USBC Hall of Famer Marvin Stoudt dies at age 89
April 13, 2021
ARLINGTON, Texas - Marvin "Bud" Stoudt, a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, died April 6. He was 89.
Stoudt was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired machinist, and he spent more than seven decades on the lanes enjoying a passion that started when he became a pin boy at age 15. By the time he was done with high school, he was bowling six nights a week.
Not long after, he debuted at the USBC Open Championships, where he made a name for himself as a top competitor and later also was recognized for his longevity and dedication.
Stoudt competed at the Open Championships 59 times from 1952-2018, missing only one event since 1965.
While he was a celebrated member of the tournament's elite 50- and 55-Year Clubs, it was his on-lane success that gained him notoriety and led to his 1991 induction into the USBC Hall of Fame.
He collected three Open Championships titles - Regular Team in 1968 and Team All-Events in 1970 and 1978 - and a total of seven top-three finishes the event.
In 2017, he added his name to the short list of bowlers who have knocked down 100,000 pins on the tournament lanes, a club that includes just 24 members. He was the 20th bowler in history to accomplish the feat.
In 59 years of participation, Stoudt knocked down 101,760 pins for a career average of 191.6.
Stoudt's time in the spotlight also earned him the opportunity to represent the United States in international competition.
As a member of Team USA in 1975, he won three medals at the International Bowling Federation World Championships in London - gold in all-events, silver in five-player team and bronze in doubles.
Two years later, he earned a title in the mixed-foursome event of the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas. His clutch 10th frame strike, in the 14th and final game, gave him the all-events title at the Canada-U.S.A. Friendship matches.
Stoudt was buried April 12 at the Lebanon's Ebenezer "Greenwood" Cemetery with full military honors.
Stoudt was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired machinist, and he spent more than seven decades on the lanes enjoying a passion that started when he became a pin boy at age 15. By the time he was done with high school, he was bowling six nights a week.
Not long after, he debuted at the USBC Open Championships, where he made a name for himself as a top competitor and later also was recognized for his longevity and dedication.
Stoudt competed at the Open Championships 59 times from 1952-2018, missing only one event since 1965.
While he was a celebrated member of the tournament's elite 50- and 55-Year Clubs, it was his on-lane success that gained him notoriety and led to his 1991 induction into the USBC Hall of Fame.
He collected three Open Championships titles - Regular Team in 1968 and Team All-Events in 1970 and 1978 - and a total of seven top-three finishes the event.
In 2017, he added his name to the short list of bowlers who have knocked down 100,000 pins on the tournament lanes, a club that includes just 24 members. He was the 20th bowler in history to accomplish the feat.
In 59 years of participation, Stoudt knocked down 101,760 pins for a career average of 191.6.
Stoudt's time in the spotlight also earned him the opportunity to represent the United States in international competition.
As a member of Team USA in 1975, he won three medals at the International Bowling Federation World Championships in London - gold in all-events, silver in five-player team and bronze in doubles.
Two years later, he earned a title in the mixed-foursome event of the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas. His clutch 10th frame strike, in the 14th and final game, gave him the all-events title at the Canada-U.S.A. Friendship matches.
Stoudt was buried April 12 at the Lebanon's Ebenezer "Greenwood" Cemetery with full military honors.