Oklahoma youth leader to receive Kerm Helmer award
March 06, 2014
ARLINGTON, Texas – Tommy Gann of Sand Springs, Okla., who has been involved with youth bowling on the local, state and national levels for more than 20 years, is the 2014 Kerm Helmer Horizon Award recipient.
The award, established to recognize leaders in the bowling community who have displayed the courage, determination and ability to develop far-reaching programs of national scope that provide fun and exciting opportunities for collegiate and/or youth bowlers, is named in memory of the longtime Erie Community College coach. The award recipient is selected by the International Bowling Campus Youth Committee.
“It’s a great experience to watch our youth grow and excel, working with them as they build their hopes, dreams and expectations,” Gann said. “All is certainly worthwhile when you see that smile of accomplishment.”
Gann served as an American Bowling Congress (ABC) director from 1998-2004 and was on the USBC Board of Directors from 2005-2011. He served as chair of the Youth Committee and Awards Committee during his USBC tenure, and was the Collegiate chair with ABC. He also served as the president of the USBC Sapulpa Association.
Gann worked diligently with proprietors in the creation and growth of the Oklahoma High School Bowling program. Launched in 2002, the program had more than 140 teams participate last season.
He has received several honors for his work in youth bowling, including the Jim Thorpe Man of the Year Award for bowling for the state of Oklahoma, the Gordon Teigen Award from the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association and the Oklahoma Executive Director Award from Oklahoma proprietors.
Gann, who works for AVB Bank Mortgage, serves as commissioner of Oklahoma High School Bowling.
As the Kerm Helmer Horizon Award recipient, Gann will receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2014 USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., where he will be presented with the award. BOWL.com will live stream the USBC Convention, including the awards presentation.
Go to BOWL.com/ScholarshipsAwards to learn more about national awards for youth leaders and scholarships for USBC Youth bowlers.
The award, established to recognize leaders in the bowling community who have displayed the courage, determination and ability to develop far-reaching programs of national scope that provide fun and exciting opportunities for collegiate and/or youth bowlers, is named in memory of the longtime Erie Community College coach. The award recipient is selected by the International Bowling Campus Youth Committee.“It’s a great experience to watch our youth grow and excel, working with them as they build their hopes, dreams and expectations,” Gann said. “All is certainly worthwhile when you see that smile of accomplishment.”
Gann served as an American Bowling Congress (ABC) director from 1998-2004 and was on the USBC Board of Directors from 2005-2011. He served as chair of the Youth Committee and Awards Committee during his USBC tenure, and was the Collegiate chair with ABC. He also served as the president of the USBC Sapulpa Association.
Gann worked diligently with proprietors in the creation and growth of the Oklahoma High School Bowling program. Launched in 2002, the program had more than 140 teams participate last season.
He has received several honors for his work in youth bowling, including the Jim Thorpe Man of the Year Award for bowling for the state of Oklahoma, the Gordon Teigen Award from the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association and the Oklahoma Executive Director Award from Oklahoma proprietors.
Gann, who works for AVB Bank Mortgage, serves as commissioner of Oklahoma High School Bowling.
As the Kerm Helmer Horizon Award recipient, Gann will receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2014 USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., where he will be presented with the award. BOWL.com will live stream the USBC Convention, including the awards presentation.
Go to BOWL.com/ScholarshipsAwards to learn more about national awards for youth leaders and scholarships for USBC Youth bowlers.