appearances in the P.S.B.A. tournament If he were still living he would be looking for something now to promote.

ANTHONY J. VECCHIOLA (Deceased)

Back to Top

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Anthony J. Vecchiola better known as "Vic" was on a of those tireless workers that every successful organization needs if it is to achieve its goals. Small in stature but big in heart, Vic was always there with advise and counsel when called upon. A born leader, he was president of everything from his league to ABC and left an indelible mark an each. In 1930 he became a member of the Metropolitan Ton Pin League in his native Pittsburgh and after becoming president led the expansion of the league to a total of 110 teams, the largest traveling league in the ABC.

As president and board member of the Pittsburgh Ten Pin Association and the Pennsylvania State Bowling Assoc. he led the fight for the repeal of the Blue Laws so that bowling became legal in the State on Sunday. On the local level he we in the trenches promoting ton pin bowling in a predominant, duck pin area, the success of this effort is self-evident.

As a bowler and team captain he demonstrated his personal promise by bowling a 300 game in 1930 and be assembling some of the outstanding teams in the Pittsburgh district, notably the Fort Pitt Beer and Old Shay Ale teams.

In 1942 Vecchiola became president of the P.S.B.A. and in 1944-45 served a two-year term as president of the Pittsburgh Ten Pin B.A. August 1, 1961 saw the climax of his career when he was inaugurated the 48th President of the American Bowling Congress, an office he filled with dignity and expertise that was patently Vecchiola.

PSBA Hall of Fame

Inductees by Year:

2000 to Present

1990-1999

1980-1989

Prior to 1980