RENO, Nev. - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Glenn Allison of Anaheim, California, said he doesn't remember too much from his first appearance at the USBC Open Championships, and that it actually it took him nearly 30 years to truly understand the significance of the event.

By that time, he was nearly halfway into his tournament career and well on his way to the USBC Hall of Fame, but along with success and accolades, he also was collecting priceless memories.

This week at the National Bowling Stadium, the 85-year-old right-hander was able to add one more to the collection as he celebrated 65 years of USBC Open Championships participation, becoming the 10th bowler in 113 years of tournament history to reach the milestone.

"Walking down that aisle is something I love doing every year, and it's a thrill to be here," said Allison, who received a plaque, chevron and custom ring to commemorate the milestone. "Amazingly, I didn't really know what this tournament was about until 30 years later when I looked back on the memories. I've made great friends over the years, and some I'm still chasing in pinfall."

Allison was 16 years old when he made his close-to-home Open Championships debut at the 1947 event in Los Angeles. He only bowled in the team event that year and didn't return to the tournament lanes until three years later when the event traveled to Columbus, Ohio. The cross-country trip marked the first time he competed outside of California.

It would be another four years, after time spent in the military, before he'd compete again, but being able to bowl with some of the sport's top competitors definitely accelerated his success.

In 1962, he claimed his first Open Championships title, the Classic Doubles crown with fellow hall of famer Dick Hoover. The two would share the spotlight again in 1964 and 1966 as members of the Classic Team winners and Allison added a fourth title in 1970, Classic Singles.

"I have so many wonderful memories that it's hard to pick out any one, but perhaps the greatest thrill was winning that first title," said Allison, a charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association and a 1984 PBA Hall of Fame inductee. "I was fortunate to be with one of the better teams and was able to be a part of, or witness, some special tournament moments."

Much like the Trans World Airlines Lockheed Constellation aircraft that brought him across the United States for his pivotal 1950 tournament appearance, Allison glided down Center Aisle at the NBS on Tuesday to a standing ovation of nearly 300 bowlers.

"That 1950 event was pretty meaningful for me, too, and I really hated to miss any after that," said Allison, who has been to every event since 1954. "Today was a great thrill, and something I'm very proud of. There's still nothing like that march down Center Aisle."

Among the competitors Tuesday was Allison's longtime teammate and fellow hall of famer, Jimmy Schroeder of Tonawanda, New York, the 1976 Classic Singles champion and a 68-time tournament participant. Allison's wife Marsha, by his side since 1995, looked on from close by as he made his way down Center Aisle.

Schroeder and Allison also are two of the 19 members of the tournament's 100,000-Pin Club and entered the 2016 tournament third and fourth, respectively, on the career pinfall list behind Bill Lillard Sr. (124,087) and Joe Norris (123,770).

This year, Schroeder added 1,278 pins to increase his total to 119,015, while Allison posted a 1,487 all-events total to finish his 65th event with a career pinfall of 117,292, a 196.1 average.

"This is No. 65, and I'm looking forward to seeing how many more I can bowl," Allison said. "It was great to see Syl (Thiel) get to 71 this year and tie Bill (Doehrman) and Joe (Norris), and I hope he keeps going, too, so I can keep chasing him."

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