ARLINGTON, Texas – United States Bowling Congress and Professional Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Famer Jeanette Robinson died Jan. 31 at the age of 94.
Robinson was elected to the PWBA Hall of Fame in 1996 in the Pioneer category, and she was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame in 2000 for Meritorious Service.
Born in Flint, Michigan, Robinson developed and shared her passion for the sport as a competitor, instructor, event organizer and administrative figure, which included serving as the president for the PWBA during the 1960s and 1970s. She was elected to the position in 1965 and held the role until 1975.
As a competitor, she found success on the local and state levels across Michigan and earned her time in the national spotlight with her win at the 1974 PWBA Dayton Classic in Dayton, Ohio.
After moving to Las Vegas in the late 1970s to join the staff at the famed Showboat Lanes, she continued to find the winner’s circle in local and state competitions in Nevada.
In addition to her role with the PWBA, Robinson also served on the Greater Flint Area Board of Directors for 10 years, was a director and supervisor of junior bowling programs in Michigan for 20 years and helped organize tournaments and participation programs for the Special Olympics.
In Las Vegas, she helped to develop tournaments for members of the military. In the early 1990s, she set her sights on providing female bowlers ages 50 and over the chance to compete on the national stage and created the National Golden Ladies Classic (now International Golden Ladies Classic), which continues to run each year in Las Vegas.
Robinson coached Team USA in 1967 at the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) World Championships (now International Bowling Federation World Championships) in Sweden, and she traveled across the world helping to conduct clinics as an ambassador of the sport through the AMF Staff of Champions.
She was recognized as the International Bowling Media Association’s Rip Van Winkle Award winner in 1995, and her tireless efforts and contributions to the sport helped her earn five additional inductions to local and state halls of fame – Greater Flint Area USBC, Michigan State USBC, Greater Flint Area Sports, Southern Nevada USBC and Nevada State USBC.
More information on services for Robinson will be available at a later date.
