Texas bowler celebrates 50 consecutive years of participation during 2021 USBC Open Championships
July 08, 2021
By Ron Kirsh
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - As Butch Krueger was accepting his accolades and applause for reaching 50 consecutive years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, many of the younger bowlers around him at the South Point Bowling Plaza found his accomplishment simply amazing.
Krueger was the center of attention Wednesday, as he became the newest member of the event's 50-Year Club, earning a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone.
"To have 50 consecutive years is insane," one bowler said.
"He's been here 50 consecutive years," another competitor added. "That's twice as long as I've been alive."
The soft-spoken Austin, Texas, resident with a Lone-Star drawl that makes everyone smile, took it all in stride prior to the start of his 50th team event on the championship lanes.
"I am thrilled to reach this milestone with my family and friends in attendance," Krueger said. "Bowling is something I have done all my life, and to get this recognition for something I love to do is pretty special."
The 74-year-old's first tournament appearance was at the 1971 event in Detroit.
Over the years, he has accumulated an average of more than 191, with a pinfall total of 86,164. That includes a hot start to his 2021 tournament campaign, a 578 team series that featured a final game of 220.
Krueger added sets of 504 in doubles and 500 in singles for a 1,582 all-events total.
"Every year, there is always a bit of anxiety, and this tournament appearance was no different," Krueger said. "With the anticipation of this honor, and bowling with my daughter, I could not wait to get back to Las Vegas."
His daughter, Kimberley Wehmeyer, remembers always being in a bowling center, even as a very young child.
"I really think I was born in a bowling alley," Wehmeyer said with a laugh. "As long as I can remember, bowling has been a big part of my family, on both my mom's side and my dad's side."
Actually, Krueger met his wife, Sharon, on the lanes, as he was competing against her father in a tournament.
"Even though I was cheering for my dad, I was introduced to Butch and never looked back," Sharon Krueger said.
Sharon was on the lanes with her husband at the 2021 USBC Open Championships, too. She and Wehmeyer escorted him on his ceremonial march to the lanes Wednesday.
"What an honor it was to walk out with my dad," said Wehmeyer, who made her sixth tournament appearance. "To see him welcomed by so many friends and fellow bowlers is something I know he will cherish forever,"
Krueger is one of 25 bowlers scheduled to celebrate 50 years of participation this year in Las Vegas, while two more reach 60 years. He already is looking forward to No. 51.
Other highlights of Krueger's bowling resume include more than a dozen 300 games, a handful of 800 series, multiple state titles and induction into the Austin USBC Hall of Fame in 1998.
On the Open Championships stage, he twice has flirted with perfection, but both opportunities for a spot in the tournament record book ended with 299 games. The first came in doubles in Baltimore in 1992, and the second was in singles in Salt Lake City in 1996.
Krueger also has logged a top-10 doubles finish at the Open Championships (1975).
"I enjoy competing and have not lost a bit of enthusiasm over this journey," Krueger said. "Hopefully, with continued good health, I will be back here in Las Vegas in 2022 and other cities for many years to come."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - As Butch Krueger was accepting his accolades and applause for reaching 50 consecutive years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, many of the younger bowlers around him at the South Point Bowling Plaza found his accomplishment simply amazing.
Krueger was the center of attention Wednesday, as he became the newest member of the event's 50-Year Club, earning a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone.
"To have 50 consecutive years is insane," one bowler said.
"He's been here 50 consecutive years," another competitor added. "That's twice as long as I've been alive."
The soft-spoken Austin, Texas, resident with a Lone-Star drawl that makes everyone smile, took it all in stride prior to the start of his 50th team event on the championship lanes.
"I am thrilled to reach this milestone with my family and friends in attendance," Krueger said. "Bowling is something I have done all my life, and to get this recognition for something I love to do is pretty special."
The 74-year-old's first tournament appearance was at the 1971 event in Detroit.
Over the years, he has accumulated an average of more than 191, with a pinfall total of 86,164. That includes a hot start to his 2021 tournament campaign, a 578 team series that featured a final game of 220.
Krueger added sets of 504 in doubles and 500 in singles for a 1,582 all-events total.
"Every year, there is always a bit of anxiety, and this tournament appearance was no different," Krueger said. "With the anticipation of this honor, and bowling with my daughter, I could not wait to get back to Las Vegas."
His daughter, Kimberley Wehmeyer, remembers always being in a bowling center, even as a very young child.
"I really think I was born in a bowling alley," Wehmeyer said with a laugh. "As long as I can remember, bowling has been a big part of my family, on both my mom's side and my dad's side."
Actually, Krueger met his wife, Sharon, on the lanes, as he was competing against her father in a tournament.
"Even though I was cheering for my dad, I was introduced to Butch and never looked back," Sharon Krueger said.
Sharon was on the lanes with her husband at the 2021 USBC Open Championships, too. She and Wehmeyer escorted him on his ceremonial march to the lanes Wednesday."What an honor it was to walk out with my dad," said Wehmeyer, who made her sixth tournament appearance. "To see him welcomed by so many friends and fellow bowlers is something I know he will cherish forever,"
Krueger is one of 25 bowlers scheduled to celebrate 50 years of participation this year in Las Vegas, while two more reach 60 years. He already is looking forward to No. 51.
Other highlights of Krueger's bowling resume include more than a dozen 300 games, a handful of 800 series, multiple state titles and induction into the Austin USBC Hall of Fame in 1998.
On the Open Championships stage, he twice has flirted with perfection, but both opportunities for a spot in the tournament record book ended with 299 games. The first came in doubles in Baltimore in 1992, and the second was in singles in Salt Lake City in 1996.
Krueger also has logged a top-10 doubles finish at the Open Championships (1975).
"I enjoy competing and have not lost a bit of enthusiasm over this journey," Krueger said. "Hopefully, with continued good health, I will be back here in Las Vegas in 2022 and other cities for many years to come."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.