Second Annual John Davis Award

John Weber  Honored

In 2001, The Foundation established The John Davis Award, to be presented annually to the Foundation Member who exemplifies dedication and contributes their time and efforts to the sport of bowling. The inaugural winner of this prestigious award was Joyce Deitch.

The 2002 winner is: Mr. John Weber. John, a Founding Member of The Foundation, comes from perhaps the #1 'family' in all of bowling. Reliable sources have told us that he literally (and believably) "cut-his-teeth" on a bowling ball. When he was notified about being selected for this coveted honor, John (in his usual humble manner) said, "I can't believe it. Are you sure that you have the right guy? I haven't done anything spectacular to deserve this great award".

Oh Yes He Has

Before becoming a true bowling businessman (as he is now on the verge of graduating with a Degree in Business Administration), he tried his skills on the Pro-Bowlers Tour. He actually led the very first squad that he ever competed in when the Tour was on the West Coast, and ended up getting a check. He was always a consistent casher on Tour, but in a few years he realized that the Tour would not be the life that he wanted. Never regretting his decision to leave the Tour, he settled down, married his long-time sweetheart Chris, and had two wonderful children (Nick 17 and Ryan 10). He proudly states that it is his family that he lives for.

After leaving the Tour, he got involved in the PBA Midwest Regional program working for his Dad, the "living legend", Dick Weber. John worked the locker room, did the lanes and helped run the tournaments. At times, he even bowled some of the events. He won a Regional Doubles event with his brother Pete, and then never bowled another Regional. Always an accurate player, he has amassed 6-300-games and 3-800-series. He was also on the team that holds the ABC record for the highest 5-man team game ever rolled, 1413.

After working the Regional tournaments for about 15-years, he was appointed to be the PBA Midwest Regional Director in 1998. Always taking care of business, John is very popular with all of the players. In 2001, he contacted The Foundation about having a Foundation Games tournament. He said that he had a sponsor and a tournament site that was interested. Almost immediately after that event, he contacted us again, asking if he could do another event in the same year. Both tournaments were extremely successful, and both re-signed for 2002.

A beautiful Trophy was presented that bore the following: "The John Davis Award", presented to Foundation Member John Weber for Outstanding Contributions and Extraordinary Efforts on Behalf of the Advancement of the Sport of Bowling. This one-of-a-kind, hand made trophy was his to keep. A perpetual Plaque , bearing those same words, will be permanently displayed at the home of The Foundation in Sebring , Florida .

Congratulations, John.