[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING DON SCOTT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 2002

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Don 
Scott, an American hero and pioneer in the sport of bowling, whose 
outstanding achievements will be recognized on Friday, July 19, 2002, 
as the Hall of Fame inductee at the Greater Cleveland Bowling 
Association's Annual Awards banquet. Since 1981, Don and his wife, Vel 
have been my personal friends and I am proud to join the Greater 
Cleveland Bowling Association to honor Don Scott.
  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Scott was introduced to the game as 
a teenage pin boy at the Cleveland and Akron lanes. In 1959, he was 
allowed membership in the Professional Bowlers Association and then 
became the first African-American bowler to appear on national 
television competing with national champions for major monetary awards.
  In 1961, Mr. Scott led the qualifying round of the Professional 
Bowling Association Open. He was the only African American competing 
against many of the giants in bowling including Dick Webber, Don Carter 
and other long-time stars. Throughout his career, Mr. Scott competed 
against top bowlers in Canada, Japan, China, the Ivory Coast, the 
Philippines and major cities in the United States. Continuing to pave 
the way for others, Mr. Scott organized the first Negro team to ever 
compete in the American Bowling Congress Classic Division.
  In 1964, Don Scott was sponsored in the Firestone Championship 
Bowling at Copley Lanes in Akron, Ohio. He averaged 202 during three 
match plays against Carmen Salvino, Bill Allen and George Allen. Mr. 
Scott, a certified bowling instructor and co-author of How to Bowl, was 
inducted into the Cleveland Bowling Senate Hall of Fame in April 1991. 
Through his travel, Mr. Scott truly became a goodwill ambassador for 
the game of bowling as he earned the love and respect of many.
  In 2000, Don Scott received the Congressional Black Caucus ``Unsung 
Hero'' award to honor his lifetime achievements for excellence in 
sports. Our colleague from the great State of South Carolina 
Representative Jim Clyburn joined me in this tribute. As a former 
bowling instructor and coach, Representative Clyburn became good 
friends with Don Scott after losing to him 39 years ago in South 
Carolina and presented the award to Don Scott on my behalf.
  I ask that other Members in the U.S. Congress join me and the people 
of greater Cleveland in saluting the outstanding efforts of Mr. Don 
Scott, a great American trailblazer who paved the way for others in the 
sport of bowling.

                          ____________________