Dallas Bowling Association Hall of Fame
Mike McKamy
Mike McKamy
In Memoriam
By Bob Strickland
John Michael "Mike" McKamy has become a member of the Dallas Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he passed away at the IHS Tremont Rehabilitation Center, Dallas, on April 3, 2001. He is survived by his brother, Barney McKamy, of Colorado, and he is sorely missed by a host of friends. Mike loved bowling above all other sports; and, although he was a quiet, respectful man, he was a fierce competitor.
Mike enjoyed a lifetime of bowling excellence, and he had what it took to win. His first championship was the 1962 Junior Texas State Scratch singles. In 1965, he won the prestigious Dallas Morning News Match Game Singles championship, a title coveted by every scratch bowler in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and, possibly, the most difficult tournament to win of any ever held there. His numerous other titles included the Dallas Bowling Association Tournament of Champions in 1966 and 1967 (team), the 1971 Red River Doubles with Lewis Ray, and three Master Bowlers Association (singles match play,1972, 1974, and 1975).
Mike especially enjoyed league play and made a second home of Big Town Bowlanes. A member of the Dallas Bowling Association for 29 years, Mike commonly bowled hundreds of sanctioned games in a single season, a feat that he repeated many times. In 1967, on the basis of his performance in sanctioned play, Mike was chosen for the Dallas All-City team by a unique, popular vote conducted by the Dallas Bowling News. This poll showed that, on the basis of bowling ability, Mike competed on a par with Midge McMahon, Bobby Meadows, and Eddie Brickell, two of which are already members of the Hall of Fame.
During his entire bowling career, Mike maintained a good-natured, professional attitude. He was a great team player that could be counted on for 100% effort each and every shot, while actively supporting his team mates in achieving their goals. Yet, he was always the finest of sportsman, a characteristic that endeared him to teammates and opponents, alike.
Mike's bright, cheerful personality complimented his kindness, and he kept an optimistic attitude in the face of the life-threatening health problems that finally took his life. To the last, he was enjoyable to be around -- a testament to his strength of character and an inspiration to everyone who knew and loved him.
Mike was laid to rest at the Metrocrest Funeral Home, 1810 N Perry Rd., Carrollton, TX 75006-4059 on Friday, April 4, 2001, at 11:30 AM.
The following are highlights and pictures of milestones in Mike's bowling career.
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General Information |
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Bowled leagues or tournaments in 30 different bowling centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area |
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Bowled 700+ series scores in 22 different bowling centers |
Over 115 700+ series |
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Highest unsanctioned game |
300; four times |
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Highest unsanctioned series |
836; 800 five times |
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Bowled at least one 700+ series score on every pair of lanes at Big Town |
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Bowled in over 100 bowling centers in 17 states |
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1957 |
Bowled first game at Pleasant Grove Lanes |
The score was 117 |
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1963 |
Bowled in six (6) leagues per week |
Four (4) different centers and traveling league (averages ranged from 195 - 198) |
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1965 |
Drafted to bowl in the Dallas Times Herald Classic League |
Also drafted in 1966; this was the last mens' scratch traveling league formed in Dallas |
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1967 |
Bowled in five (5) leagues per week |
Four (4) different centers (averages ranged from 195 - 198) |
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1967 |
Voted onto All-City Team (published in the May 18, 1967 edition of the Bowling News) |
This was the only year that a popular vote was held; other members: Midge McMahon, Bobby Meadows, Eddie Brickell, Bob Strickland |
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1968 |
Bowled in five (5) leagues per week |
Three (3) different centers |
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1969 |
Bowled in five (5) leagues per week |
Three (3) different centers (averages ranged from 201 - 204) |
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1985 |
Joined Professional Bowlers Association, Southwest Region |
Member for 5 years; highest finish 12th in New Mexico |
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League Accomplishments |
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Highest sanctioned league series |
793 (Great Southwest Lanes) |
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Highest sanctioned league games |
299 (2) (Big Town), 298 (2), 296, 279 |
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Bowled in 13 ABC tournaments |
Highest singles score: 701; highest all-events score 1886 |
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1957 |
Began competing in junior leagues (1957 - 1962) |
White Rock, Dallas East, Buckner, Big Town |
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1961 |
First league championship; various league championships years 1961 - 2000 |
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1961 |
First AJBC-sanctioned 600 series |
601 (Terrell Lanes) |
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1962 |
Became member of Dallas Bowling Association |
Member for 29 years (additional 8 years a member of the Phoenix, Arizona Bowling Association) |
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1963 |
First ABC-sanctioned 700 series |
710 (Buckner Bowl) |
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1967 |
Highest unsanctioned game in sanctioned competition (May 16, 1967) |
300 |
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1978 |
Highest unsanctioned league series in sanctioned competition (October 8, 1978) |
826 (279-279-268; TCBA; last two games of first set; first game of the second set) (Hart Bowl) |
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1981 |
Highest sanctioned league average |
220 (Big Town) |
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Tournament Championships |
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1962 |
Junior State Singles (Scratch Division) |
Won trip to Washington, D. C. to bowl in national finals; finished 7th in the nation. |
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1965 |
Dallas Morning News Match Games (Big Town) |
Singles match-play; bowled 701 in final, locally-televised match |
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1966 |
Dallas Bowling Association Tournament of Champions (June 12, 1966) |
KRLD team from Times Herald Classic League; other members: Bob Strickland, Dick Pfeil, Tom Bernard, Frank Withrow |
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1967 |
Dallas Bowling Association Tournament of Champions (June 18, 1967) |
Aircraft Products Team from Bronco Bowl Colts League; other members: Bill McDonald, Ken Holt, Charlie Hejkal, Bob Strickland |
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1970 |
Texas State Tournament (San Antonio) |
Won singles event; only class A bowler to bowl 700 in the singles event |
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1971 |
Red River Doubles (Falls Bowl, Wichita Falls) |
Partner was Lewis Ray |
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1972 |
Master Bowlers Association (Expressway) |
Only bowler to average over 200 in the finals |
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1972 |
Southwest Bowling Tournament (Wedgewood, Fort Worth) |
Won team event with 3111 score; other members: Lewis Ray, Charlie Farmer, Jim Moore, Bill Harris |
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1972 |
Dallas City Tournament |
Won all-events with a scratch score of 1886 |
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1972 |
Arlington Match Games (Great Southwest, Arlington) |
Singles match-play; 220 average |
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1974 |
Master Bowlers Association (Jupiter) |
Bowled 299 the first game of the finals |
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1974 |
Oil Bowl Doubles (Oil Bowl, Longview) |
Partner was Bob Hester |
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1975 |
Master Bowlers Association (Buckner Bowl) |
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