Founders & Past Officers
Honoring the visionary founders and distinguished leaders whose dedication helped shape the history of The National Bowling Association.
Honoring TNBA History
The National Bowling Association was built through the vision, leadership and service of dedicated men and women across the country. This page recognizes TNBA’s founders, past presidents and presidents emeritus.
The Beginning — 1939
TNBA Founders
We honor the founding members whose vision and commitment established The National Bowling Association.
Brownie Cain
Chicago, IL
Isaac Rivers
Chicago, IL
Leroy Brown
Chicago, IL
John Smith
Cincinnati, OH
Arbie J. Woods
Cincinnati, OH
Joseph L. Blue
Cleveland, OH
J. Elmer Reed
Cleveland, OH
Oscar McDonald
Cleveland, OH
Viola Crosswhite
Cleveland, OH
Firley Carr
Cleveland, OH
Ernest S. Moore
Detroit, MI
Richard Benton
Detroit, MI
Henry Hardin
Detroit, MI
George Porter
Detroit, MI
James Roden
Detroit, MI
James Watts
Detroit, MI
June Watts
Detroit, MI
Geraldine Wells
Detroit, MI
Clarence King
Toledo, OH
Lucius Hundley
Toledo, OH
Dwight Guy
Toledo, OH
Past Presidents
For more than eight decades, TNBA presidents have guided the organization through growth, innovation, service and fellowship.
Wynston T. Brown
Cleveland, OH
Jack Robinson
Cleveland, OH
William “Gus” Sewell
Chicago, IL
Poindexter A. Orr
Chicago, IL
Martin C. Kelley
Cleveland, OH
Sidney V. Celestine
Chicago, IL
Kenneth Morris
Los Angeles, CA
Ruben E. Pope Jr.
Cleveland, OH
DeHart Hubbard
Cleveland, OH
Charles R. Wilson
Chicago, IL
Eric M. DeFreitas
New York, NY
Joseph A. Thomas
East Orange, NJ
Virgil E. Brown
Cleveland, OH
Preston W. Thomas
Somerset, NJ
George E. Hambrick
Chicago, IL
Levan Gordon
Philadelphia, PA
Alonzo Paytes
Chicago, IL
Leroy P. Williams
Los Angeles, CA
Joan I. McDuffie
Chicago, IL
Alonzo Bridges
Newark, NJ
Edward D. Jones
Los Angeles, CA
Perry T. Daniels
Carrollton, TX
Anthony M. Fikes
Milwaukee, WI
Cornell M. Jackson
Lanham, MD
Alesia Bryant
St. Louis, MO
Dr. Michael L. Boykins
Ridgeland, MS
Gregory P. Green
Jackson, MS
G. Dewann Clark
Los Angeles, CA
Gregory P. Green
Jackson, MS
Ron Simms Jr.
Columbia, MD
Presidents Emeritus
TNBA recognizes these distinguished leaders for their exceptional service and lasting contributions to the organization.
Sidney V. Celestine
Chicago, IL
Martin C. Kelley
Cleveland, OH
Levan Gordon
Philadelphia, PA
Alonzo Bridges
Newark, NJ