When Dave Munn was nominated for the Indiana State USBC Hall of Fame in 2010, he fell one vote short of earning induction.
But the Columbus bowler didn’t learn of that near-miss until he was selected for induction into the Hall of Fame this year. He hadn’t been nominated again until 2019 — and this time, he had the necessary votes to make it.
“I got a call about a month ago saying, ‘We need you to come to a banquet. You’ve been voted into the state Hall of Fame,’” Munn said.
The 72-year-old Munn was one of seven honorees inducted last month in Indianapolis. He would have gone in last year, but the 2020 class was held over to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dave joins his wife Sherry, who was inducted in 2008. Both Dave and Sherry were selected based on meritorious service.
“It’s quite an honor, really, because we both worked together on the youth board for about seven or eight years,” Dave said. “Then, after I left the men’s board, I was involved with the women’s board for five to six years. Bowling is something that we’ve always loved.”
Dave served nine years on the state board and won District Director of the Year in 1997 and also a District 9 Service Award. He also was on the State Youth Board of Directors for six years and the Bowl Indiana Council for four years, serving as president in 2003 when it started the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Tournament.
At the local level, Dave was president four times in his 30 years on the board and was inducted into the Columbus USBC Hall of Fame in 2007. He has won numerous local awards, including two sportsmanship awards, several high game and high series awards and league championships.
“We enjoyed being around people,” Dave said. “I told somebody all the awards I got, they’re nice. I’ve got ‘Attaboys’ up and down every arm, but I said I did it with a smile, a thank you and a pat on the back. That was good enough.”
Dave started bowling in 1965 when he was a junior at Columbus High School. In 1967, he bought a bowling ball, bag, shoes and wristband for less than $30. The most recent bowling ball he purchased on sale cost $170, and shoes were $200.
“When we were in high school, we’d go to Miller Lanes after school, and we could bowl all evening for $3 or $4,” Dave said. “Nowadays, it cost you $3 or $4 for one game.”
Dave and Sherry were married in 1973. When Dave served on the men’s state board, and Sherry was on women’s state board, they were the first husband-wife duo to be on the state boards at same time.
Now, they are one of only two husband-wife combos to be in the state Hall of Fame.
“She really wasn’t even a bowler until we met back in 1972,” Dave said. “We were bowling in what they call ‘Rural Youth,’ and I didn’t even know she wasn’t a bowler until I walked in one day, and they said, ‘You’re on a team with three ladies.’ This was a qualification for state tournament, and my first-game score was a 270.”
Dave worked for Cummins for 33 years, then after retiring from there, worked for Barkes Weaver & Glick Funeral Home for 13 years. He had to give up work and bowling this year because he needs a knee replacement, which he plans to get in October.
“We still love the game,” Dave said. “This was an honor to get that (ring), but I don’t wear jewelry. We just enjoy doing what we did for the game itself and meeting all the people.”
A member of the American Legion, Dave has performed Color Guard for veterans funerals. He also has supported Walking for the Cure for breast cancer, volunteered as a mentor for children and conducted a lesson on bowling etiquette for a physical education class.
Sherry has worked for Southern Indiana Surgery for 25 years and plans to retire at the end of September. For their 25th Anniversary in 1998, they went to Hawaii and got “Re-Mauied.” When they returned, their friends at Columbus Bowling Center had a reception for them.
“They took bowling pins and drilled holes in them and put candles down in them,” Dave said. “They wanted us to throw a bowling ball apiece. We didn’t have bowling shoes on, and she gets three pins, and I get seven. We said that was a Perfect 10.”
