BALLARD, WEBB AND GIANOTTI
ELECTED TO USBC HALL OF FAME

Del Ballard Jr., Wayne Webb and Carol Gianotti have been elected to the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in the Superior Performance category.> > The three bowlers join Jeff Richgels (Outstanding USBC Performance), Roseann Kuhn (Meritorious Service) and Cheryl Robinson (Veterans), who were elected in November by the USBC Hall of Fame Committee. The induction ceremony for the 2011 class will be July 1 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.> > Ballard, 47, of Keller, Texas, won 13 Professional Bowlers Association Tour titles between 1987 and 1993, including the USBC Masters in 1988 and the Firestone Tournament of Champions in 1989. He was No. 29 on the list of the 50 Greatest Players in PBA History in 2008.> > "It feels great, and it's a little bit of a relief," Ballard said. "After being on the ballot and not getting in the last three years, I was wondering if it was ever going to happen, or if maybe I didn't deserve it. I felt like I belonged, but sometimes you have an opinion of yourself that other people may not agree with. Now, this shows that people feel I'm deserving, and I'm extremely grateful."> > Being a member of the USBC Hall of Fame has been a dream for Ballard since he watched family friend Bill Lillard Sr. of Houston get inducted in 1972. When Ballard joined the PBA Tour, he set his sights on the PBA Hall of Fame as well.> > Ballard, who also owns 17 PBA regional titles and nearly $1.3 million in PBA career earnings, made the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009, joined the Dallas USBC BA Hall of Fame later that year and was inducted into the Texas State USBC Hall of Fame in 2010.> > Also in 2010, he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer but has had successful treatment.> > "In a way, this completes the circle for me, and it's a very nice feeling," Ballard said. "This is a very uplifting end to an emotional, roller coaster of a year for me."> > Webb, 53, of Columbus, Ohio, won 20 PBA Tour titles from 1978-1997, including the Firestone Tournament of Champions in 1980. He is among the 50 Greatest Players in PBA History (No. 18) and was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 1993.> > "When I got the phone call, I got pretty emotional, and it was actually hard for me not to cry a little bit," Webb said. "It came as such a surprise that it overwhelmed me and was hard to process. Of course, it's something you always hope for, but I never thought it would happen this soon, if at all."> > While Webb was a familiar face on the lanes for more than three decades, he renewed his place in the spotlight as a dominating player on the PBA Senior Tour.. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2008 and has claimed five titles, including three majors.> > In 2010, Webb was named PBA Senior Player of the Year and joined Mark Roth as the only players to earn PBA Tour and Senior Tour Player of the Year awards during their careers.> > "When you're out there competing, you can only hope to be considered among the best," said Webb, who was the PBA Player of the Year in 1980. "Earning both player-of-the-year awards was something I was proud to accomplish, and being inducted into both halls of fame is incredible. Everyone has a bucket list, and mine is now full."> > Gianotti, 43, of Perth, Australia, won 16 Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour/ Professional Women's Bowling Association titles between 1989 and 2000, including the 1989 USBC Queens. She teamed with Ann Maree Putney to take the silver medal in doubles at the 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships.> > "This feels great, and it's something that just tops off my career," Gianotti said. "It was a call that I wasn't expecting, especially at a quarter past 5 in the morning, but it was so worth it."> > Gianotti has been part of three team titles at the USBC Women's Championships and teamed with Missy Klug to take the Scratch Doubles title in 2010.> > "To be recognized for something you love to do and elected to something you've always had as a goal is really special," Gianotti said. "Del and I have been talking about this a little bit lately, and now we get to go in together. I wouldn't have it any other way."> > A USBC panel of veteran bowling writers, hall of famers and board members vote on USBC Hall of Fame nominees. This year's ballot also included David Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.; Amleto Monacelli, Barquisimeto, Venezuela; David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas; Tom Baker, King, N.C.; and Dede Davidson, Buellton, Calif.> > The USBC Hall of Fame was created in 2005 by merging the former ABC and WIBC Halls of Fame. With the six new inductees, there will be 385 members of the USBC Hall of Fame - 254 in Performance, 112 in Meritorious Service and 19 Pioneers.