Texas bowler celebrates 50 in a row at USBC Open Championships
May 02, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Benny Horton III of Pampa, Texas, achieved a longtime goal at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as he celebrated his 50th consecutive tournament appearance.
The 82-year-old received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin during his ceremony at the National Bowling Stadium, and he shared his milestone march to the lanes along his wife of 55 years, Kerrick. He also was able to compete in Reno alongside his son, John Horton IV.
“You always look forward to it,” Horton said. “I started in 1976 in Oklahoma City and really wasn’t thinking I’d get 50 in a row. As time went on, I thought that maybe I could do that. I got to 25 and thought as long as I was healthy and able to do it, I might as well go for it. I decided I’d try to go for 50 consecutive. That was my goal.
“I used to bowl with my dad (John B. Horton Jr.) for a little bit before he passed, and now my son is bowling with me. We’ll bowl together until I can’t go, and then he may do the same with his son down the road. But, I thought as long as I can physically do it, I’ll keep coming. Thanks to the good Lord, here I am.”
Horton’s path to his first appearance at the Open Championships in 1976 originated all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.
“There were a group of guys that I started bowling with who wanted to bowl every year,” Horton said. “That actually started in Hahn, Germany, with Jeff Nash and a couple of other guys who were in the Air Force. They decided when the tours were done for the Air Force, they would meet every year at the national bowling tournament. Well, that was the first year to meet, and Jeff Nash was living in Pampa at the time. One of the guys in the group decided he didn’t want to do that, so he was asking around if somebody would come and take his place. He asked me, so I got to join the group and have been coming ever since.”
He noted a memorable performance from a longtime teammate – David Daner – who finished second in Regular All-Events at the 1977 event in Reno, but Horton also has had some strong showings along the way.
His top all-events score at the Open Championships is 1,848 (1992 in Corpus Christi, Texas), and his best series took place during singles at the National Bowling Stadium in 1995 (684).
Horton closed his 50th appearance with a nice 234 to finish singles, bringing his career pinfall at the tournament to 80,791 (179.5 average).
“In the tournament, it’s not easy to score very well,” Horton said. “I actually have a 179 average for the first 49 years, which amazed me – I never thought it was that high. I just enjoyed being with the guys and getting to bowl. Every once in a while, I hit a good score. I averaged 175 today, which for me, on these conditions, is good. If I can come to nationals and bowl 170 or better, I’m a happy camper.”
The family tradition instilled at the tournament also is something Horton has enjoyed over the years.
“It’s great,” Horton said. “My son-in-law usually comes and bowls, and my daughter will sub once in a while. About three or four years ago, she came and subbed because he hurt his back. She came out and shot a 252 and beat us all, so that was fun. I’ve been able to bowl with my dad, my daughter and my son.”
Some of his top bowling highlights, though, were alongside Kerrick. He earned three of the four awards from the American Bowling Congress (now USBC) while she was on his team during a memorable evening at his local center, recording games of 299, 300 and 237 for an 836 series in April 2003.
He shared another memorable story with Kerrick by his side during his presentation for 50 years at the Open Championships.
“We met on Nov. 19, 1967 and have been together for 59 years and married for 55 years,” Horton said. “I was working at the bowling alley with my dad. He was at the desk with me, and she was walking up to get a card filled out.
“I said as she walked up, ‘She’s very striking.’
“So he said, ‘She’s right up your alley.’
“So I said, ‘She’s the kind of gal that can pull me out of the gutter.’
“He said, ‘You have no time to spare.’
“So I said, ‘OK, if we stay together, bowlers never split.’”
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The 82-year-old received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin during his ceremony at the National Bowling Stadium, and he shared his milestone march to the lanes along his wife of 55 years, Kerrick. He also was able to compete in Reno alongside his son, John Horton IV.
“You always look forward to it,” Horton said. “I started in 1976 in Oklahoma City and really wasn’t thinking I’d get 50 in a row. As time went on, I thought that maybe I could do that. I got to 25 and thought as long as I was healthy and able to do it, I might as well go for it. I decided I’d try to go for 50 consecutive. That was my goal.
“I used to bowl with my dad (John B. Horton Jr.) for a little bit before he passed, and now my son is bowling with me. We’ll bowl together until I can’t go, and then he may do the same with his son down the road. But, I thought as long as I can physically do it, I’ll keep coming. Thanks to the good Lord, here I am.”
Horton’s path to his first appearance at the Open Championships in 1976 originated all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.
“There were a group of guys that I started bowling with who wanted to bowl every year,” Horton said. “That actually started in Hahn, Germany, with Jeff Nash and a couple of other guys who were in the Air Force. They decided when the tours were done for the Air Force, they would meet every year at the national bowling tournament. Well, that was the first year to meet, and Jeff Nash was living in Pampa at the time. One of the guys in the group decided he didn’t want to do that, so he was asking around if somebody would come and take his place. He asked me, so I got to join the group and have been coming ever since.”
He noted a memorable performance from a longtime teammate – David Daner – who finished second in Regular All-Events at the 1977 event in Reno, but Horton also has had some strong showings along the way.
His top all-events score at the Open Championships is 1,848 (1992 in Corpus Christi, Texas), and his best series took place during singles at the National Bowling Stadium in 1995 (684).
Horton closed his 50th appearance with a nice 234 to finish singles, bringing his career pinfall at the tournament to 80,791 (179.5 average).
“In the tournament, it’s not easy to score very well,” Horton said. “I actually have a 179 average for the first 49 years, which amazed me – I never thought it was that high. I just enjoyed being with the guys and getting to bowl. Every once in a while, I hit a good score. I averaged 175 today, which for me, on these conditions, is good. If I can come to nationals and bowl 170 or better, I’m a happy camper.”
The family tradition instilled at the tournament also is something Horton has enjoyed over the years.
“It’s great,” Horton said. “My son-in-law usually comes and bowls, and my daughter will sub once in a while. About three or four years ago, she came and subbed because he hurt his back. She came out and shot a 252 and beat us all, so that was fun. I’ve been able to bowl with my dad, my daughter and my son.”
Some of his top bowling highlights, though, were alongside Kerrick. He earned three of the four awards from the American Bowling Congress (now USBC) while she was on his team during a memorable evening at his local center, recording games of 299, 300 and 237 for an 836 series in April 2003.
He shared another memorable story with Kerrick by his side during his presentation for 50 years at the Open Championships.
“We met on Nov. 19, 1967 and have been together for 59 years and married for 55 years,” Horton said. “I was working at the bowling alley with my dad. He was at the desk with me, and she was walking up to get a card filled out.
“I said as she walked up, ‘She’s very striking.’
“So he said, ‘She’s right up your alley.’
“So I said, ‘She’s the kind of gal that can pull me out of the gutter.’
“He said, ‘You have no time to spare.’
“So I said, ‘OK, if we stay together, bowlers never split.’”
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.